Pete Townshend returns to talk about the state of the Who and their future in an interview with the monthly Mojo. The article focuses on solo records, but towards the end of the chat, interviewer Mark Blake asks the musician how his relationship with Roger Daltrey is going these days.
“Better than ever,” Townshend replies. «I would like there to be a closer relationship, but it's not possible because we are too different. But we respect and respect each other. That's not something that can be said about many other bands. With the Stones yes, with Macca no."
The interesting thing about his relationship with Daltrey, adds Townshend, "is that it's not a band", adding a consideration that may appear paradoxical given that he is considered the true leader of the Who. «It's a group of musicians chosen by Roger. I didn't choose any of the musicians I go on tour with, not even Zak (Starkey, the drummer, son of Ringo Starr.) When Roger puts me on stage, I play the role of a guy called Frank Simes, the guitarist and musical director of Daltrey's solo tours.
So, the interviewer asks, Townshend copies a musician who in turn copies him? "Yes. And when I can't do it, guess who pops up and says he can do it for me? My brother Simon (laughs)." And how does this situation make him feel? «It doesn't make me 100% happy, but it's a celebration of my life and my music, so I'm fine with it. Someone reading these words might say: but stop complaining, Townshend, and put together a band that you want to use. But this thing scares me." One reason is that if he chose good musicians, "they would be much better than me."
As for the future, he doesn't think the Who are finished. «They are a brand and a friendship, but not a band. We're not a fucking bunch of hard-working, complicated, constantly evolving jazz musicians. We don't challenge each other to come up with miracle music, we make music that we know very well. So never say never."
Related: The Who’s musical director Frank Simes: Roger Daltrey, Pete, the Who and me
"Modern guitarists need to learn the art of listening. Keith and John were untouchable"
The Who lead and rhythm guitarist admits the group's sticksman Keith was a "nutty drummer", but when he played with bassist John they were untouchable because they listened to each other.
Pete Townshend has hailed his late bandmates Keith Moon and John Entwistle as a "formidable" rhythm section.
"I think one of the things that all guitarists of today are intimidated by is these young guys on Instagram that shred to hell and back, or to heaven and back, I should say, who started when they were six. But we are just our fingers."
"So they were a very formidable rhythm section.
"And I knew I could play anything and they would follow.
John Entwistle would know the notes that I was playing sometimes before I did!
So the importance of listening is vital."
The 'Baba O'Riley says a lot of Instagram guitarists he follows, as good as they are at playing, they need to work with other people to learn the art of listening.
