Roger in Maxim

["Hare, Jason" <HareJ@HSS.EDU>]

There's an interview with Roger in this month's Maxim (June 2002), page 94.
(Not that I, um, subscribe to said magazine).  Anyway, he's in the Music
section under the header "Babble O'Riley."  The title of the short interview
is "Who's The Man?" and there are a few nice pics.  One is from the '99
shows (Rog in the white shirt and black vest with the caption "The kid's
still alright."  Another is of the band circa maybe 1969, and the main pic
is a live one, probably from 76, with Pete mid leap and Roger mid-march,
with the caption "You put your right foot out...blimey!  Pete - you call
these lyrics?"  

Because I love all of you, here is the interview transcribed.

WHO'S THE MAN?
Why in the world would the Who's Roger Daltrey want to hang with us?  We
can't explain.

Unlike Some rock dinosaurs whose "reunions" grow more and more embarrassing
with each tour (Rolling Stones, we're looking in your direction), a
stateside visit from British gods the Who is always a welcome event.  As the
golden throat on gems from "Substitute" to "Behind Blue Eyes" to that
masterwork of abstract lyricism, "Squeeze Box," legendary frontman Roger
Daltrey took his powerful pipes out of the mothballs long enough to answer a
few of our questions.

Q: Does it seem strange to be singing the line "Hope I die before I get old"
at the age of 58?  (Jay's note: 10 points for originality)

A:  Today I sing it with a sense of cynicism.  People try to put us down,
but we're still here, so bollocks to you!  The fun of playing "My
Generation" now is not what's written; it's what it turns into.  We just use
that structure of the song to go somewhere else.  Some of the jams work and
some fall flat on their face, but really, who gives a fuck?  And Lela, it's
just a jam, not a fucking song.  (Jay's note: couldn't help myself)

Q:  Do you resent the fact that you've had to play second banana to bassist
John Entwistle all those years?

A: [long pause, then soberly] Why do you think I play second banana to him?
[Suddenly realizes we're kidding]  Listen, mate, sorry I didn't get your
joke.  It's hard enough when you've got hearing like mine, and then you hit
me with that one!  'Cause some of our fans believe that ego crap about us,
and really, we're like brothers together.

Q:  Still, you and Pete Townshend have had your share of dustups, haven't
you?

A:  I don't think they were much worse than what any other bands go through.
I think ours just got reported a lot more.  Sure, he hit me on the shoulder
with a Gibson once, and the guitar broke.  Too bad he didn't hit me on the
head - he might have knocked some sense into me.

Q:  Should we expect more of this rivalry when you take the band on tour
this summer?

A:  It's not to say it won't happen anymore.  We just had a year off and
were supposed to record an album, but Pete decided he just wanted a year off
instead, which seems to be par for the course.  When he decided he DID want
to record, I said "We can't go in cold."  It takes me 20-odd shows to get my
voice in shape to do justice to a record.  Unlike the rest of the band, my
instrument is physical, and I'm very much aware that one day my instrument
will wear out.

Q:  Have you ever tried to hit that rousing "Yeeeaaaah!" at the end of
"Won't Get Fooled Again" and totally missed it?

A:  No, I can always manage that bit.  That's easy. After singing some of
the more raucous things, it's getting back to being sensitive that's tricky.

Q:  Do you stand by your assessment that Woodstock was the worst gig the Who
ever played?

A:  It felt that way at the time.  We were all on acid and very, very tired
because we were due to play at 10 o'clock and didn't come on until half past
five in the morning.  So, by the time we got onstage we were a little bit
ga-ga.  It wasn't a comfortable gig, I don't think I sang particularly well,
but then again, by the time we got on, everything was wrecked.

Q:  For the record, are you actually any good when it comes to pinball?

A:  Fucking useless.  I mean, it's shocking how bad I am.  The ball doesn't
roll for me, and that's it.  I don't go near the bloody things.  They
frighten me to death.

-Interview by David Peisner.  The Who: The Ultimate Collection magically
busses itself into stores June 11.