The Who’s Pete Townshend opened up about the future of the iconic band (Picture: Michael Putland/Getty Images)
In a recent interview, The Who’s Pete Townshend revealed that he had to ‘bully’ his bandmates to keep the band running in the 1970s.
The Who, now considered one of the most influential rock bands of all time, formed in London in 1964 and was famously affected by tension between band members.
The classic line-up – comprised of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon – were all iconic musicians in their own right, and none more so than Townshend.
After Moon died in 1978, Townshend became convinced that ‘This business kills people, and I’m not going to be one of their number,’ resulting in the band’s breakup in 1983.
Townshend went on to have a storied solo career, beginning in 1980 with the release of the album Empty Glass, which was an unexpected hit. It included the top-10 single Let My Love Open the Door and singles A Little Is Enough and Rough Boys.
This was followed by All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes, which earned a glowing critical reception.
Townshend went on to have a major solo career (Picture: Getty Images)
The guitarist is often blamed for breaking up The Who in 1983 (Picture: Ed Perlstein/Redferns/Getty Images)
In a recent interview with Daily Beast, Townshend opened up about his solo career and the drama within The Who’s inner workings.
He told the outlet that he wasn’t sure if The Who has a future, given that he and lead singer Roger Daltrey don’t speak to each other.
‘I don’t know what’s gonna happen with The Who. I’m hoping Roger and I can find some common ground and find some way to work again.’ he said.
He continued, explaining that he doesn’t plan on bullying Roger into touring with The Who, as he’s tired of having to use a heavy hand to influence his bandmates.
The band is ultimately remembered as one of the most influential of the 20th century (Picture: Getty Images)
He said: ‘I don’t want to have the job that I used to have around the time of Quadrophenia, which is bullying everybody in The Who to do exactly what I want to do.’
The singer went on to reveal that while his cutthroat leadership style worked for the band, it wasn’t any fun for him and resulted in Roger ‘knocking him out.’
‘I asked for it, but he knocked me out. Anyway, I’m hopeful. I’m certainly not saying that we won’t do anything, but Roger and I do have a bit of a river to cross,’ he said.
Drummer Keith Moon (center left) died in 1978 (Picture: Michael Putland/Getty Images)
Townshend said that he and Roger Daltrey no longer speak to eachother (Picture: Michael Putland/Getty Images)
He also expressed regret for breaking up The Who, explaining that while he’s proud of his solo career, he also regrets it and wishes he hadn’t done it.
He said: ‘I was sort of bullied into it, by people who felt that my personal breakdown, which was to do with the breakdown of my marriage, overwork, and drinking too much, was to do with some sort of creative void. But in actual fact, it wasn’t that.’
The Slit Skirts singer told the publication: ‘The Who was the one thing that should not have been let go because it was still alive and functioning.’
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