The Who's front man knows, 40 years on

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Roger Daltrey, lead singer with The Who, appears in concert with Pete Townsend on Tuesday. Associated Press

The Who members, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend, say they're singing and playing better than ever. Geffen Records

The Who 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Blaisdell Arena $65, $95 (877) 750-4400 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Maui Arts & Cultural Center $55, $75, $95 (more seats have been released) (808) 242-7469

In fact, Daltrey at 60 has turned into quite the thoughtful, intelligent elder statesman for The Who, the legendary British rock band he's fronted for exactly 40 years. That is, if you enjoy your elder statesmen waxing cocky and self-assured as ever about their band's well-deserved place in rock history, while fondly recalling youthful days of shagging Herman's Hermits' groupies.

With The Who in town this week for its first Hawai'i shows since 1967, The Advertiser spoke at length with Daltrey about his Who mates — past and present. We also chatted on his long, and at times contentious, relationship with guitarist Pete Townshend, and the day Daltrey might just choose to chuck it all for manor life in the English countryside.

Reached at his hotel Thursday, several hours before the second of two Who shows in Sydney, Australia, Daltrey carried on in a chipper and quick-clipped Cockney brogue.

OK, I've read about why The Who haven't played Australia for 36 years. But why haven't you played Hawai'i for 37?

"I don't know! We just never ever got out there. It was never part of any of our tours and I don't know why. Maybe Australia had something to do with it because (Hawai'i) is on the way to Australia." (Laughs.)

I wasn't around at the time. But I thought maybe we'd done something to offend you all the last time around.

"No, no, no, no, no. We had a very good time in Hawai'i."

Do you have any memories of the visit?

"I remember Keith Moon attempting to surf for the first time, which was hysterical. We both did it for about an hour, and it was like a lesson in drowning."

Who was better at it?

(Laughs.) "I think we were both as bad as each other. But I just remember (Hawai'i) being fantastic. And mainly — because of the age that I was — I remember the women were wonderful."

You guys opened for Herman's Hermits here. Backstage must have been interesting.

"Yeah, it was kind of interesting. It was an interesting tour. It was great fun because we had no responsibilities. None whatsoever. Just get on and do our thing. It was great."

What's changed?

"Well, nothing! It's still great fun. But there are responsibilities now, though, aren't there? It's one thing supporting someone on a show. It's another thing headlining."

So you were OK with supporting the Hermits at that time.

"It was great, yeah. Like I said, you could have all the fun, and then you had the first choose of the women afterwards." (Laughs salaciously.)

I caught a glimpse of The Who's Sydney set list. Do you still pick the songs for the band?

"Well, not really. I kind of piece it together (once we) choose what we're gonna play. But, in some ways, we've got the best of all problems (in) having too much good material. When you haven't been out (on tour) for a while, the kind of fans that are gonna come and see us ... aren't gonna leave until they've heard 'Won't Get Fooled Again,' 'Who Are You' and 'Baba O'Riley.' If you want to put some of the obscure stuff in, you're obviously going to have to leave something out.

Is there anything you'd like to put in the set list that Pete absolutely refuses to agree to?

"Oh, there's a lot of songs he won't do, and there's a lot of songs I won't do. There's also a lot that doesn't actually work on stage. ... I think there are shows to suit (various) venues. And for the kind of venues we're doing at the moment, the show we've got is the best."

And that song that you would love to do live that Pete won't?

"Well, I love 'Slip Kid.' He won't do it. There you go."

I was surprised to see "Eminence Front" on the Sydney set list. Is it about the only thing you'll still touch from "It's Hard?" (The Who's final studio album, the 1982 disc is considered by the band and many fans as its worst.)

"No ... It's on there because, basically, after singing for an hour-and-a-half, I need a break. (Laughs.) You know, these are tough songs to sing. They ain't easy. This is not sing-along rock and roll. This is demanding (expletive deleted), you know?"

And, again, it's that time of the show for Pete to step up a bit.

"Yeah. And he does 'Drown' on acoustic because it shows a different side of his guitar. His work on guitar is extraordinary. ... No one plays acoustic like him."

At one time you and Pete were talking about doing an acoustic set on this tour.

"You know, we had been planning one. But at the moment we've got other things on our mind. We're trying to finish an album in the studio, and we're doing these shows to keep our hand in on the road. Because where we're at in our lives now, if we stop this for too long, we won't be able to get it back. It's incredibly demanding work. You have to stay physically into doing it. It's not the kind of thing you can put down. It'd be like stopping exercising."

How does touring help with studio work? This will be The Who's first studio recording in 22 years.

"It keeps you sharp. (It) keeps your ears (sharp) as well. You get ideas. And the songs are never the same every night. They're the same songs, but they're a little bit different every night. There's always something that happens."

You and Pete have solid musicians backing you on tour, but what, if anything, do you still miss about having Keith (Moon) and John (Entwistle) on stage?

"Well, we've kind of almost replaced (Keith) with Zak (Starkey's) drumming technique. Zak's basically playing everything that Keith laid down in the first place. Having said that, Zak very much lays things down of his own. Let's put it this way, he's about the best second (to Keith) who'll ever come. ... The one thing we obviously can't replace with Keith is his humor. The in-between song 'verbal' that he used to give the audience was hysterical. And we can never replace that with anybody because he was a master at that. I think, in some ways, that was as great as his talent at drumming. And John ... was such an individual. It'd be impossible to replace him.."

What's easier and what's difficult about The Who being just you and Pete?

"This is easy! There's nothing difficult about it at all. Compared with the four of us, this is easy. We've only got two of us to fall out with." (Laughs.)

Those fall outs between you and Pete were legendary. You still have 'em from time to time?

"No, no. Work is really easy now. We're in because we want to do it now. Those problems were (about) being young in the early days. Testosterone problems."

Anything different about walking up those stairs to face an audience at 21 and taking 'em at 60?

"None whatsoever. You don't play any differently at all. You always go out there and you do your best. I can only speak for myself because I'm only me. But I always do my best. Whatever I've got on the night, I'll give. ... Some nights I'm better than others!"

Has Pete's outlook about being in The Who and touring as The Who changed any after the difficulties he faced last year? (Townshend was arrested in January 2003 on suspicion of downloading and possessing indecent images of children. He was eventually cleared.)

"Yeah. I think he's realizing that the finishing line is in sight — that we can't do this forever. Physically, we won't be able to. We're reaching that period where you never know when it gives you up. And that's the facts of life. So we're enjoying it while we can."

The live shows have been getting good reviews.

"They have. I think in some ways we're better now than we've ever been. Pete's certainly playing better on the guitar than he's played since the early seventies."

And you?

"I think I'm singing better than ever, yeah."

You've said in the past that you and Pete would continue performing as The Who as long as you're breathing and can do the music justice.

"And that's it. That's exactly right. There's an energy and ability that this music demands. I can kind of cheat the top few notes and get around them. But if that goes to too many notes, then I'll stop. And if I can't give the songs the energy that they demand — or even change them a bit to kind of fit them to where (I) am now ... if it doesn't work, I should just stop. It's as simple as that."

What still excites you about your job, Roger?

"God, it's just the best job in the world. God almighty. Who wouldn't swap?"

I'd switch with you.

"Well, there you go. I mean, I remember working in a factory. I still do. And I don't want to go back there. I could do it. But this is much better. I wouldn't go back to a day job."

So can we expect you and Pete back in town before 2041, then?

(Laughs heartily.) "There's no way we'll be back then. (Sighs.) Who knows? Who can foretell the future? That would be a brave man, indeed. ... Let's just make a good job of this one first."

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8005.