Townshend said, “I don’t get much of a buzz from performing with The Who. If I’m really honest, I’ve been touring for the money.”
Who frontman Roger Daltrey addressed bandmate Pete Townshend’s recent apparent contradictory comments about the possibility of the group doing a farewell tour. If Pete doesn’t want to tour, I don’t want to be back with The Who on the road, at 80, with someone who doesn’t want be there … if that’s what he’s saying.”
I’ll do it to make good music and to show people what we were, before we leave the stage forever. You can’t just half turn up for a tour.
Roger will starts his US tour on June 12 at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA
“Singers can’t dial it in at concerts, because it shows immediately. I’m doing it because I love it, and it’s what I do … I’ve got a voice and I want to use it. I have never toured only for the money. Yes, the money is very useful. But I couldn’t do it just for that; you can’t. You need to be passionate about what you do and you really need to connect with the audiences. If you don’t, you’re failing. “
“My career has been … kind of ridiculous, really, when I think of about it,” Daltrey said, speaking from his home in the English countryside. “There’s something in me, this identity, that only comes out when I’m singing. I just love singing, it’s as simple as that. I love connecting with my voice in a different way than when I’m speaking. I just love it!”
But Daltrey’s San Diego concert will feature him sharing the stage with Townshend. That is, Simon Townshend — Pete’s younger brother — a longtime touring member in both Daltrey’s band and in the Who.
“I always use Simon Townshend; he’s been with me on my tours since 1994,” Daltrey said. “We go back a long way — I used to change Simon’s nappies! He’s a sweetheart and he’s a great musician. There’s something about his voice when we sing harmonies, because it’s a (Pete) Townshend derivative. We work great together and I love him dearly.”
Pete Townshend said the only thing he doesn’t argue with singer Roger Daltrey about is the fact that “we are both old.”
Roger Daltrey tour dates
June 12 at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA
June 14 at the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, ON, CA
June 16 at the Bethel Woods Center For The Arts in Bethel, NY
June 18 at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY
June 20 at the Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston, MA
June 22 at the Koussevitzky Music Shed at Tanglewood in Lenox, MA
June 25 at the Meadow Brook Amphitheatre in Rochester Hills, MI
June 27 at the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre in Indianapolis, IN
June 29 at Ravinia in Highland Park, IL
