The article links to "Moment Roger Daltrey halts show and kicks off at The Who drummer weeks before sacking" (Metro), where we hear Daltrey stop, mid-concert, and say "We’ve got a big problem up here. I can sing to some things, but I can’t sing to that fucking racket."
Vulture asks "But, well, was Keith Moon’s kit explosion considered too much?" I think the answer is yes.
Roger Daltrey is 81 years old.
UPDATE: "Zak Starkey reinstated as The Who’s drummer, days after departure" (The Guardian). A quote from Pete Townshend: "Roger and I would like Zak to tighten up his latest evolved drumming style to accommodate our non-orchestral line up and he has readily agreed. I take responsibility for some of the confusion."
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33 comments:
"Roger Daltrey is 81 years old."
That's the body. The brain is even more consumed with age.
There's something pathetic about geriatric rockers, particularly when they throw tantrums.
Italics begone!
?
back in the 1980's i was into OLD music.. you know? the Blues?
in 1982 i actually saw Muddy Mississippi Waters play LIVE*
(this was just a year before the old man passed)
it was a great concert, and we were ALL impressed to hear this blast from the past!
Later, in 1986 i got to see BB King play**
and, AGAIN! two years later in 1988!!
It was Unbelievable! Here was this Ancient King, that could STILL play and entertain. I mean, it was just enjoying the relics of the past, but it was STILL enjoyable.
But, i couldn't have imagined THE FUN! of listening to some old geezer in his EIGHTIES, singing "Hope I DIE, Before I Get OLD!"
* Muddy Waters was 69
** King was 63 the last time i saw him
Hmmm, an 81 year old rocker complains about having trouble hearing in a noisy place — and he blames the drummer? More likely he needs to see an audiologist
Roger deserves whatever he wants.
Roger wants no italics.
I feel certain Daltry was frustrated and took it out on Starkey. I also think he should retire. He's been good humored about his eyesight and hearing, but it's going to limit his ability to perform.
Performance addiction is a helluva drug.
Who? Right.
The Who aee personally responsible for about 20% of my hearing loss at age 72.
Gilbar, I saw BB King in 2000 at Constitution Hall.
The thing about bluesmen is they age into their narrative personae - an old beat up sick tired man, defeated by the world.
Much harder for Daltrey to age into a rebellious Mod.
JSM
Having said that, I love Daltrey forever for wearing a poppy and singing at the dedication of a Churchill statue in the US Capitol.
JSM
Why don’t they just-f-f-f-f-fade away?
Well, at least there was no child pornography involved.
Daltrey has publicly acknowledged that he is going deaf. These days, with in-ear monitors, the stage volume for a performing act like the Who can be completely controlled - except for the drummer. Easy to envision Daltrey requesting lower volumes and Starkey not complying leading to this.
Keith Moon gave Zak Starkey his first drum kit.
The aptly titled The Song is Over, Live at the Royal Albert Hall London Sunday 30th March 2025.
Last night I was watching “The Last Detective”, a British series that ran from 2003-2006. Roger Daltry played the part of an aging diamon thief.
"Roger Daltrey is 81 years old."
Eek.
Zack Starkey was drummer for The Who for almost twice as long as as Keith Moon was..
Keith Moon gave Zak Starkey his first drum kit.
Did it have a hi-hat?
AMDG said...
Zack Starkey was drummer for The Who for almost twice as long as as Keith Moon was..
Keith Moon wasn't the drummer for The Who. He was never formally asked if he wanted to join. After he auditioned Pete and Roger just told him where and when to show up for their next gig. That's why when they interviewed him for The Kids Are Alright in 1978 he made the statement; "I've just been sittin' in for the last 15 years."
Can we file this under "Old man yells at clouds?" or is that not a subject category here?
Old rockers and old politicians who won't go away. But at the rockers still provide great enjoyment through their recorded music when they were young and fresh that gets played on Sirius and over the air. And if you still want to see them you can pay if that's your thing, or not. Can't avoid the old pols even if you want to.
I take a back seat to no one in my love of The Who...........and Zak has been a great drummer for them.
Time for one and all to take a final bow and retire.
Saw them in 1982 in a packed football stadium with a very attractive girl, and they were on fire that night, and so were we. Great memories. Just wish I'd had a chance to see them when Keith Moon was alive.
My wife drags me to concerts by ancient has-beens now and then, but it's not the same. Well, the tipsy hijinks with her afterwards are still great fun, but the lip-synced music is dreary.
My only interest in music for most of my life has been the effect it has on my female companionship.
Gilbar, I saw BB King in 2000 at Constitution Hall.
The thing about bluesmen is they age into their narrative personae - an old beat up sick tired man, defeated by the world.
He gave a show at a fancy winery in Washington (the state) that I saw about fifteen or twenty years ago. Old, beat-up, sick and tired describes it precisely. On several of his songs it was obvious he had forgotten the words and depended on his bandmates to carry it.
It must have been hard for him to accept the decline, because he was a high functioning guy in his youth. A licensed pilot, in fact.
In the video it looked to me like Daltrey was pissed at the monitor engineer. I couldn't tell if he was wearing in-ear monitors, but if he was, he wouldn't be hearing anything but what was coming from the board.
Another commenter said in-ears won't block out the drums. I've never experienced that and I play in a pretty loud rock band for a living. When I'm wearing in-ears everything else is muted. I don't care how loud the drummer plays, it's not going to be louder than my monitors.
Plus Starkey said he was fired for overplaying, which is a stylistic thing that has nothing to do with how hard a drummer hits the drums.
I've always found Roger to be a good guy. More than once I've encountered people wandering backstage who say, "Roger came into our store today and gave us tickets and passes."
I am a huge Who fan. They are in my all time Top 5 rock bands. I spent hours- years- listening to their music over and over again. But it's over. My God...it's done. Pete Townshend is 79, Daltrey is 81. Entwhistle is dead, as is Moon. There is no Who anymore. Just recordings and memories. Let. It. Go.
Does anyone want to hear 81 year old Roger Daltrey try to sing "Won't get fooled again", again?
"Get off my lawn! ...Er, stage!"
The music may be similar, but the vibe is gone. Long gone. Thanks for the memories.
Daltrey, Townsend, and The Roling Stones need to retire before they enter Frankie Valli territory.
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