Pete Townshend returns to talk about the state of the Who and their future in an interview granted to the monthly magazine 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 tour with, not even Zak (Starkey, the drummer, son of Ringo Starr, ed). 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.”
