Photo: Paul Bachmann
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend are together again and finalising plans for a new Who album and ‘symphonic’ tour of North America this year.
During an interview with Rolling Stone, Daltrey said that the idea to perform in the US with local orchestras seems to him ‘a dignified way to go and do music’ at his age of 75. “That’s all we’re really left with,” he continued.
“We’re old men now. We’ve lost the looks. We’ve lost the glamour. What we’re left with is the music and we’re going to present it in a way which is as fresh and powerful as ever.”
As should be expected, it took some convincing to get Townshend on board, these discussions leading to the desire for new music. “I said I was not going to sign any contracts unless we have new material,” he added.
“This has nothing to do with wanting a hit album. It has nothing to do with the fact that the Who need a new album. It’s purely personal. It’s about my pride, my sense of self-worth and self-dignity as a writer.”