During a new conversation with Record Collector, Pete Townshend said he felt it appeared to be the end of the Who after completing their orchestral tour.
The musician mentioned that he plans to meet with Roger Daltrey to discuss their future plans, explaining:
“I think it’s time for Roger and I to go to lunch and have a chat about what happens next. Because Sandringham shouldn’t feel like the end of anything, but it feels like the end of an era.”
Evaluating The Who’s Path Forward
He then emphasized the need to evaluate what’s practical and enjoyable for them moving forward, noting:
“It’s a question of, really, what is feasible, what would be lucrative, what would be fun? So, I wrote to Roger and said, come on, let’s have a chat and see what’s there.”
The Band’s Direction And Challenges
In a September interview with Uncut magazine, Townshend talked about what’s next for the band, specifically if they plan to focus on making new music or performing live shows. He explained:
“Well, recording is tough. We just about managed to get the last record done [2019’s ‘WHO’]. It nearly didn’t get made. We have no plan. I don’t have a unique vision for the Who going forward. I don’t know whether Roger does. Roger and I probably need to get together to chat about what we want to do. I brought it up a little bit on the recent UK tour.”
He revealed the rest of their conversation with the following words:
“Roger seemed most concerned about the fact he’s got a dodgy knee that might need surgery. But he’s singing great, and I’m playing as well – and better – than I ever have before. I feel comfortable doing what I’m doing with the band. The interesting thing about our business now is, like the Stones and McCartney, we’re pushing the age envelope as far as it can possibly go.”
The Who released a huge box set, ‘Who’s Next | Life House,’ on September 15. The collection includes 155 tracks, with 89 previously unreleased ones and 57 with new remixes. Townshend also recently shared that he’s working on a new rock opera based on his novel ‘The Age Of Anxiety.’ This project will bring the story to the stage along with several new songs.
