The Who’s Pete Townshend has admitted that he no longer loves performing on stage – revealing that it “does not fill my soul”.

The songwriter and guitarist was speaking to Spanish radio station RockFM to promote the new ballet adaptation of The Who’s 1973 album ‘Quadrophenia’.

During the interview, which can be found below, Townshend revealed that there are “two things” that most musicians love doing, but don’t appeal to the rock legend: “One is they love performing. I don’t love performing. I don’t like being on stage. I don’t mind being on stage, I don’t hate it, but it doesn’t fill my soul.”

He went on to explain that he also does not enjoy collaborating with fellow musicians in the same way others do, saying he “finds it very difficult.”

Speaking of his dislike of collaborations, Townshend said: “If I was in the studio, like with a really, really great musician, or with a group of really great musicians, I think I would find it very hard. I often do find it very hard. I find it difficult to collaborate. I find it very difficult looking in the eyes of another musician. I find myself looking to my own energy to express myself.”

However, an exception to the rule is the new ballet that he was promoting. Hitting the stage this summer, ‘Quadrophenia’ will head to Plymouth, Edinburgh, Southampton, London and Salford. 

The guitarist revealed in the same interview that this is a different process of collaboration, compared to making music: “I admire the process of dance and music. Quadrophenia is currently being turned into a ballet. We had our first rehearsal on Monday. It’s gonna be fantastic.

“But I think one of the things about that is that kind of collaboration is an exploration of the human body, of dancing. With music, I find myself wanting to stay in my box for a while.”

Although he doesn’t have much interest in musical collaborations these days, Townshend did share in the same interview that there were two musicians he enjoyed working with back in the day.

Townshend revealed: “I loved working with David Gilmour on my White City album, and we co-wrote some songs.”

“And I really enjoyed working with Eric Clapton back in 1973 when we did the Rainbow Concert together. I think it’s interesting, cause so many new musicians that I really respect want to work with me, and I wish I was more open to it. I could have fun with some of the greatest musicians in the world.”

Tickets for the Quadrophenia ballet go on sale to the general public on July 5 and can be found here.

In other news relating to The Who, drummer Zak Starkey was recently fired before being rehired in a dramatic week for Ringo Starr’s son. Check out the mxdwn coverage here.