Sir Roger Daltrey rose to fame in the 1960s as the lead vocalist and co-founder of The Who, a band that would go on to redefine rock music and become one of the most influential groups of the 20th century. Known for his commanding stage presence, signature microphone-swinging, and powerful voice, Daltrey became the face and voice of anthems such as ‘My Generation’, ‘Pinball Wizard’, and ‘Baba O’Riley’. The Who’s ground-breaking performances and rebellious spirit left a lasting mark on generations of musicians and fans alike. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, cementing its place in musical history.

Beyond his musical achievements, Daltrey has also dedicated large amounts of his life to charitable work, most notably as a long-time patron and driving force behind the Teenage Cancer Trust. Since launching a series of now-iconic benefit concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2000, Daltrey has helped raise more than $50 million for the charity, supporting specialised cancer units for teenagers and young adults across the UK. The annual concerts feature performances from some of the world’s biggest artists – all in support of a vital cause.

Speaking about the honour, Daltrey expressed pride in the collective efforts of those involved in the charity’s success. “It’s a wonderful honour for me, and especially Teenage Cancer Trust,” he shared in an official statement. “I accept this award not only for myself but on behalf of all the unsung heroes who have given their energy towards making the Teenage Cancer Trust the success it has become.”

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In a previous statement, Daltrey reflected on the continuing importance of the charity’s work: “Every year, Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall raises essential funds to support the charity’s work. I am incredibly proud of what we have already achieved and am inspired about what we will accomplish together”. With aid from Daltrey, the charity now has 28 specialist units in NHS hospitals across the country.

This year’s King’s Birthday Honours list recognised more than 1,200 individuals for their public service and achievements across a range of sectors. Other high-profile recipients include actor Gary Oldman, footballer David Beckham, and television presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.

For Sir Roger Daltrey, the knighthood not only acknowledges a renowned career in music but also highlights a profound commitment to improving the lives of young people facing extraordinary challenges.

Check out MXDWN’s recent coverage on The Who’s North American Farewell tour here

The so-called confusion came after a performance at the Teenage Cancer Trust shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall, during which frontman Roger Daltrey blamed Starkey for a miscued key change, telling the crowd that all he could hear was “boom, boom, boom”. The situation bubbled up earlier this week when the drummer took to Instagram to tell followers that he was about to “get the Zak”, adding that he was facing “formal charges of overplaying.” The band then made an official statement on 15 April confirming the 59-year-old had left the band. The decision was met with confusion by the wider music community, especially considering the various ties between Starkey and the band’s original drummer, Keith Moon. 

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Just as the ordeal seemed to come to an end, The Who did a U-Turn, reversing their earlier decision. Pete Townshend took to social media on 19 April, sharing a post which read “News Flash! Who Backs Zak!”. Less than three hours later, a full statement was released, clarifying the situation and telling fans “Zak is not being asked to step down from The Who,” and blaming the misunderstanding on a “breakdown of communication”.  

“There have been some communication issues, personal and private on all sides, that needed to be dealt with, and these have been aired happily,” the statement read. Penned by Townshend, he shared that the March shows had been “tricky” for him too, following a knee replacement surgery, and asked himself, “Why did I ever think I could land on my knees?”

Starkey’s contribution to the band was praised, and Townshend had confirmed that the drummer agreed to “tighten up his latest evolved drumming style” for shows that didn’t feature an orchestra alongside the band. Having worked together for three decades, the guitarist said, “We are a family. This blew up very quickly and got too much oxygen. It’s over. We move forward now with optimism and fire in our bellies.”  

The full statement was shared on Zak Starkey’s own Instagram page, with the drummer adding his own message. “Very grateful to be part of The Who family. Thanks Roger and Pete xx”.

 

 

 

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Townshend also took the opportunity to address rumours that began to swirl regarding a replacement, with Roger Daltrey’s solo drummer, Scott Devours, being heavily linked with a seat behind the kit. He apologised to Devours for not rubbishing the rumours sooner, adding that the drummer “has been hurt by this” and was owed a long drink and a hug.

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 Despite the reconciliation, some fans on Reddit are sceptical about the reasons behind it. One user wrote “seems to me like Pete had to step in to resolve it after so much support for Zak.” Regardless, Starkey is set to pick up the sticks for The Who once again for their upcoming shows in Italy.

Insiders quoted by The Daily Mirror claim that the split hasn’t been as amicable as the statement suggests, and Starkey himself made reference to tensions in an Instagram post on 12 April. The drummer joked that he was set for the “Zak”, and that “formal charges of overplaying” were set to be brought against him. The post also seemed to place the blame squarely on frontman Roger Daltrey. In an earlier Instagram post, Starkey shared a photograph of himself and guitarist Pete Townshend saying “What a guy”. 

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Starkey had been playing with The Who since 1996, when he joined them as part of the touring band for a live concert version of their 1973 album, ‘Quadrophenia’. During his 29-year stint, Starkey contributed to two studio albums, ‘Endless Wire’ and ‘Who’, and was described as being the best fit for the band after Keith Moon’s passing by both Daltrey and Townshend. Moon was friends with Starkey’s father, Ringo Starr, and was also Zak Starkey’s godfather, so he felt like a natural fit when he joined the group.   

The split appears to have stemmed from an incident on stage at the Royal Albert Hall. During the show’s finale, Daltrey apparently stopped ‘The Song Is Over’ mid-performance, telling the band and the crowd “To sing that song I do need to hear the key, and I can’t. All I’ve got is drums going boom, boom, boom. I can’t sing to that.” This account of events was backed up by an X user, who said “Daltrey missed the key change and blamed it on the drums. Now he’s fired Zak Starkey.”

The abrupt separation has caused confusion, particularly given Starkey’s prominence in the band. At nearly three decades, the 59-year-old had been part of The Who for twice as long as Moon, becoming part of the furniture. Not only was the quick dismissal surprising, but so were the accusations of “overplaying”. The Who had a reputation for being one of the 60’s loudest and most rebellious bands, almost proto-punk, and Keith Moon once set off an explosive charge in his kick drum while recording a TV show in 1967.  

No replacement has been named, and the rumour mill is relatively quiet. The band’s touring lineup has remained relatively stable, however they will need to find a replacement before their two shows in Italy this summer. Starkey will be kept busy with his group Mantra of the Cosmos, the supergroup featuring Shaun Ryder, Bez, and Andy Bell. The group played the Cavern Club earlier this year, and released a single co-written with Noel Gallagher. 

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 Starkey was also the drummer alongside Gallagher in Oasis, playing with the band between 2004 and 2009. With less than 100 days until their reunion tour kicks off, fans are already speculating about whether we could see Starkey reunite with the band this summer.

This special run of shows will see Daltrey backed by his renowned nine-piece band, featuring long-time Who collaborator Simon Townshend on guitar and vocals. Roger Daltrey has been performing with his current nine-piece band since 2018. This ensemble joined him for the release and promotion of his solo album As Long As I Have You. With the group, Daltrey has focused on bringing new textures and richer sounds on old material, compared to the rawer edge of his and The Who’s earlier career, including incorporating Katie Jacoby’s violin on arrangements.

Legendary rock singer Roger Daltrey will be hitting the road in 2025 on a special solo tour packed with classic The Who songs, solo hits and his now-famous Q&A sessions, in which he opens up to the fans who have been with him throughout the decades.
In a run of unmissable… pic.twitter.com/DpDMi83p97

— The Who (@TheWho) November 11, 2024

Daltrey said in a press release via The Who’s website: “Here we go again! After touring the US with this band of phenomenal musicians, I can’t wait to get back on the road in the UK with these shows. It’s a joy to be on stage performing—up close and personal for the audience, chatting with them and playing familiar songs in an unfamiliar way.”

Daltrey’s solo career began in 1973 with his debut single, Giving It All Away, which reached number five on the UK charts. His most recent release As Long As I Have You was well reviewed and achieved a top-10 spot in the UK. Daltrey’s solo discography grew with albums like Ride a Rock Horse (1975) and One of the Boys (1977), which showcased the singer’s comfort in a range of genres. Under a Raging Moon (1985), his tribute to The Who’s late drummer Keith Moon, is one of his most celebrated solo works, featuring contributions from prominent drummers like Stewart Copeland and Carl Palmer. The album’s title track, along with “After the Fire,” written by Daltrey’s The Who bandmate Pete Townshend, became fan favourites.

Meanwhile, Pete Townshend has confirmed that The Who will “definitely” return in 2025, though the specifics remain undisclosed. In recent interviews, Townshend hinted that the band may depart from its recent orchestral tours to explore a rawer, smaller-band format. Reflecting on the future, Townshend expressed a desire to revisit an earlier sound and an earlier ethos, saying: “We’re eager to make a noise and make a mess and make mistakes.”

We’re excited to announce the line-up for this year’s #TeenageCancerGigs at the @RoyalAlbertHall!

Tickets on sale Friday 12 Jan at 9:00am https://t.co/e6jo2B8WzP pic.twitter.com/G6BQLZs2tx

— Teenage Cancer Trust (@TeenageCancer) January 8, 2024

The event will kick off on Monday, March 18, with The Who, backed by an orchestra, and special guests Squeeze. There will be a night of comedy on Tuesday, March 19, with the full line-up to be announced soon, and Wednesday, March 20 will see The Who and Squeeze welcomed back to the Royal Albert Hall for the second time. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds will then perform on Thursday, March 21, along with indie rock special guests Blossoms.

Friday, March 22 will see Scottish progressive hip-hop group Young Fathers kick off the weekend, followed by a headline Saturday show from The Chemical Brothers, alongside DJ James Holroyd, on March 23. The week-long fundraising extravaganza will conclude on Sunday, March 24 with an Ovation, bringing together the likes of Roger Daltrey, Kelly Jones, Paul Weller, Robert Plant, Pete Townshend and Eddie Vedder to commemorate 24 successful years of performing live music for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The celebrations come with a hint of sadness, however, as this year’s event will see Roger Daltrey stepping down from his role as curator for the Teenage Cancer Trust annual concerts. Since starting in 2000, performing at the first live Teenage Cancer Trust gig with his band, The Who frontman Daltrey has been at the centre of every annual celebration. He has unceasingly inspired countless musicians to come together and perform for a very special cause year upon year, and he will now allow a series of guest curators to take up the task.

Noel Gallagher, on the positive impact the Teenage Cancer Trust has had, said, ‘The TCT continue to make a real difference to teenagers in what undoubtedly must be the most challenging years of their lives. Having performed at the very first event back in 2000 it is a charity very close to my heart.  24 years and counting is a triumph in itself. NGHFB will be there en masse. Together we will make the night unique. I’d buy a ticket if I were you.”

Tickets go on sale from 9am Friday January 12 and will be available to purchase here.

Donations to the Teenage Cancer Trust can be made here.

Speaking to The Sun, Townshend explained: 

“I am still developing the score and recording the music. I am also working on a documentary about the project, from its inception in 2007 until today. I’m probably two years off completing it, at which time I hope to perform it with a full opera and a cast of guest singers.”

The Age Of Anxiety, released in November 2019, explores the anxiety of modern life in a story that follows two generations of a London family, their lovers, collaborators, and friends. The lead protagonist is a young rock musician who has the ability to psychically connect to his audience, giving him access to a soundscape filled with their angst-riddled thoughts.

In 2008, when Townshend first conceived the idea, he aimed to reflect the thoughts and feelings of his own audience. In fact, many of his story’s characters are based on people he knows personally – the songwriter even drew inspiration from conversations with neighbours, exchanges which revealed to him an underlying sense of fear and anxiety apparent within the community. 

Since then, this paranoid mentality has only intensified. Through his The Age of Anxiety show, Townshend will delve into contemporary themes that dominate our zeitgeist, including the consequences of global warming, the threat of terrorism, and the adverse effects of social media, which contribute to a generation grappling with mental health challenges.

Townshend is, of course, widely acclaimed for his iconic concept albums with The Who, several of which come with accompanying feature films. Among his most celebrated works are Tommy, which tells the tale of a deaf-mute-blind boy who also happens to be a pinball prodigy, and Quadrophenia, which follows a young mod named Jimmy in his search for self-worth.

Listen to “Pinball Wizard” from Tommy below:

Meanwhile, The Who’s only other surviving member, lead singer Roger Daltrey, is reportedly progressing on his own passion project, a biopic about the group’s late drummer Keith Moon that has been in a state of limbo since 2005. In an interview with NME, Daltrey confirmed that he recently completed a script for the film and is determined to get it to the big screen.

Moon, who died from a drug overdose aged 32 in 1979, was notoriously self-destructive but also, according to Daltrey, “the funniest man [he] ever met”.

Watch Keith Moon’s infamous exploding drum set performance below:

In announcing the tour the singer stated that he wishes to “Take the audience on a musical journey through my career as a singer, with a show of songs and sounds that explores and surprises” 

The singer started his musical career as part of the band and co-founder of The Who formed in 1964. The original lineup of the band included the singer (Singer/guitarist), Pete Townshend (Singer/ guitarist), Keith Moon (Drummer) and John Entwistle (Singer/bass guitarist).

Moon sadly passed away on September 7th 1978 and the 43rd anniversary of his death was yesterday. Entwistle also sadly passed away on June 27th 2002. Following the sad deaths of both Moon and Entwistle, the singer and Townshend have vowed to carry on the band and have both managed to pursue solo projects whilst remaining in the band. 

The Who are famed for their debut single “I Can’t Explain” (1965), as well as singles “My Generation” (1965), “Pinball Wizard” (1979) and “Who Are You” (1978). The song is also the theme tune for the main US Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) series.

The singer’s solo career began in 1973 and he has since recorded 10 solo studio albums with his last album being As Long As I Have You released in 2018. The singers hit singles include “Giving It All Away” (1973), “Written On The Wind” (1977), “Free Me” (1980) and “Without Your Love” (1980).

The singer expressed that he missed touring during the Covid 19 Pandemic and said “This pandemic has brought home to me what an important part of me singing is and it’s made me determined to get back onstage asap. See you soon!”

The singer has promised to involve his audiences during the tour. The singer expressed that he wishes to have closer contact with his audience and also said “I look forward to having closer contact with my audience than festivals and arenas allow. Leaving time to chat.”

The singer’s tour kicks off in Birmingham on November 7th and will see him performing throughout the UK. Tickets go on sale on September 10th at 09.00 am.

Tickets on sale 9.00am BST Friday 10 September. Details athttps://t.co/PnJNuspeYC pic.twitter.com/maaj3IpLVK

— The Who (@TheWho) September 8, 2021

See Roger Daltrey’s Tour dates below. Tickets are available here

07/11/21 Symphony Hall- Birmingham
09/11 O2 Apollo- Manchester
11/11 Royal Concert Hall- Nottingham
15/11 London Palladium- London
17/11 Brighton Centre- Brighton
19/11 Cliffs Pavilion- Southend-on-Sea
21/11 New Theatre- Oxford
24/11 SEC Armadillo- Glasgow
26/11 O2 City Hall- Newcastle
29/11 Empire Theatre- Liverpool
01/12 Portsmouth Guildhall- Portsmouth
02/12 Bournemouth International Centre- Bournemouth

The Who’s official Instagram post announced the news to fans.

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Daltrey will not be completely solo, he will be joined by musicians from The Who’s touring band.  The 77-year-old icon’s new tour entitled, ‘Live and Kicking Tour’ will start this August. The tour will treat fans to some classics from The Who as well as tracks from his solo repertory.

So far four dates have been added, starting in San Diego on 19 August 2021 and finishing the tour, at this moment, on 3^rd September 2021 at Washington State Fair. A statement on The Who’s official website has given the below information concerning Daltrey’s solo tour.

“Roger Daltrey is delighted to announce that he and members of The Who touring band will be on the road late summer 2021, performing some Who hits, a few rarities and some solo hits. So far, four dates have been announced with several more to follow. Keep checking back on our tour dates page for more information and those all-important ticket purchase links.”

The Who themselves, were meant to be on tour during 2020 but unfortunately due to the COVID-19 pandemic the tour was put on hold, the tour was in support of the band’s new LP ‘Who‘. The ‘My Generation’ icons’ new album was released on 6^th December 2019 and was the group’s first album in thirteen years and the second release consisting of just the duo, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend. The album was a huge commercial success and reached number three within the UK album charts, with the album’s lead single ‘Ball and Chain’ being debuted at London’s Wembley Stadium on 6tth July 2019.

Although their tour was postponed, Daltrey and Townshend decided to make the most out of the lockdown and decided to promote their back catalogue by releasing re-issues of their past albums. A deluxe edition of the album, ‘The Who Sell Out’ originally released in 1967 was re-issued in April. The deluxe release boasted a track list of 112 songs including 46 never heard before tracks.

The duo has also joined the ranks of many other musical legends who are participating in Record Store Day this year, in honour of the event a double LP release of the 1981 album ‘Face Dances’ will be available in June, the release will also celebrate the album’s 40^th anniversary.

Roger Daltrey ‘Live and Kicking 2021’ Tour dates

19/08/2021 – The Shell – San Diego, CA
21/08 – Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys – Stateline, NV
01/09 – Northern Quest Resort & Casino – Spokane, WA
03/09 – Washington State Fair – Puyallup, WA

The Who guitarist, Pete Townshend, has caused quite a stir by his admission of wanting to work with Roger Daltrey after lockdown. The 75-year-old classic rock legend has been in his home studio working on some songs he hopes to release. Townshend has made it clear that this release depends on whether it makes sense financially and has expressed his distain over revenue accumulated from live streams.

The band have had to cancel and reschedule their tour dates due to Covid, firstly rescheduling the UK and Ireland tour to this year but with the current Corona news the band will have to reschedule again or cancel entirely. Townshend spoke to Uncut about his new musical plans for the new album, “There’s pages and pages of draft lyrics,” he continues and states “If the moment comes, I’ll go in and start.”

The Who famed for their hit ‘My Generation’ released 1965 became the poster boys of the mod generation, which represented a youthful rebellion fuelled by music and fashion. The band would go on to write one of the first rock operas, ‘Tommy’ released 1969 which later became a film, and whose sixth studio album became one of the most famous films which documented mod culture, ‘Quadrophenia’ in 1973, making it also their second rock opera. The band would go on to be recognised on every influential band list made and were recently honoured at London’s UK Walk Of Fame. Townshend himself would go on to help solidify Marshall Amps as the reputable company that it is now.

The band’s last studio album entitled, ‘Who’ was released in 2019 to critical as well as commercial success, the album reached number three on the UK album chart and received some decent reviews, with most of the songs written by Townshend.

As for the latest instalment of The Who’s material, it looks like we will all have to wait until Lockdown is through to get our fix of Townshend and Daltrey.

Click here for the band’s backstage blog.

We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from all the incredible artists & celebrities who will be helping to raise vital funds for our music therapy on Tue 15 Dec for our Christmas concert #SingForNordoffRobbins https://t.co/yt5APxGrNs @HipgnosisSongs @LSEplc @openexc @YourSSE pic.twitter.com/Rqmq6Po9M0

— Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy (@NordoffRobbins1) December 10, 2020

The list of performers for the virtual concert includes Cliff Richard; Rod Stewart; Robbie Williams; Manic Street Preachers frontman James Dean Bradfield; Simple Minds; Neil Young; Tony Bennett; Kaiser Chiefs; Rebecca Ferguson; Freya Ridings; Jack Savoretti and soul songstress Mica Paris. There will also be appearances from Led Zeppelin troubadour Robert Plant, The Who’s Roger Daltrey and Coloradan pop-rockers OneRepublic.

The musical sets will be interspersed with traditional and topical Christmas readings from British stars of stage and screen. Speakers will include Bill Nighy; Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and Rebecca star Lily James; actor, playwright and singer Kwame Kwei-Armah; Olivier Award winner Noma Dumezweni; and Freddie Fox.

Nordoff Robbins – founded in 1959 by Handsworth-born special education teacher Clive Robbins and American composer and pianist Paul Nordoff – helps provide therapy to music to those affected by life-limiting illness, isolation or disability. The charity works with  over 270 organisations across the UK; including schools, care homes, hospitals, mental health units, hospices, and neuro-rehab centres.

Previewing the gig this week, the charity’s Instagram page states: “Nordoff Robbins has been severely impacted by #COVID-19. Most of our fundraising activities have been cancelled, meaning we are expecting to lose over 50% of our income in 2020, putting music therapy at risk of stopping for the people who need it most. Our #SingForNordoffRobbins online Christmas concert will help raise vital funds for our music therapy.”

Host Nile Rodgers, the guitar behemoth behind the iconic sound of Chic and Sister Sledge, t0ld Music Week that he had a personal connection with the charity. He said “Nordoff Robbins music therapy is a charity close to my heart as I’ve witnessed the power of music first hand. I’ve seen how music connects with people all over the world in a way that nothing else can so when I heard that Nordoff Robbins were taking their annual carol service online, I jumped at the chance to host the event and to bring along some of my closest musical friends to help spread some Christmas cheer.”

The veteran hit-maker added “I know how hard this year has been for everyone, in particular charities. Because of the pandemic, Nordoff Robbins are expecting to lose much of their fundraising income. This means they are able to help less people, including children with autism who rely on music therapy for a sense of connection or those affected by life-limiting illnesses or disability – even though their services are needed now more than ever.“