Roger Daltrey says he won’t do The Who’s farewell tour with a “half-hearted” Pete Townshend

Roger Daltrey is ready to do The Who's farewell tour, but only if Pete Townshend meets his conditions.

In response to guitarist Pete's recent comments about being with The Who after 61 years is like "flogging a dead horse," Daltrey, 81, is putting the tour in jeopardy:

"If Pete doesn’t want to tour, I don’t want to be back with The Who on the road, at 81, with someone who doesn’t want be there — if that’s what he’s saying. I won’t do it with someone who is half-hearted about it. But, you know, every dog has its day and it was a wonderful ride."

Roger Daltrey's comments come on the heels of drummer Zak Starkey, 59, being kicked out of the longtime rock band for the second time just this month.

The drama between Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, and The Who explored: Read more

The Pinball Wizard hitmakers recently announced their final tour, scheduled across North America, titled The Song Is Over North America Farewell Tour. It kicks off this August 16 at Amerant Bank Arena in Florida and will conclude on September 28 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

During a recent interview with the Sunday People, Pete Townshend, 80, said of working with the band:

"The Who has gone on a bit too long with two of us dying. It does sometimes feel like flogging a dead horse."

A few days ago, Townshend took to Instagram to announce that Zak had been axed from the group once again, just shortly after he re-joined the band this month. In the update, he said of the drummer who has been with them since 1996:

'After many years of great work on drums from Zak the time has come for a change. A poignant time. Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best.'

Another post, penned on behalf of Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, read as follows, as reported by The Daily Mail:

"The Who are heading for retirement, whereas Zak is 20yrs younger and has a great future with his new band and other exciting projects. He needs to devote all his energy into making it all a success. We both wish him all the luck in the world. Scott Devours – Who fans will know him from Roger’s solo shows – will be replacing Zak. We hope all our fans will welcome him. Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey."

Several outlets have reported that shortly after he was sacked, Zak claimed that the decision to leave was mutual, alleging that he had other work commitments.

In a lengthy caption, he wrote: “I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit the who to pursue my other musical [endeavours]. This would be a lie.” He continued: “I love the who and would never had quit. So I didn’t make the statement ….quitting the who would also have let down the countless amazing people who stood up for me (thank you all a million times over and more) thru the weeks of mayhem of me going ‘in an out an in an out an in an out like a bleedin squeezebox."

Noting that he had "other projects and always has," he referenced his work with Johnny Marr, Oasis, The Lightning Seeds, Mike Scott, and Mantra Of The Cosmos. He also asserted that Roger Daltrey never had a "problem" with him dividing his time.

“None of this has ever interfered with The Who and was never a problem for them," he said. "The lie is or would have been that I quit the who- I didn’t. I love the who and everyone in it.”

Scott Devours, who serves as the guitarist in Roger Daltrey's solo band, serves as Zak's replacement in the forthcoming tour.

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