Though Moon’s well-documented hedonism and unpredictable antics were certainly a stressor, the most significant rift always seemed to appear between Townshend and Daltrey. The pair notably came to blows in 1973 while preparing for the Quadrophenia tour, a fight during which Townshend nearly bonked his singer on the skull with a Les Paul. In the end, Daltrey knocked the guitarist out with one clean uppercut.
Today, Daltrey and Townshend are the only surviving members of The Who’s classic lineup. They have found ways to get on as ageing co-workers but still claim to be like chalk and cheese. In 2016, Townshend discussed their differing political views as an example of one of the ways in which they differed.
“I’m a Remainer; he is a Brexiteer,” he told The Telegraph. “I believe in God; he doesn’t.”
In 2022, Daltrey also commented on the pair’s differences, explaining that while they had chemistry on stage and enjoyed creating music together, they had very little to say off-stage. “Our relationship is a working one, and that’s about as far as it goes,” he said.
Adding: “But when we get on stage, there’s a chemistry that’s created. When we’re playing well, it starts to kick in properly. It’s still as wonderful as ever. We never really had a strong relationship off of the stage, though. It’s as simple as that.”
While Townshend dislikes a few of his old songs, including ‘Pinball Wizard’, none quite measure up to ‘Sister Disco’. The reason for his hatred of the song lies in the live show and his feigned chemistry with Daltrey. “‘Sister Disco’, I hate even more than ‘Dreaming From The Waist’ because there is a point in which every time we’ve done it where Roger comes over to me, stands next to me and makes some kind of soppy smile, which is supposed to communicate some kind of Everly Brothers relationship we have for the audience, which isn’t actually there,” he said.
The guitarist seemed to reveal a love-hate relationship with the song, wherein he enjoys playing it, so he has the opportunity to blank his bandmate. “It’s supposed to be an act where I’m supposed to collude like, ‘We know each other very well; we look like enemies, but we are friends really,’ kind of look,” he added. “Often that will be the moment where I look him in the face and go, ‘You fucking wanker,’ and he gets angry when I do that.”
