Townshend pays tribute

Rock legent Pete Townshend says he and The Who colleague Roger Daltrey have been closer than ever since the singer stood up fir him in his worst hours.

Townshend, who faced child pornography allegations in 2003, from which he was subsequently cleared, says Daltrey, along with his close friend and neighbour Jerry Hall, were towers of strength.

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“It’s good, very good,” says Pete of his once volatile relationship with Daltrey. [>

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“Roger bravely stood by me when I really couldn’t speak for myself. He took a chance, as did Jerry Hall and some other people who spoke up for me. They made their public statements of belief in me several months before it was established there was no evidence against me.” [>

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Despite his close relationship with Daltrey, Pete surprisingly admits he doesn’t enjoy being a member of The Who. He adds that he wanted to bring an end to the group following bassist John Entwistle’s death in 2002 but carried on out of a sense of duty. [>

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“I wanted to use John’s death as an excuse to stop,” he explains. “I don’t much like being in The Who but that is another story. For me the question was not what I wanted, not what would comfort me but what was my duty. I felt the buck stopped with me.” [>

For all his apparent reluctance, Townshend will be back touring with The Who across Australia and New Zealand this spring.

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