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The Who's tour plans falling into place

The Who have begun fleshing out their upcoming North American tour, adding a generous handful of new dates to the pair of shows that were announced last week.

The rock veterans now show nine cities on their itinerary as the trek continues to build, with the outing kicking off Oct. 21 in the Detroit area. The run is capped by the Nov. 8-9 pair of Los Angeles shows that were announced earlier. All dates are shown below; check the band's website for full ticketing information.

The group continues to support its latest album, "Endless Wire." Released in 2006, the disc is The Who's first new studio set since 1982's "It's Hard." The album includes several brand new tracks, as well as music culled from a 29-minute mini-opera inspired by Townshend's novella "The Boy Who Heard Music."

Founding members Pete Townshend (guitar) and Roger Daltrey (vocals) will be backed by drummer Zak Starkey (son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr), guitarist/vocalist Simon Townshend (Pete's younger brother), bassist Pino Palladino and keyboardist John "Rabbit" Bundrick, the same lineup that's toured as The Who over the last few years.

In a message to fans posted on the band's website earlier this year, Townshend teased fans with notice of new material in the works.

"I am hoping to come up with some songs for a more conventional Who record," Townshend wrote.

The band was the sole honoree at the third annual "VH1 Rock Honors," which was taped in Los Angeles last weekend and is set to premiere on the cable television network Thursday (7/17), according to a press release. Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters and The Flaming Lips were all on hand to perform musical salutes to The Who, who later took the stage and played a number of classic songs mixed in with some newer material.

"I loved the entire evening," Townshend said on the band's website. "It was great to see the old faces at the front. I knocked my fingernail off and started to bleed within a few moments of starting to play so I didn't smile much, but I really did feel honored."