Daltrey sings praises of teen-cancer charity
SATURDAY was a jam session, with Roger Daltrey of The Who fittingly at the front. Word arrived suddenly that Daltrey was up for a backstage talk before his show at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, eager even, to chat about Champagne and charity and, sure, about his 50-year-career in rock ’n’ roll.
Much of the confab was a bubbly backgrounder on his Champagne Cuvée Roger Daltrey, a limited-edition blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier created to trumpet the band’s 50th anniversary and world tour. Daltrey and band co-founder Pete Townshend have expanded the cuvée’s scope by donating proceeds of sales to Teen Cancer America. The Champagne costs $128 a bottle and is distributed exclusively by Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.
Founded in 2012 in the U.S., the charity bridges the chasm between support for children and adults with all forms of cancer. Here are some highlights from our talk as the 74-year-old singer readied for the stage, stretching, cleaning his ears and laying out his black shirt and pants ensemble:
A reach beyond research: “Let’s put it this way: There’s an awful lot you can do for cancer that isn’t research that can make an incredible difference in cancer survival,” Daltrey said. “You take care of the mental health. You take care of the psychological health, and for the group we deal with, that’s the most important help of all. It’s that age when they’re ready to fly the nest and change.”
Why he focuses on teens: “Up until now, this group has been hidden in the figures as children or adults, and they don’t exist as what they are. Teenagers are very (expletive) different than children,” Daltrey said. “They are a social order in and of themselves, and they deserve to be recognized as that. … I maintain that one of the reasons there has been so little progress in some of the diseases teenagers get is the fact that nobody bothers to isolate them and study them.”
How he discovered the void in teen-cancer support: “It was actually noticed by my GP doctor back in England, and we started it 30 years ago in Britain with the Teenage Cancer Trust, and we built hospital wards for teenagers and young adults up to the age of about 23,” Daltrey said. “We’re seeing remarkable improvements on (prescription) meds, just because they are happier in a specialized place where they can socialize and communicate with other teenagers.”
Why Champagne instead of tequila, whiskey or vodka: “It was part of our 50th anniversary, and someone (specifically, Eminent Life founder and Chief Executive Officer Jerome Jacober) had suggested that we do Champagne to celebrate that. It’s a good Champagne from an organic vineyard first started in 1780 and is still run by the same family. It’s an honor to have Champagne named after you. For the first five years it was funded by The Who and fans of The Who and people like Eddie Vedder and Dave Grohl. … And, well, Champagne is far more high-class!”
The future of The Who in Las Vegas: “We’ve got offers. If Pete wanted to do it, I would do it. Let’s put it that way. But he might not want to do it. He’s a very rich man, and he doesn’t need to do it for the money. And I don’t need to do it for the money now. I’m very happy doing what I’m doing with the charity, but this is what I love to do. I’m a singer, and I need to sing and work. That’s why I’m doing this with my little band, which is The Who band without Zak (Starkey ,The Who’s drummer). So let’s see where it goes. That’s just the way life is sometimes, full of surprises.”
On the vast stage at the Colosseum, where The Who played six dates last year: “The stage was a hard-work stage for me, because the band was so far away. I’m not a solo singer, so to be so far back there with the band is where I’d like to be, because we’re brothers. There was so much stage in front of me, it was almost like having a moat in front of the audience, but I loved it. It was a great sounding hall.”
On how The Who is holding up as a live act: “I don’t know how long we’ll go on. We can’t go on forever, but I think we’re at the top of our game, and it’s iconic music. These songs are so fabulous, and when you see them live you really get to see what the songs are all about. We never were a great recording band. But when you see it live, it’s one big kick in the (groin)!”
How a man who turned 74 on March 1 maintains his youthful vigor: “I haven’t got a secret. I just work hard, and I try to keep a passion for what I do,” said Daltrey, as he wiped off his blue-tinted glasses. “I love to sing, and through that I get a reward that money can’t buy.”
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@ reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @ Johnnykats1 on Instagram. As of 9 p.m. Monday:
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