January 2005
New music releases: "Bad Day" - Daniel Powter; "Like Toy Soldiers" - Eminem; "Hate It or Love It" - The Game featuring 50 Cent; The Documentary - The Game
On the 13th, Roger Daltrey records an interview in London for the first show in a new TV series titled For The Record. He is interviewed by Harvey Goldsmith, who asks questions covering the whole of his career, taking in The Who and its formation, Roger's solo career both in the recording studio and in the film business and bringing it right up to date with his recent award of his CBE.
On the 15th, Pete attends the final performance of a play about The Four Seasons, Jersey Boys, at the La Jolla, California Playhouse. Also present at the event are Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio of the Four Seasons. The show raises $40,000 for victims of the recent Asian tsunami.
Pete is the cover story in Guitarist magazine on stands this month.
On the 18th, Starbucks Hear Music releases Sweetheart: Love Songs containing M. Ward's pedal-steel cover of "Let My Love Open The Door."
On the 25th, Outlier releases their album Outlier featuring a cover of "I Can't Explain".
On the 28th, Roger is interviewed by Dave Simpson in The Guardian. The interview receives widespread coverage for Roger's remarks about the scandal-plagued Pete Doherty, saying"He is a genius. But I've known many people like that and they're all dead."
On the 30th, The Who Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 DVD is awarded Gold status for sales in the U.S. by the RIAA.
Also on the 30th, the Mail on Sunday reports that Robert Stigwood, the producer of the movie versions of Tommy and Grease, wants to remake Tommy as an animated film.
On the 31st, Roger 2-CD solo career retrospective Moonlighting is released by Sanctuary.
February 2005
New music releases: "Candy Shop" - 50 Cent featuring Olivia; "Lonely" - Akon; It's Time - Michael Bublé; "Dakota" - Stereophonics
On the 9th, Roger Daltrey receives a "Commander of the British Empire" award from Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace for his charity work with the Teenage Cancer Trust. His wife Heather, his sister Jill and his grand-daughter Lily attend. Says Roger about the Queen, "I don't think she's a rock 'n' roll fan. She'd probably fall off her podium if she heard The Who's songs."
On the 10th, The Sun reports that John Entwistle's home Quarwood was bought by the Dutch tycoon Piet Pulford.
On the 15th, Dreadnaught releases their double live CD Live At Mojo featuring a cover of John's "I've Been Away."
On the 17th, Roger participates in the Rock n' Roll Fantasy Camp in Los Angeles through the 21st. In addition to performing with the attendees at the House of Blues, Roger also agrees to help attendee and Who fan Kamesh Nagarajan propose to his girlfriend on stage.
On the 22nd, Petra Haden's a cappella recording Petra Haden Sings The Who Sell Out is released by Bar/None records.
March 2005
New music releases: The Massacre - 50 Cent; "We Belong Together" - Mariah Carey; "Hollaback Girl" - Gwen Stefani; Employment - Kaiser Chiefs
On the 1st, Roger, having received a CBE from Queen Elizabeth II the previous month, meets her again at a party to honor the British music industry at Buckingham Palace. Other attendees are Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Brian May, Charlotte Church, Cilla Black, Shirley Bassey, Phil Collins and Geri Halliwell.
Also on the 1st, an interview with Pete Townshend is aired on the BBC Radio 2 programme Hungry For Heaven. Simon Mayo talks to Pete, Donovan, Yusuf Islam and Paul Jones about rockers who became publicly religious.
And also on the 1st, Harry Shearer's wife Judith Owen releases her CD Lost & Found featuring a cover of "My Generation."
On the 5th, Pete comments on the CD Petra Haden Sings The Who Sell Out in the Los Angeles Times: "I heard the songs as if for the first time, and I was really pleased to hear how beautiful they are...I love this CD and Petra puts me in an Odorono sweat."
On the 15th, the Hollywood Reporter says that Roger will play the antagonist in an untitled "mermaid drama" pilot for the WB network. Nathalie Kelley is set to play the mermaid adjusting to life in Miami. The pilot never surfaces.
Roger is interviewed by Jon Wilde in Uncut magazine. He again disowns the It's Hard LP, declares he can't listen to old Who songs because his voice "sounds horrible to me" and dismisses complaints about his mid-1980's credit card ad, "I'm not having anyone tell me what I can and can't do."
On the 19th, the For The Record special with Roger being interviewed by Harvey Goldsmith recorded in January airs on the UK cable channel The Performance Channel.
On the 21st, in a diary entry, Pete announces that the new Who album has "been delayed, not cancelled." He also says planned shows will also be delayed because The Who's drummer, Zak Starkey, is currently touring with Oasis.
On the 22nd, the John Entwistle 2-CD compilation John Entwistle: So Who's The Bass Player? - An Anthology is released.
Also on the 22nd, Gibson Guitars issues only 75 of the "Pete Townshend LP Deluxe", a copy of the guitar played by Pete at the end of The Kids Are Alright.
April 2005
New music releases: "Sugar, We're Goin' Down" - Fall Out Boy; The Emancipation of Mimi - Mariah Carey; "Mockingbird" - Eminem; "Don't Cha" - The Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes
On the 2nd, John Entwistle's family announces that they will be auctioning off the entire contents of his £3 million mansion. The auction on the 21st nets £123,000 with a model of Henry VIII's armour raising £900, a leather art sculpture of a male torso £2,200, a snakeskin tambourine £160 and a microphone presented to The Who at an awards poll in 1975 £480.
This month's HSBC Stars on Ice tour ends with the skaters performing to a medley of Who songs.
On the 7th, an exhibit called "Tommy: The Amazing Journey" opens at the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Pete supplies materials.
On the 17th, Pete suggests in a webdiary that Roger will work with Pete's brother Simon to complete songs Pete has recorded in demo form.
Roger reports at the end of the month to the set of the movie Johnny Was where he plays a gangster.
May 2005
New music releases: Demon Days - Gorillaz; "You're Beautiful" - James Blunt; Monkey Business - Black Eyed Peas; "Pon De Replay" - Rihanna
On the 2nd, Roger attends the reunion concert of Cream at the Royal Albert Hall.
On the 9th, Roger is a presenter at the Sony Radio Academy Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
On the 10th, Styx releases their album Big Bang Theory containing a cover of "I Can See For Miles". On the same day Illogic releases Celestial Clockwork with the rap "1,000 Whispers" that samples "Won't Get Fooled Again".
On the 11th, Roger tells the press he will play a surgeon's assistant in a Battle of Waterloo drama for Britain's Channel 4. It is released in August as Trafalgar Battle Surgeon.
On the 13th, INDH2 hi-def channel on cable premiers The Who's 2004 performance at the Isle Of Wight.
On the 23rd, the 1982 television version of The Beggar's Opera starring Roger as MacHeath, is released on DVD in the U.K. On the same day The Buff Medways release their single "Medway Wheelers" with a cover of the finale of "A Quick One While He's Away" on the flipside.
On the 26th, Roger attends the Ivor Novello Awards in London.
On the 27th, Spitfire Pictures puts out a press release stating that Murray Lerner will be directing and co-producing a movie about the history of The Who with the co-operation of Pete Townshend and Roger who are also listed as producers. It is tentatively entitled "My Generation: Who's Still Who" but is ultimately released for home video as Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who.
The press release causes a hiccup the following day as Pete posts a web diary denying he is a producer on the new Who movie and castigating Lerner for saying he will contact family and ex-wives for the project. Lerner quickly contacts Pete and calms the rough waters.
June 2005
New music releases: X&Y - Coldplay; All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra - Electric Light Orchestra; "Run It!" - Chris Brown featuring Juelz Santana; In Your Honor - Foo Fighters
On the 4th, Pete Townshend announces that he and director Murray Lerner have settled their differences of the past month over the Who bio film and it will proceed with his blessing.
On the 13th, Pete, Roger and keyboardist Jon Carin perform a one-off charity gig at Gotham Hall in New York to benefit Samsung's Four Seasons of Hope, an umbrella charity that donates money to children's organizations. Pete later praises Roger's performance of "Real Good Looking Boy" at this show saying he was moved watching Roger make the song his own.
On the 14th, Petra Haden and a women's choir premiere a live a cappella version of The Who Sell Out at the L.A. Weekly Music Awards show at the Henry Fonda Theater.
On the 17th, Roger accepts the Robertson Taylor 30th Anniversary Award on behalf of The Who at the Nordoff-Robbins Silver Clef Awards at the Hotel InterContinental in London, England. The 30th anniversary of the annual awards honours songwriting and performance, presented by the music therapy charity Nordoff-Robbins.
On the 22nd, Pete is interviewed by the Daily Times Leader of West Point, Mississippi on Howlin' Wolf and the opening of the new Howlin' Wolf Museum in West Point. Pete is donating a signed guitar to the museum.
In addition, Pete pens a new diary entry, where he admits his reservations about the efficacy of the next month's Live 8 benefit and says he and Roger only signed up to perform in order to meet The Spice Girls.
On the 25th, Pete revises his poem Homage To Picasso.
July 2005
New music releases: "Gold Digger" - Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx; The Essential Michael Jackson - Michael Jackson; "Your Man" - Josh Turner; Move Along - The All-American Rejects
On the 2nd, The Who perform at the Live 8 benefit in London which is broadcast around the world. Since bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Zak Starkey are both out on tour, their places are taken by Damon Minchella and Steve White who are given only one quick rehearsal with the band the day before. A planned four song set is cut down to only "Who Are You" and "Won't Get Fooled Again" after overruns by previous performers.
On the 4th, a house of Pete Townshend's on Montpelier Row, purchased by him in 1986, is damaged by fire. His estranged wife Karen lives there but is in Italy at the time.
On the 5th, The Who see U.K. sales of their compilation album Then and Now spike after Live 8. Says Pete to the tabloid The Mirror: "Our sales went up 832 per cent over the weekend - that's because we sold one record on Saturday and 832 since." The Who also place third in The Mirror's readers poll as best act after Pink Floyd and Robbie Williams. Pete: "I'm delighted to come third. It's lovely to think we've still got fans who rated us above Madonna." The next day The Mirror reports that The Who, along with many other groups appearing at Live 8, have agreed to donate their increased profits to charity.
On the 8th, Petra Haden stages the live world premiere of her a capella verion of The Who Sell Out at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. Aiding her in recreating her album vocals are an impromptu a capella group The Sell Outs.
On the 10th, Pete performs with a headlining Rachel Fuller at the T in the Park Festival in Balado by Kinross, Scotland.
On the 11th, Castle releases John Entwistle's solo albums Smash Your Head Against The Wall, Whistle Rymes, and Rigor Mortis Sets In as expanded CDs in the U.K.
On the 14th, The Parents Television Council (U.S.) asks the F.C.C. to levy a fine on ABC-TV stations for airing the "fuck" in The Who's live performance of "Who Are You" during their broadcast of the Live 8 Concert.
August 2005
New music releases: Late Registration - Kanye West; "Everytime We Touch" - Cascada; "Because of You" - Kelly Clarkson; "Photograph" - Nickleback
On the 2nd, Roger has a cameo as himself in the end credits of "The Priest and The Beast" on the BBC TV series The Mighty Boosh.
On the 5th, The Who Live at the Royal Albert Hall DVD is awarded Platinum status by the RIAA.
Also on the 5th, Pete Townshend's girlfriend Rachel Fuller tells The Mirror about their early relationship: "He pursued me. I ran away for a while, then I got to know him for a bit and discovered how fantastic he is."
On the 7th, Pete posts a new diary entry: "I had a good lunch last week with Roger Daltrey to discuss possible work in the coming six months. We've divided our hopes into two distinct areas: celebration of the past and the creative future. For the former we need to wait for Zak [Starkey] to finish his stint with Oasis. But even then, we're not certain what kind of work we will do or where we will do it. For the latter we depend entirely on me and my tortuously slow creative process. We have agreed to reconvene next February."
On the 10th, ICE magazine reports that Jon Astley is working on a three-DVD Who set modeled after the Beatles Anthology DVD's. Jon says actors may be considered to portray the deceased John Entwistle and Keith Moon in interview clips between concert footage. The idea never gets past the planning stages.
On the 11th, Pete and Rachel attend his brother Simon Townshend's show at the 100 Club in London. Contact Music later reports that Rachel is showing off an engagement ring. Rachel later denies on her blog that the ring placement meant it was an engagement ring.
On the 13th, the CD B.B. King and Friends — 80 is released featuring a duet with Roger and B.B. King on "Never Make Your Move Too Soon".
On the 14th, Pete smashes a Gibson Les Paul Special for charity at Oceanic Studios, London. His webmaster Matt Kent is there to photograph it. Proceeds go to the Pediatric Epilepsy Project.
On the 15th, Television Personalities releases their CD And They All Lived Happily Ever After featuring a cover of "Mary Anne with the Shaky Hands".
On the 19th, the Biography Channel in the U.K. premiers John Entwistle - Thunderfingers.
On the 23rd, Pete posts another diary entry, defending Rachel against some Who fan forum postings that claim she is Pete's "Yoko".
On the 24th, The Japanese band The Collectors releases their CD Biff Bang Pow featuring a cover of "Pictures of Lily" in Japanese.
On the 25th, the CD Fisher Price Little People: Halloween Sing-Along is released featuring a cover of "Boris The Spider".
On the evening of the 25th, Pete, Rachel and their friend and neighbor Jerry Hall participate in the Poetry Olympics at the Royal Albert Hall.
On the 29th, the TV movie Trafalgar Battle Surgeon with Roger as the surgeon's singing assistant premiers on Channel 4.
September 2005
New music releases: "Fix You" - Coldplay; "Remember the Name" - Fort Minor featuring Styles of Beyond; PCD - The Pussycat Dolls; How to Save a Life - The Fray
On the 1st, Alan Clayson's book Keith Moon: Instant Party is published in the U.K. The U.S. release is October 28th.
On the 4th, Roger records a cover of "My Generation" with the British boy band McFly. The song is used to promote the new HMV Digital online service.
Also on the 4th, Rachel Fuller posts a new song on her blog, "Just Breathe," co-written with boyfriend Pete and dedicated to the recently flooded city of New Orleans.
On the 7th, Pete announces he is starting his own blog to serialize his unpublished novella The Boy Who Heard Music.
On the 13th, Mathias releases a cover of "Substitute" as a single.
Also on the 13th, Pete posts a small sample of the autobiography he began writing in 1996 on his website. It reveals that he is allergic to cats.
On the 20th, the CD Rock Star: A Night at the Mayan Theatre from the TV reality show, is released featuring Jordis Unga covering "Baba O'Riley".
On the 21st, Rachel Fuller begins an online web series called In The Attic. The first show features her and her friend Mikey Cuthbert talking and playing songs in an upstairs room at Pete's house. Pete, sweaty from a bike ride, joins for the second half and performs "Heart to Hang Onto". Another show transmits on the 28th.
On the 24th, Pete publishes "Chapter 1: Prologue — The Note" from The Boy Who Heard Music on his blog. Positive comments from fans in the blog will encourage Pete to begin writing more songs based on the story.
On the 25th, Pete debuts a new song "In The Ether," performing it with Rachel at The Poetry Olympics at the Royal Albert Hall, London. He sings the song in a guttural voice saying "I use funny voices...because I use funny voices." The program for the Poetry Olympics contains the lyrics for this song plus another song called "Wake Up and Hear The Music" that will later become "God Speaks of Marty Robbins" and join "In The Ether" on the album Endless Wire.
On the 26th, Steve Coogan releases the DVD Alan Partridge Presents: The Cream of British Comedy. An extra on the DVD has Steve's character Alan Partridge interviewing Roger.
On the 27th, Pete records a long video about the song "Pinball Wizard" at his Oceanic Studios in London.
On the 30th, Variety reports that Spitfire Pictures has brought on Mike Myers to star in Roger's long-discussed Keith Moon bio-movie.
Also on the 30th, a documentary about the G8 summit and the protests around it, entitled Won't Get Fooled Again, premiers at the Edinburgh film festival. The same month sees author Colette Shaw put out a new novel also called Won't Get Fooled Again.
October 2005
New music releases: All the Right Reasons - Nickleback; "Dance, Dance" - Fall Out Boy; Intensive Care - Robbie Williams; "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" - Arctic Monkeys
On the 7th. Pete and Roger spend the day in New York promoting the Tommy/Quadrophenia DVD. Roger appears on Fox and Friends accompanied by Peter Gabriel. Later, Pete and Roger hold a photo op at the Samsung Experience Store at the Time-Warner building in New York to announce the release of DVD and a special promotional deal with Samsung Electronics who offer a copy of the DVD with HDTV and Home Theater purchases.
The next day Pete posts a diary entry about several topics including the problem of writing and performing new music at his age: "I suppose what rock artists of my age are struggling to find is dignity with edge. Anger with responsibility. Action with duty. Tricky if you want to have fun at the same time."
On the 10th, Pete and Rachel attend a staging of High Society in London and go backstage afterwards.
On the 14th, Roger begins appearing with A Night At The Proms in Antwerp. Additional shows there this month are 15th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 27th, 28th, 29th and the 31st.
On the 17th, a cover of the Buzzcocks' song "Ever Fallen in Love?" is included on a 2-CD tribute to the late BBC DJ John Peel. Roger is one of the artists singing the song.
On the 18th, Rachel presents an evening of music with Pete, Foy Vance, Mikey Cuthbert and herself at The Bedford in Balham, London. Pete remarks that it is the first time (charity concerts excepted) that he had not been paid to perform. "My father once told me that marks the end of your career.". He had been talked into the gig by Rachel. Pete plays "Drowned" on acoustic guitar, covers a Gram Parsons' song and joins the support acts at the end to perform "I'm One."
On the 26th, Roger receives a Gold Badge Award from the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters at The Savoy, Strand, London. That day Ross Halfin shoots portraits of Pete and Roger at the Boathouse, one of which echoes a famous photo of the Kray Twins. The pictures will be used for promotion for their upcoming tour.
November 2005
New music releases: Some Hearts - Carrie Underwood; Never Forget - The Ultimate Collection - Take That; Confessions On A Dance Floor - Madonna; "Ridin'" - Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone
On the 2nd, Pete and Roger attend a launch party in London for the coming release of the The Who - Quadrophenia and Tommy Live with Special Guests DVD. The DVD is released there on the 7th.
On the 3rd, Pete's girlfriend Rachel Fuller reads some remarks attacking her from a Who forum on her webcast In The Attic. Pete calls the attackers "c**ts". "C**ts or f***ing c**ts. I can't decide". He quickly apologizes.
On the 6th, the Sunday Mirror reports that Roger has slagged Heather Mills McCartney after meeting her backstage at the Live8 event. "She was at Live 8 with a camera...scary...I looked down the barrel and saw her face - and I thought: 'This is the coldest human being I have met in my whole life'. She was one cold fish". In turn, Roger also worries for fellow Live 8 performer Pete Doherty: "It's a waste of a life really - because he's got talent. He seems to be feeding off it - now he's become infamous for his drug addiction he seems to think: 'That's what I do so I've got to do it.' It's very sad".
On the 8th, the Live 8 DVD boxset is released featuring Pete and Roger's performances of "Who Are You" and "Won't Get Fooled Again."
On the 10th, the In The Attic webcast features two tape clips, one of Roger in the attic performing "Real Good Looking Boy" and the other of Pete in the studio premiering the song, "How Can I Help You, Sir?".
On the 16th, Roger returns to his performances at A Night at the Proms as it moves to moves to Ahoy in Rotterdam. Performances run through the rest of the month.
Also on the 16th, Pete attends the induction of The Who into the U.K. Music Hall of Fame. Ray Davies handles the intro. Pete provides the induction intro for Pink Floyd.
On the 17th, Pete performs "Blue Red and Grey" live on In The Attic and explains the background to the song. Rachel also shows backstage video from the U.K. Music Hall of Fame including Pete, apparently in emotional distress, saying he didn't enjoy the experience. He later denies that was what he meant.
On the 25th, Pete posts a pdf file on his site in response to recent questions about whether charities such as Live 8 do any good for poor countries. Ultimately Pete has to say that he has no answers: "I am uncomfortable about being received as someone who might be able to impart anything other than the elegant dividing of time known as music. It is what I do best. Because my work requires me to use words, without the impetuosity of youth I stumble today over finding something useful to say. I do not see it as my job to inspire anybody; that would be arrogant. But I must accept that it seems my mere words do inspire some people."
On the 28th, the DVD Thunderfingers, A Tribute to John Entwistle of 'The Who' is released in Europe.
Also on the 28th, Henrik Wager releases his album Confession with a cover of "Pinball Wizard".
December 2005
New music releases: Curtain Call: The Hits - Eminem; "When I'm Gone" - Eminem; "Temperature" - Sean Paul; The Breakthrough - Mary J. Blige
Roger Daltrey's tour with the orchestral show "A Night at the Proms" continues on the 2nd and 3rd in Cologne, Germany. From there he's off to Oberhausen (4th), Mannheim (6th), Stuttgart (7th), Munich (9-11th), Erfurt (12th), Dortmund (13-14th), Hanover (15th), Hamburg (17-18th), Bremen (19th) and Frankfurt (20-21st).
On the 4th, Pete and Rachel Fuller invite fans into the basement studio of their Richmond Hill home for a "Basement Jam" that is broadcast live, if spottily, on the Internet. Pete plays "Drowned," "Greyhound Girl," "Blue, Red & Grey," "In the Ether," and "God Speaks of Marty Robbins" solo on acoustic guitar, then is joined by Rachel for "Sunrise," "Behind Blue Eyes" and "Let's See Action." Also performing in the basement jam show is Foy Vance, Mikey Cuthbert and Simon Townshend.
On the 7th, Mark Wilkerson publishes his previously online only biography Amazing Journey: The Life of Pete Townshend. It will be republished later by Omnibus Press as Who Are You: The Life of Pete Townshend.
On the 8th, Pete writes at length on his website about British playwright Harold Pinter's recent Nobel Prize speech and his own support for the Iraq invasion and overthrow of Saddam Hussein. "I hoped that Islamic Terrorists would come to fear American military power, because it is a fearful instrument; neither Pinter nor Bin Laden can talk it out of existence. American military power is a given, an absolute, and will never be dismantled. It would be morally wrong to suggest that power is right, but it would also be stupid to refuse to accept that military power is power."
On the 18th, the Rachel Fuller - Pete Townshend penned song "Just Breathe" tops the Independent Artists Company charts.
On the 22nd, Who manager Bill Curbishley tells Rolling Stone The Who will tour North America in the Summer of 2006.
On Christmas Eve, Pete writes a diary entry confirming the tour and the forthcoming Who album: "I certainly don't give a flying f**k whether anything I write is a hit, or will get played on my beloved rock radio, or sell a million - or might not fit because it sounds like a Broadway tune, or as though I've 'stolen' Tom Waits' voice..."
On the 29th, another long diary entry from Pete. He discusses his hearing problems and their cause: "my own particular kind of damage was caused by using earphones in the recording studio, not playing loud on stage. My ears are ringing, loudly. This rarely happens after a live show, unless the Who play a small club. This is a peculiar hazard of the recording studio." He says he is forced to take 36-hour breaks between recording sessions to keep his tinnitus in check.