Roger Daltrey Says New Music Has No Sense of Purpose
Roger Daltrey, the man who once hoped for death before he got old, has lived long enough to witness a music scene that he thinks has no sense of purpose. In an interview with The Daily Mail, the Who singer lashed out against today's music.
"Here we are with the world in the state it is in, and we've got One Direction," he said. "Where are the artists writing with any real sense of angst and purpose? There are no movements at the moment. We had mod and then there was punk, but it's so hard to start a movement now. Unless it's ISIS."
Pete Townshend, who was also interviewed for the Daily Mail, doesn't seem to mind One Direction as much as Daltrey. When asked how he felt about the similarities between the boy band's 'Best Song Ever' and the Who's classic 'Baba O'Riley,' Townshend shrugged it off.
"It wasn't important enough to get excited about," he said. "I could hear a bit of the Who in it, but so what? Considering the stuff we ripped off over the years, it doesn't really matter."
Daltrey and Townsend, the only surviving members of the original Who lineup, also talked about their relationship these days. Townshend pointed out their "longstanding friendship that has turned into a bonded love, founded on a deeper understanding of each other's limitations," while Daltrey said "I love him. We're like brothers, I suppose."
The Who will release a new career-spanning compilation, 'The Who Hits 50!,' featuring their first new song since 2006′s ‘Endless Wire’ album, tomorrow. They're also getting ready to launch a 50th-anniversary tour next year.
Townshend is also participating in an orchestral version of his classic rock opera 'Quadrophenia' with the London Oriana Choir that will come out next year.