The Who set to 'come out of retirement and do an Elton John' after final gig

The Who won’t retire and are set to follow in the footsteps of Elton John with one pal saying: “It’s not the end.” The rockers previously told how they are retiring from touring following 60 years together after a final set of dates in North America. The tour, which begins in August, will be a farewell to live shows for the legendary rock band, with Pete Townshendand Roger Daltrey performing hits from their six-decade career.

But Journalist Will Hodgkinson, a close pal of the band, regularly hosts press conferences for them after penning The Ballad of Britain about The Who and other bands' cultural significance in shaping British musical identity, said: “I think they might do what Elton John has done. Elton has done the Palladium for a special.

“I can see them doing something like that. I think it’s got too much for them being on tour. But I don’t think it will be the end.”

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Elton announced that he was quitting music with his final epic Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tour.

But he has since returned with a special date at The Palladium in London. The Who were recently left in turmoil after drummer Zak Starkey left the band. But Will says they will “cope fine” without him.

He continued: “The Zak Starkey thing was odd. I guess they fell out. I guess that’s what happened. They had an argument. But Zak didn’t talk about it at all when I saw him a few weeks ago. I think they will cope fine.”

He added: “I don’t know who it will be or if indeed they’ve already got someone.”

Will’s latest book titled Street Level Superstar is about failed pop star Lawrence who he spent a year shadowing in a bid to uncover a true “uncompromising” artist.

Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker, Pete Townsend and Noel Gallagher are all fans of the little known star who fronted 1990s band Denim.

The book won the prestigious Penderyn Music Book prize last year and has become a cult classic (MUST) while Denim's nearly famous record Summer Smash is being re-released.

Will said: “I think it took off because failure is more interesting than success. I was very reticent. But I really enjoyed it. I thought creatively this could be really good. This is somebody who is at odds with the world. He looks like a superstar but there he is with no money whatsoever getting shouted at by kids at the bus stop, mistaken for an old lady by an old man outside the pub. I thought this was amazing. When he walks down the street he thinks he is Prince.”

The Who’s Townsend even said he wants to be like Lawrence - a former heroin addict - because he’s such an “uncompromising” artist.

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