Rick Guest/Interscope Records

Rick Guest/Interscope RecordsThe Who has joined the rapidly growing list of artists postponing concerts due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The rock legends announced Thursday that their tour of the U.K. and Ireland, which was to have kicked off this Monday, March 16, in Manchester, England, will be delayed until later in 2020.

A message on the band’s website reads, “After serious consideration, it is with much regret that THE WHO have postponed their UK and Ireland tour…The fans’ safety is paramount and given the developing coronavirus situation, the band felt that they had no option but to postpone the shows.”

The note adds that all tickets purchased for the affected dates, which run through an April 8 concert in London, will be honored when the shows are rescheduled.

Who frontman Roger Daltrey assures fans that the concerts will “definitely happen,” while adding that “it may be the last time we do a tour of this type, so keep those tickets, as the shows will be fantastic.”

Guitarist Pete Townshend, meanwhile, says that the band hasn’t “reached this decision easily, but given the concerns about public gatherings, we couldn’t go ahead.” He adds, “If one fan caught Coronavirus at a WHO concert it would be one too many.”

The postponed shows include The Who’s March 28 gig at London’s Royal Albert Hall as part of the 2020 Teenage Cancer Trust benefit concerts, which are also expected to be rescheduled.

The Who also is slated to launch a spring U.S. tour on April 21 in Hollywood, Florida, although it remains to be seen if that trek will go on as planned.

Here’s a full list of The Who’s postponed shows:

3/16 — Manchester, U.K., Manchester Arena
3/18 — Dublin, Ireland, 3 Arena
3/21 — Newcastle, U.K., Metro Radio Arena
3/23 — Glasgow, U.K., SSE Hydro Arena
3/25 — Leeds, U.K., First Direct Arena
3/28 — London, U.K., Royal Albert Hall – Teenage Cancer Trust show
3/30 — Cardiff, U.K., Motorpoint Arena
4/1 — Birmingham, U.K., Resorts World Arena
4/3 — Nottingham, U.K., Motorpoint Arena
4/6 — Liverpool, U.K., M&S Bank Arena
4/8 — London, U.K., SSE Wembley Arena

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