Watch Roger Daltrey Handle A Heckler In The Crowd

The Who’s legendary frontman Roger Daltrey is back on the road in the U.K. with his solo band—and at 81, he’s not holding back. His 2025 shows have been a vibrant mix of deep cuts from The Who, solo gems, and handpicked covers from artists he admires. But at his April 24 show in Wolverhampton, England, one fan nearly derailed his encore with a loud demand for a classic hit.
Daltrey had just sat down with his acoustic guitar, ready to perform The Kinks’ emotional 1968 tune “Days,” when a fan up front started yelling out a different request: “‘Pinball Wizard’! ‘Pinball Wizard’! ‘Pinball Wizard’!!!”

A Playful but Heated Exchange

Trying to set the tone, Daltrey told the crowd, “I’m gonna do this … ’cause it’s a band that we forget how good they were and how great they are.” But the persistent fan wouldn’t let up.
Roger, clearly exasperated, responded, “I’m fed up with that. [I’ve] done it too much.” The fan fired back, “But we’re not!”

Despite the interruption, Roger launched into “Days,” and most of the audience clapped and sang along. But not the heckler—she shouted again, “It’s not as good as ‘Pinball Wizard’!”
At that point, Daltrey had had enough. He shouted, “Shut the f— up!”—but with a laugh that showed he was more annoyed than angry. The crowd laughed along, enjoying the spirited back-and-forth.

Still, the fan pressed on: “It still don’t make any difference. I’m of a generation where ‘Pinball Wizard’ was our [favorite].” Daltrey quipped, “I can’t play ‘Pinball Wizard.’ I’m the world’s worst pinball player you’ve ever seen in your life.”

When she insisted, “Just do it!” Roger stood firm: “I don’t want to do it, ’cause I just don’t want to do it.” Her final plea—“But we want you to do it!”—was met with Daltrey’s mic-drop moment: “Open your f—ing ears and listen to this.”

Finally, she gave in, and the crowd was treated to a moving, acoustic take on “Days.”

Why “Days” Mattered That Night

“Days” isn’t a regular in Daltrey’s setlist. In fact, according to Setlist.fm, he’s only performed it live once before—during a solo show in June 2024 in Vienna, Virginia. Originally released by The Kinks in 1968, the song climbed to No. 12 on the U.K. charts and remains a touching farewell ballad for fans of British rock.

This wasn’t the only surprise of the tour. Daltrey has also included covers like “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, “The Boy in the Bubble” by Paul Simon, and Tim Hardin’s “Tribute to Hank Williams.” Each one adds something personal to his shows.

What’s Next for Daltrey and The Who

Roger kicked off his U.K. tour on April 20 in Brighton, with stops running through May 5 in Cheltenham. Up next: a show in Dundee, Scotland, on April 26. He’ll also return for more solo U.K. dates in late July and early August.

His nine-piece solo band is stacked with talent: Simon Townshend (Pete’s brother) on guitar and vocals, Billy Nicholls and Katy Jacoby on backing vocals and violin, John Hogg on bass, Doug Boyle on guitar, Jody Linscott on percussion, Geraint Watkins on keys, Scott Devours on drums, and Steve Weston on harmonica. Many of them have played with The Who in recent years, including Hogg, Nicholls, and Jacoby.

Meanwhile, The Who is still going strong too. They’ve booked two big shows in Italy this summer—Padua on July 20 and Milan on July 22.

Daltrey may be done with “Pinball Wizard” for now, but clearly, he’s still got plenty to say—and sing.