The Who announce they will quit touring after 50th anniversary gig in 2015

The Who have announced that they will quit touring after a final series of live shows in 2015 to mark their 50th anniversary.

Guitarist Pete Townshend told the Evening Standard at the screening for their documentary Sensation, which tells the story of the band's rock opera Tommy, that they will use the tour to visit places they have rarely played in their five decade history.

"For the 50th anniversary we’ll tour the world. It’ll be the last big one for us. There are still plenty of places we’ve not played. It would be good to go to eastern Europe and places that haven’t heard us play all the old hits," Townshend said.

This summer, The Who played their 1973 double album 'Quadrophenia' in full alongside their classic hits at a string of arena dates around the UK and Ireland, after a big US tour.

Released in 1973, 'Quadrophenia' was The Who's sixth studio album and second "rock opera" after 1969's 'Tommy'. 'Quadrophenia' was later made into a 1979 film starring Phil Davis, Toyah Willcox and Sting.

A special-edition box set of Tommy is out on November 11.