The Who’s Roger Daltrey says he and Pete Townshend “don’t mix socially at all” and are “total opposites”
The Who frontman, Roger Daltrey, has opened up about his relationship with Pete Townshend and admitted they are “total opposites”.
After more than 60 years together, The Who are finally prepared to call it quits. On July 20th, they began their farewell tour in Italy, with another show planned in Milan tonight (July 22nd) before they move to North America in August for a huge set of dates.
Before they set sail to the US, Daltrey has reflected on his friendship with Townshend and explained why he thinks it works despite their differences as people.
In a new interview with the AP, Daltrey said: “It’s a funny friendship, we don’t mix socially at all. We only see each other to work. He likes boats, I hate boats. I like putting my feet on the ground, I like my feet in the mud. He likes fashion, I don’t give a shit. I hate new clothes. So, we’re total opposites.”
Daltrey continued: “But it works, I don’t question it. There’s a chemistry that happens, the way he writes his songs, the way I join him to sing them. There’s something special there and we should treasure it, which indeed we are.”
Last year, Townshend, who voted remain in 2016, opened up about the political differences between the pair regarding the Brexit referendum, telling The Telegraph: “[That was] very problematic for me. I think he was wrong. But we are a nation divided down the middle.”
However, he did praise his bandmate as a human being, adding, “He’s not a fascist Right-winger, he’s a very decent man.”
At the opening night of their tour, which also marked their first show with new drummer Scott Devours, The Who performed a 20-song set, which saw Daltrey and Townshend perform the band’s biggest hits, including ‘Baba O’Riley’, ‘Pinball Wizard’, ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’, ‘Substitute’, ‘My Generation’, and ‘I Can’t Explain’.
During the concert, Daltrey delivered a large part of ‘See Me, Feel Me’ while kneeling down due to suffering from leg cramps, but successfully made it back to his feet in order to finish the song.
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