Roger Daltrey from The Who performs during the Teenage Cancer Trust show at the Royal Albert Hall (Picture: James Manning/PA Wire)Most older artists shy away from belting out notes like it’s 1970. But not The Who’s Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey.On Sunday night at the Royal Albert Hall, The Who – still performing in their sixth decade – delivered vocal ranges that would put young whippersnappers of 2025 to shame.
Often heralded as one of rock’s most influential bands of all time, school friends Roger, Pete, John Entwistle and Keith Moon were strumming meaty riffs and shaking hips before Led Zeppelin had even uttered Stairway to Heaven. In 2025 as Roger turns 81 and Pete is a month shy of 80, they’ve still got it -save a few hearing issues, as the lead singer explained during Thursday night’s concert. I Can’t Explain kicked off the evening, rippling an excitable vibration through the crowd, and throughout their 22-song set The Who gave it their all.
The Who performed all of their classicsthroughout their 22-song set (Picture: James Manning/PA Wire)As Roger and Pete strummed and ooo-ed through their classics including The Kids are Alright, Pinball Wizard and My Generation, there were more than a few flickers of that old rock n’ roll romance. At points, they could have been anywhere – perhaps at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970 or on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in 2007 – until you pan out and see the polite bobbings of a seated crowd. Pete now hunch.