Anyway, anyhow, anywhere: Roger Daltrey keeping voice vital with solo shows
By Mary Colurso -- The Birmingham News
February 26, 2010, 7:00AM
Roger Daltrey’s last solo CD was 1992’s “Rocks in the Head.”
He intends to record a new one, but isn’t quite ready to go into the studio.
“I’ve been meeting people and writers and talking about ideas,” Daltrey said. “But no, there’s nothing yet."
(AP / Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Roger Daltrey has distilled his mature vocal philosophy to a single phrase: Use it or lose it.
That was the name of Daltrey’s solo tour last fall, and it’s why The Who’s lead singer, 65, agreed to open 11 tour dates for Eric Clapton in late February and early March.
"I’ve never done a supporting role, not in 40 years, so this is going to be interesting," Daltrey said during a phone interview.
The legendary frontman, who’s enjoyed the spotlight for more than 45 years, said it takes discipline and practice to keep his voice in shape for songs such as "My Generation," "Won’t Get Fooled Again," "See Me, Feel Me" and other classics by the British rock band.
"The voice is like an incredibly complex muscle," Daltrey said. "It’s an incredibly sensitive part of our bodies. The thing has to be exercised well and highly treasured."
Although he’ll delve into The Who’s powerful archive for his dates with Clapton — including a Sunday concert at Birmingham’s BJCC Arena — Daltrey isn’t aiming for a note-by-note recreation of the group’s greatest hits. He has a solo catalog at his disposal, about a dozen albums strong, and a backing band that’s suited to improvisation and new arrangements.
"I like to take things that come out of the air," Daltrey has said. "That what I love about The Who. That’s what we always used to do, right from the very early days: make it up on the spot."
When asked if it might be freeing to open for another rock icon, bearing less than the customary weight for each show’s success, Daltrey let out a laugh.
"I haven’t got a clue, to be honest," he said. "I’ll tell you on Friday."
Daltrey, who spoke during a rehearsal break earlier this week, said his first date on the Clapton tour — Thursday at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh — would give him the necessary insight on the pluses and minuses of an opening set.
One thing is certain, however: He’ll opt for less talk than usual, fitting everything into a shorter space of time.
"I think we’ll have just the music and not the chat that comes with it," Daltrey said.
Don’t expect intimate anecdotes about The Who’s founding in the early 1960s, the band’s appearance at Woodstock or the making of "Tommy," a seminal rock opera.
Reminiscences like these tend to get swallowed up in large arenas, Daltrey said. And, of course, any attempt to trace The Who’s heyday, from "I Can’t Explain" to "You Better You Bet," would take more than his allotted time.
Fans may be interested to hear that Daltrey’s backing band will include guitarist Simon Townshend, 49, brother of The Who’s Pete Townshend. Instrumental windmills might not be his personal style, but the younger Townshend has been part of The Who’s touring ensemble since the late 1990s.
With no prospects for a Who tour on the horizon in 2010, Daltrey said, he was determined to remain on stage and keep his solo band intact.
"I’ve just got to keep singing; it’s as simple as that," he said.
Tickets already have sold out for The Who’s charity show on March 30 in England, when the band will cover "Quadrophenia" at the Royal Albert Hall. It’s a benefit for Teenage Cancer Trust, which Daltrey has supported for at least a decade.
Back in the U.S., The Who made its latest appearance at the halftime show of Super Bowl XLIV, offering a 12-minute medley of classics to a backdrop of lasers and fireworks. Performing amid the sports hoopla offered the band a high-profile showcase on television, but was not exactly a rewarding artistic experience, Daltrey said.
"It was an honor to do it," he said. "It was an incredibly spectacular event. But really, it was the toilet break of a football game. For me, it was a non-show show. Twelve minutes is not really us; we can do one song that lasts that long."
The Birmingham News