The greatest performer in rock ‘n’ roll, according to Roger Daltrey: “Mick Jagger, you’ve got to take your hat off to him”
While The Who’s dynamic duo of Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend have often expressed a mean streak when they unleash their unfiltered opinions, not least to each other, they don’t hold disdain for everybody in the music business. Above all else, they are obsessed with their craft and admire anybody who sees the art form from a similar perspective.
When The Who formed in the early 1960s, they were perfectly placed to be in a rock band. London was the ideal canvas for the group to forge their identity, cut their teeth, and gain experience on the live stage. The competition was high; therefore, The Who needed to bring their A-game every time they performed to leave a lasting impression on audiences.
Even back then, when no bands on the circuit had hit records to their name or were even professional, Daltrey had a clear vision of his future thanks to previous alums of the London club scene, The Rolling Stones. They created a blueprint for success, which started from humble beginnings and quickly imprinted their handcrafted blues sound into the consciousness of millions. Hence, when The Who raced onto the scene kicking and screaming, they already knew how their dream might become achievable.
For Daltrey, as a frontman, watching Mick Jagger was akin to securing a first-class education from Oxford University. Seeing Jagger energetically parade around the stage had helped Daltrey draw up a concept in his head of what a lead singer should be. While he went about his business in different ways, they both have an undeniable aura that can capture entire stadiums under their respective spells.
Years later, after The Rolling Stones became national villains following Keith Richards and Jagger’s drug-related arrest, The Who were there by their side for moral support. The group recorded a pair of covers, with the proceeds going towards helping the duo get bail. However, the well-intentioned wouldn’t prove necessary, as Jagger and Richards were released before the songs. Nevertheless, it indicates how highly The Who respected The Rolling Stones as people and musicians.
The love-in still burns strong today. In 2021, Daltrey rallied around Jagger once more after Paul McCartney kept his rivalry with The Rolling Stones burning by brutally calling them nothing more than a “blues covers band”. Although he also agreed with the sentiment of Macca’s comments, he didn’t stand for any slander aimed at Jagger. “Mick Jagger, you’ve got to take your hat off to him,” Daltrey told the Coda Collection. “He’s the number one rock ‘n’ roll performer. But as a band, if you were outside a pub and you heard that music coming out of a pub some night, you’d think, ‘Well, that’s a mediocre pub band!'”
Daltrey’s comments about The Rolling Stones being a “mediocre pub band” further demonstrate how highly he rates Jagger. He sees the hip-swaying spotlight magnet as an instrumental part of their success and highlights him as the sole reason they soared to monumental heights.
Furthermore, his bandmate, Pete Townshend, previously echoed his comments, calling Jagger one of the few authentic rockstars on the planet and saying the singer had that special ingredient he has always lacked.
The guitarist commented: “I’ve had my moments, which have been gloriously recorded and exalted but brief when I’ve felt I’m going to try and do this job. I’m going to try to be a proper rock star. Then I would do it, and it wouldn’t work. I was counterfeit. There are very few people truly authentic to the cause: David Byrne. Mick Jagger. Neil Young. Joni Mitchell. Deborah Harry.”
While Townshend and Daltrey disagree on everything from politics to the future of The Who, their mutual adoration of Jagger is one rare area they see eye-to-eye. Even though Jagger is now in his 80s, he performs with more vigour than many half his age, and his position as one of the greatest frontmen ever is unquestionable.
