Search
Close this search box.
Ozzie News
Search
Close this search box.

Roger Daltrey…old but still rocking

At 67 and a multiple-grandfather, Roger Daltrey exhibits more excitement and restlessness than a young child. He shifts back and forth in his chair, pounds a handkerchief with his hands, and bounces his legs as though charged with energy.

The notorious rock figure is as furious as ever and resents being labeled as old. The lead singer of The Who famously declared, ‘I hope I die before I get old,’ and insists that sentiment still holds true.

‘We often equate age solely with time, but I believe it involves much more than that; a whole array of other factors plays into it,’ he shares. ‘I’ve encountered 16-year-olds who act older and 90-year-olds who seem youthful.

‘I regularly visit a friend of mine who is 8…although he’s older in years, he has the mindset of a teenager. It’s remarkable. Being old alters perspectives. Sure, I’m a grandfather, but in many respects, I feel just as I did when I was younger.’

In terms of his physical condition, Roger is remarkably fit, boasting a full head of hair and a physique that commands respect. ‘Maintaining fitness is essential in singing…that’s part of the role,’ he states. ‘It’s impossible to do it without exceptional stamina.’

He recently completed some renovations in his house, which explains his exercise of rolling a handkerchief tightly with his fingers. ‘Renovation work and guitar playing don’t mix,’ he chuckles.

However, time has made its mark on him. Last year he underwent emergency surgery after discovering a pre-cancerous growth behind his vocal cords.

‘That was quite alarming since I was unsure of its nature,’ he remembers. ‘I began struggling to sing, as the notes were becoming increasingly difficult and consuming more energy.

‘Fortuitously, I located what’s likely the best throat specialist available, and he restored my voice to a point where it’s arguably better than it’s been in years.’

His throat requires monitoring twice annually and could ‘go pop’ at any moment. Yet, rather than gently nudging the singer toward retirement…especially with a fortune estimated at $50 million that he doesn’t really need…he’s working harder than he ever has.

‘I’ve intentionally continued singing because it’s necessary at my age,’ he remarks. ‘If I stopped for just a year, my voice would gradually decline until it’s completely gone. That’s a reality of reaching my age. Rock musicians have never been this age before, so we’re essentially navigating uncharted waters. I could never stop. The joy of playing is irreplaceable. Singing allows me to connect with something deep within me.’

While touring the country with his Tommy Reborn show, 40 years after first delivering the lyrics, and then heading to America where The Who’s popularity skyrockets, he stands as the sole representative of his band. This is the first time he’s performed the show without the main songwriter and fellow surviving bandmate Pete Townshend, and he concedes uncertainty about their next collaboration.

‘Pete is almost stone deaf,’ he laments. ‘He lost much of his hearing in the recording studio, and during our last performance, he had to position himself right next to the speakers to catch anything. What Pete will decide to do is uncertain. I wouldn’t want to tour if it could lead to him becoming completely deaf.’

The duo has shared their journey for 50 years, having met at Acton County Grammar School in West London. Their fiery disputes are as legendary as those of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and Roger admits they still bicker like ‘cat and dog… it’s merely creative differences.’

We discuss the rift between the two Rolling Stones, particularly the assertions made in Richards’ book regarding Mick’s endowment. ‘If I were Mick, I would simply concede, “Yeah, I’ve got a small cock, who…“Who cares? I’ve managed alright with it!” cackles Roger.

“Pete means the world to me,” he shares. “His creativity…sometimes teeters on madness. Yet, during his creative moments, he crafts some incredible music. We’ve been together for half a century; we’re like brothers.”

Roger has lost his other two bandmates, Keith Moon and John Entwistle, to drugs. He’s the only member of the band who steered clear of heavy substances. “I wasn’t a goody-goody…I experimented with the natural stuff,” Roger explains. “However, surrounded by three alcoholics, someone had to maintain a straight edge. They were three crazies.”

“Very early in my career, the man who created Purple Haze (LSD) cautioned me against chemicals. His name was Owsley Stanley, known as The Bear. He advised me to avoid chemicals, and I took him seriously because of his credibility.”

He famously faced expulsion from the band for a week after physically confronting Moon, who was supplying drugs to the others. His frustration with his bandmates only arose when their drug use started impacting their performances.

“I doubt anyone who hasn’t experienced this job can grasp how challenging it is, especially concerning nerves,” he states. “When you’re up there, you’re entirely exposed, and judgment is inevitable. It’s psychologically rigorous.”

“Thus, it’s easy to see why musicians might seek a bit of Dutch courage or something else to cope. Keith used to be sick before every show. The quality of our performances suffered due to drugs, and we were capable of so much more. Unsure how to tackle it, I concluded that getting rid of the drugs was the best solution.”

He mentions that his bandmates are still in his thoughts whenever he performs. “Keith and John left their mark on our music, and when we play, it feels like they’re alive again; their essence resonates in the music and always will.”

On the home front, Roger was the most grounded one, most recently celebrating 40 years of marriage. This doesn’t imply a lack of groupies. His first marriage to model Jackie Rickman lasted four years and resulted in their son Simon. They divorced in 1968, shortly after another son, Mathias, was born from an affair with model Elisabeth Aronsson.

When he wed American model Heather Taylor in 1971…she was the muse for Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady”…it came with the understanding that he had the freedom to wander, though he asserts that he maintains fidelity now that their three children have become parents themselves.

“It’s not an open marriage, but in the early stages of our relationship, she never imposed restrictions,” explains Roger. “Being part of one of the biggest rock bands, touring for months on end, do you expect me to return and claim, ‘Oh yes darling, I was a good boy?’”

“Over the years, we’ve cultivated something much deeper than that…she is an extraordinary woman, without a doubt.”

Today, Roger, who grew up in a financially struggling household in West London and crafted his own guitar, is recognized for his philanthropic efforts as much as his musical contributions. His work with the Teenage Cancer Trust has led to the establishment of 20 units for teenagers battling cancer.

His annual week-long concert series at the Albert Hall has generated over $20 million for the charity, and he has been instrumental in its expansion to the U.S. and Australia.

The conversation shifts to U2, who recently encountered protests at Glastonbury after relocating their multimillion-pound company out of Ireland, thereby denying their struggling nation essential tax revenue.

“It’s fascinating that individuals advocating for socialism are reluctant to fund a socialist state. It’s puzzling,” he observes. “It doesn’t really add up.”When it comes to British politics, he has plenty to express. A lifelong voter for Labour, he feels disgusted by the recent Government. “I was appalled at what Labour did to the working class… mass immigration, where individuals were permitted to come here and undermine our working class,” Roger states.

“It’s acceptable to claim that everyone can enter your country, but they should contribute towards the standard of living that those who reside here expect. They shouldn’t arrive here, cram 20 to a room, evade taxes, send remittances abroad, and undercut every builder in London. They devastated the working class in this nation. I despise them for it because it’s always the little guy who suffers the most. It’s appalling—it frustrates me tremendously.

“We need to cease accommodating people because we won’t be able to sustain this. At the very least, it should be mandatory for people to learn English.

“What genuinely infuriated me during that time is not that people shouldn’t come here… that’s perfectly fine… but there must be considerations for the pressure that will place on social services, which they completely ignored.

“Talk about burying their heads in the sand. The arrogance, the audacity. They fail to recognize how hard the average person has to labor to achieve that and to pay those taxes.”

Nonetheless, Roger does not anticipate shifting his allegiance to the Tories. “I’ve grown quite cynical,” he admits. “I don’t see anyone with any backbone from the entire lot. They are utterly spineless.”

His passion is evident in all areas. Regarding the National Health Service, which he has witnessed firsthand, he notes, “When you observe its management, you see there is a complete lack of leadership. Everyone has been digging trenches for 50, 60 years, and now those trenches are so deep that it’s going to be exceptionally difficult to effect any sort of change.”

Conversely, he expresses deep admiration for the Queen, who awarded him a CBE six years ago. “She’s incredible,” he exclaims. “She communicates with her eyes. They sparkle… wow… she’s something special. I believe she is wonderful, and as a nation, we should be immensely proud of her. It’s a terrible situation for her… she can never be truly free. But her commitment to duty has been extraordinary.”

Outspoken about his aversion to reality shows, he also admits involvement in discussions for “The Voice,” a new BBC talent competition aimed at discovering a new singing star.

“The issue with these shows is my disapproval of the contestants they select. It’s partly because the public lacks an understanding of what constitutes great voices… they often choose mediocrity,” he observes.

“With a singer like Adele, you can identify her within 20 seconds; she possesses a quality that seems elusive in these shows. They frequently end up with technically skilled singers who have indistinct voices… they make excellent backing singers.

“My agent brought me in to meet the American Idol team, but I had no desire to partake. I’ve been in discussions with The Voice. The concept appealed to me, but I’ll be on tour when they commence filming.

“I’m not sure I would have been effective. I could potentially listen to 100 voices and not favor any of them. I would detest truly dismantling someone…that’s what I disapprove of in those programs. There are individuals who wouldn’t win a karaoke competition, and it becomes public humiliation.

“With The Voice, I appreciated the concept of selecting based purely on the voice before seeing the person, but a remarkable voice is one in 5,000… otherwise, it’s a sea of mediocrity. Oops!” he chuckles. “That will probably end my television career.”

Grey? Yes. But certainly not old. His energy remains undeniably intact. “People inquire how I feel about performing the same songs I’ve been singing for over 40 years, but they don’t grasp that when I’m singing it that night, it feels as if I’m singing it for the first time.”

by Wallace McTavish

Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news directly in your email inbox.