Pete Townshend Speaks on His Rift with Roger Daltrey During The Who’s Farewell Tour
via Giuseppe Vergara / YouTube
Looking Back at The Who’s Legacy
As The Who take on their final tour, the weight of their history is impossible to ignore. Half of the original lineup is gone — drummer Keith Moon passed away in 1978, and bassist John Entwistle in 2002. Despite these losses, guitarist Pete Townshend and vocalist Roger Daltrey have carried the band forward, continuing to perform under The Who name.
For Townshend, the group is no longer just a band but something larger. “It’s a brand rather than a band,” he told AARP. “Roger and I have a duty to the music and the history. The Who [still] sells records — the Moon and Entwistle families have become millionaires. There’s also something more, really: the art, the creative work is when we perform it. We’re celebrating. We’re a Who tribute band.”
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Mixed Feelings About Performing
While Townshend has built his life on stage, he admits performing has always brought complicated emotions. “I don’t hate it,” he explained earlier this year, “but it doesn’t fill my soul in the way that you see some performers — just their soul is filled through being on the stage. That’s not me.”
He reflected further with AARP, saying, “It can be lonely. I’ve thought, Well, this is my job, I’m happy to have the work, but I prefer to be doing something else. Then, I think, Well, I’m 80 years old. Why shouldn’t I revel in it? Why shouldn’t I celebrate?”
From Art Student to Reluctant Rock Star
Townshend has spent more than six decades in The Who, having formed the band in his late teens after attending art college. Their early success came quickly with the release of “I Can’t Explain,” which became an instant hit in England.
Over time, he became one of rock’s most distinct guitarists, recognized for both his rhythm playing on acoustic and electric guitar and his theatrical stage presence — smashing guitars, using feedback in creative ways, and his trademark windmill strum. Yet he insists fame was never part of his plan. “A rock star is something I didn’t really want to happen,” he admitted. “‘[I Can’t Explain’] was bigger and better than the art stuff that I was a student for. So I ended up as a rock star — and I think I’m not really good at it,” he added with a laugh.
Turmoil with the Drummer’s Chair
The farewell tour has been marked by tension, particularly with longtime drummer Zak Starkey. Starkey was dismissed in April 2025, briefly reinstated, and then let go again in May. He later explained the dispute stemmed from a March performance at the Royal Albert Hall when Roger Daltrey lost his place during “The Song Is Over,” blaming the issue on Starkey’s bass drum being too loud in his monitor. “What happened was I got it right and Roger got it wrong,” Starkey told The Telegraph, saying the band had not rehearsed enough.
Daltrey, however, accused Starkey of engaging in “character assassination.” Townshend tried to calm the situation, remarking, “It looked like Roger made a mistake, but something technical went wrong. [Zak’s] handling of it, was, I suppose, light-hearted, but you know Roger.”
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The Rift Between Townshend and Daltrey
Even between the two remaining members, friction has always been part of the story. “We don’t communicate very well,” Townshend admitted. “He and I are very different and we have different needs as performers,” noting especially Daltrey’s near deafness. “He got upset because he felt I had sometimes given the impression of having left the building. Roger complained about the fact that he is deaf. He’s a singer, and he has to be 100 percent fit in order to do his job.”
Looking Ahead
Townshend says he plans to focus on solo projects after the tour, including an album inspired by his 2019 debut novel The Age of Anxiety. He also expects to play solo shows, while not ruling out working with Daltrey again. “Together we represent all aspects of the Who legacy. You know, I’m the songwriter and creator, but Roger’s been the driving force, meaning keeping The Who band and his brand on track. Even with his solo work, we’ll continue to work together, even if we rarely socialize.”
