Daltrey – who famously sang “Hope I die before I get old” – even reveals he is at peace with taking his final breath on stage. People used to wonder whether The Who would make it to the gig. Now they wonder whether they will make it through the gig.
I think that’s a lot of the reason people come see bands like us and The Stones. They think it might be the night one of us pops it on stage.”
The 80-year-old musician mused: “We’ve been very lucky because Who music is very much on its own as an acquired taste.”
He continued: “It’s never the most popular rock or the most popular anything really but it sits in a very unusual place.” In their history they have had two number two singles, but have never reached the number one spot.
“It doesn’t sit in a pocket that dates, you play some of our records today and they sound as modern as they did the day they were released.”
When asked about new music from The Who, he laughs. “What’s the point? What’s the point of records? We released an album 5 years ago (The Who’s twelfth studio album, WHO was released on 6 December 2019) and it did nothing. It’s a great album too, but there isn’t the interest out there for new music these days. People want to hear the old music. I don’t know why, but that’s the fact.”
Roger Daltrey said the distinctive requirements of singing the Who's songs meant he would have no choice but to retire at some point, and he was ready for it to happen at any time, even though he still loves touring.
Roger Daltrey and his band will be headlining the last night of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival on Monday 5 May 2025. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Wednesday 5 March at 10:00am GMT from the festival website cheltenhamfestivals.org. #cheltjazzfest. #rogerdaltrey. #officialthewho
ROGER DALTREY ALIVE AND KICKING UK 2025 TOUR
2025 Tour Dates
Sunday 20 April Brighton Dome
Monday 21 April London – The Palladium
Wednesday 23 April Southend-on-Sea – The Cliffs Pavilion
Thursday 24 April Wolverhampton – University of Wolverhampton at The Halls
Saturday 26 April Dundee – Caird Hall
Monday 28 April Glasgow – SEC Armadillo
Wednesday 30 April Edinburgh – The Usher Hall
Thursday 1 May Gateshead – The Glasshouse – Sage 1
Sunday 4 May Manchester Bridgewater Hall
Tuesday 8 July Llangollen International Eisteddfod
Friday 30 July TK Maxx presents Live at the Piece Hall, Halifax
Friday 8 August Margate Summer Series at Dreamland
