Pete Townshend Accuses Robert Plant Of Copying Roger Daltrey

In an interview on BBC Radio Scotland with Billy Sloan, The Who’s Pete Townshend weighed in on the dynamics between Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and Roger Daltrey.

Recalling the period when The Who have been recording tracks for his or her album ‘Who’s Subsequent’ on the Olympic studio, Townshend recounted how the band felt the strain from rising heavy rock bands:

“I believe by that point, we’d turn into conscious that Led Zeppelin was snapping at our heels, and finally, in fact, in heavy rock phrases, overtook the Who.”

Townshend then continued, implying a part of their success was as a result of Plant copied Daltrey:

“However I believe Robert Plant was a shrieker — he copied the way in which that Roger seemed on stage. He had his personal factor, however Robert Plant was someplace between Roger Daltrey and Steve Marriott from The Faces. He discovered his personal ft in the long run, however I believe Roger was conscious that he needed to actually sharpen up. And he did.”

Nonetheless, in accordance with Townshend, this helped Daltrey give attention to treating himself with utmost care:

“He began to essentially regard his voice as an instrument and to essentially maintain himself. He didn’t use medicine, he didn’t drink so much, he had his points and his eccentricities, however he actually taken care of himself. The remainder of the band can be dwelling onerous with out query.”

The Who and Led Zeppelin knew each other in Nineteen Sixties Britain. After its formation in 1968, the latter became one of the vital profitable bands of the Seventies. The Who had their successes however lived in the Zeppelin’s shadow. They offered round 100 million information, whereas Led Zeppelin offered 300 million. Due to that, Townshend has by no means been a fan of Led Zeppelin’s music.

Tensions in The Who grew round 1966, particularly between Daltrey and Keith Moon. Daltrey’s absence to take a while away led the band to think about different vocalists briefly. In 1966, Plant needed to interchange him as The Who’s lead singer and approached Townshend. Nonetheless, Townshend believed it will be finest to proceed with Daltrey.

You may take heed to the complete interview under.