Roger Daltrey is to take The Who‘s famous 1969 concept album Tommy on the road without Pete Townshend. However, Daltrey is replacing the guitarist with none other than Pete’s brother, Simon.
The Guardian reports that Simon Townshend, the 50-year-old younger brother of Pete, will head out on a UK tour with Daltrey that starts in July.
Big brother Pete said of the tour, actually a solo effort from Daltrey, “Great to see Roger performing Tommy with his band in 2011… It is wonderful to hear the way Roger and his new band re-interpret the old Who songs. I will be there in spirit, and Roger has my complete and most loving support.”
Simon Townshend toured with Daltrey last year as part of his back-up band No Plan B. Roger performed recently with No Plan B at the Royal Albert Hall Teenage Cancer Trust show at the Royal Albert Hall, where he was joined by the elder Townshend for songs The Acid Queen and Baba O’Riley.
The last time The Who played together was in March when they performed Quadrophenia, also at the Royal Albert Hall. However, any future reunions between Daltrey and Townshend seem tempered by the latter’s worsening tinnitus.
“If my hearing is going to be a problem, we’re not delaying shows – we’re finished,” Townshend has said.
Townshend has also recently been in the spotlight after saying he regretted joining The Who in the first place, believing he would have been better served sticking to a solo career and following a similar path to Brian Eno.
