Talking ’bout our regeneration ... The Who record a new album in their 70s
NO doubt they expected to have f-faded away by the time they reached their 70s.
But The Who – at least the two survving members – have proved their generation really were built to last.
After a career spanning more than 50 years, the band have announced they will be releasing another studio album of new material.
The record will be the band’s first new offering since 2006’s Endless Wire, which included a mini-opera.
Lead guitarist Pete Townshend, 73, told fans they could expect ‘dark ballads, heavy rock stuff, experimental electronica, sampled stuff and Who-ish tunes that began with a guitar that goes yanga-dang’.
The band will follow up the release of the album later this year with a tour of the US – expected to be lead singer 74year-old Roger Daltrey’s last.
‘I have to be realistic that this is the age I am and voices start to go after a while.
‘I don’t want to be not as good as I was two years ago,’ he told The Mirror.
They are expected to tour venues including Madison Square Garden and the Hollywood Bowl, accompanied by an orchestra.
Daltrey released his first solo record in 26 years last June, titled As Long As I Have You, which featured Townshend playing on a number of tracks. The Who were formed in 1964 and have sold a staggering 100 million records to date with ten UK Top Ten albums. They have written 11 previous studio albums including two rock operas, Tommy and Quadrophenia. Greatest hits include My Generation, Pinball Wizard and Substitute.
As of last year, Townshend was reportedly worth £82million, while Daltrey was worth around £66million.
Daltrey said he had refused to do another tour without releasing a new album for his own ‘self-dignity’ as a writer.
He told Rolling Stone magazine: ‘We’re old men now. We’ve lost the looks. We’ve lost the glamour. What we’re left with is the music and we’re going to present it in a way which is as fresh and powerful as ever.’
Daltrey recently admitted that he hasn’t personally spoken to Townshend for a year as the guitarist had needed ‘some time away’. Original Who drummer Keith Moon died aged 32 of a drug overdose in 1978 and was replaced by Kenney Jones and later Zak Starkey. Bass guitarist John Entwistle died aged 57 in 2002 following a drug-induced heart attack.
Endless Wire was the band’s first new album in 24 years when it was recorded in 2006.