The Who Announces Special Guests for Farewell Tour

Billy Idol, Feist, Billy Bob Thornton, and more join the British band final U.S. tour. See who’s playing the Miami show.

By Flor Franceschetti

July 29, 2025

Image: Two musicians are playing on stage.

The Who just announced guests for their farewell tour. Photo by William Synder_Trinifold

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As New Times reported in May, the Who will bring their "The Song Is Over" farewell tour to Miami, kicking off their final U.S. run at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Saturday, August 16. The legendary British rock band announced yesterday a high-voltage roster of special guests who will be joining them across 17 North American dates, and for South Florida, that means a set from actor-musician Billy Bob Thornton and his band, the Boxmasters.

Known for his Oscar-winning film career and deep Americana-leaning catalog — without mentioning his past relationship with Angelina Jolie — Thornton's addition to the Miami date adds an unexpected Southern grit to what's shaping up to be one of the city's most historic classic rock concerts in quite some time. The Boxmasters, his rockabilly outfit, bring a retro energy rooted in storytelling, twang, and attitude, contrasting with the anthemic bombast of the Who, which should make for a catchy start to the night.
Other tour dates will include performances from a wide range of artists who speak to the Who's multi-generational appeal. Billy Idol, Feist, Booker T. Jones, Candlebox, and the Joe Perry Project (featuring members of Aerosmith and the Black Crowes) will appear at various stops, along with guitar virtuoso Joe Bonamassa, who's slated to support the band on his newly added show in Chicago.

The tour, announced during a press conference in London earlier this year, marks a curtain call for Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, two of the most enduring figures in rock history. As they reflected on their six-decade legacy, they also revealed a bit of band memorabilia: the original football helmet featured on the cover of their 1974 compilation album Odds & Sods, which was pulled from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame archives for the occasion.

Tickets for all dates are available, including VIP packages with soundcheck access and exclusive merch. For Miami fans, this is probably your last chance to see the Who live — and with Billy Bob in the mix, it promises to be an interesting one.

The Who. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, August 16, at Amerant Bank Arena, 1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise; 954-835-8000; amerantbankarena.com.

Florencia Franceschetti, professionally known as Flor Frances, is the Music Editor at Miami New Times. An award-winning journalist and radio host with over 15 years of experience, she has contributed to outlets such as Bandcamp Daily, the Miami Herald, and Artburst. She is also the founder and former editor of the local publication Too Much Love. Her work focuses on documenting and amplifying cultural and artistic expressions within the music and art communities.

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