The Who marked ‘end of an era’ over summer

Pete Townshend has admitted The Who’s orchestral show at Sandringham over the summer felt “like the end of an era”.

The 78-year-old musician is keen to sit down with bandmate Roger Daltrey and work out what’s next for them because their historic show in August seemed to mark the end of a chapter for the veteran rockers, though he is keen to keep the band going.

He told Record Collector magazine: “I think it’s time for Roger and I to go to lunch and have a chat about what happens next.

“Because Sandringham shouldn’t feel like the end of anything but it feels like the end of an era.

“You know, we lost Bob Pridden, our long time sound man, a couple of years ago and our fabulous road manager/ production manager Roy Lamb is retiring.

“Roger and I are still banging on with new people around us.

“It’s a question of, really, what is feasible, what would be lucrative, what would be fun?

“So, I wrote to Roger and said, come on, let’s have a chat and see what’s there.”

Pete feels “very lucky” to still be performing after so many decades.

He added: “You know, I’ve never really enjoyed touring at all, but this last couple of bashes – the UK tour, the shows in Europe and the American tour – I admit I started to get a real feeling of fulfilment.

“I feel very lucky to be doing this at my age, to still be able to perform.”

As well as his career with The Who, the ‘My Generation’ rocker has a number of other ventures on the go.

He said: “I’ve got a lot going on. I’m writing at the moment, working on a new project in a new way.

“I’ve also got very close to the end of completing my really big magnum opus piece, ‘The Age Of Anxiety’, hoping that it’ll be finished this year.

“’Tommy’s theatrical version just went up in Chicago, I went to see it, it got rave reviews and that may go to Broadway.

“I’m working with a couple of artists; Bookshop Band, Reg Meuross, Wild Things.”