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Thanks a Lot, Mr. Kibblewhite: My Story
The frontman of one of the greatest bands of all time tells the story of his rise from nothing to rock 'n' roll megastar, and his wild journey as the voice of The Who.
“It’s taken me three years to unpack the events of my life, to remember who did what when and why, to separate the myths from the reality, to unravel what really happened at the Holiday Inn on Keith Moon’s 21st birthday,” says Roger Daltrey, the powerhouse vocalist of The Who. The result of this introspection is a remarkable memoir, instantly captivating, funny and frank, chock-full of well-earned wisdom and one-of-kind anecdotes from a raucous life that spans a tumultuous time of change in Britain and America.
Born during the air bombing of London in 1944, Daltrey fought his way (literally) through school and poverty and began to assemble the band that would become The Who while working at a sheet metal factory in 1961. In Daltrey’s voice, the familiar stories—how they got into smashing up their kit, the infighting, Keith Moon’s antics—take on a new, intimate life. Also here is the creative journey through the unforgettable hits including My Generation, Substitute, Pinball Wizard, and the great albums, Who’s Next, Tommy, and Quadrophenia. Amidst all the music and mayhem, the drugs, the premature deaths, the ruined hotel rooms, Roger is our perfect narrator, remaining sober (relatively) and observant and determined to make The Who bigger and bigger. Not only his personal story, this is the definitive biography of The Who.
“It’s taken me three years to unpack the events of my life, to remember who did what when and why, to separate the myths from the reality, to unravel what really happened at the Holiday Inn on Keith Moon’s 21st birthday,” says Roger Daltrey, the powerhouse vocalist of The Who. The result of this introspection is a remarkable memoir, instantly captivating, funny and frank, chock-full of well-earned wisdom and one-of-kind anecdotes from a raucous life that spans a tumultuous time of change in Britain and America.
Born during the air bombing of London in 1944, Daltrey fought his way (literally) through school and poverty and began to assemble the band that would become The Who while working at a sheet metal factory in 1961. In Daltrey’s voice, the familiar stories—how they got into smashing up their kit, the infighting, Keith Moon’s antics—take on a new, intimate life. Also here is the creative journey through the unforgettable hits including My Generation, Substitute, Pinball Wizard, and the great albums, Who’s Next, Tommy, and Quadrophenia. Amidst all the music and mayhem, the drugs, the premature deaths, the ruined hotel rooms, Roger is our perfect narrator, remaining sober (relatively) and observant and determined to make The Who bigger and bigger. Not only his personal story, this is the definitive biography of The Who.
259 pages, Hardcover
First published October 23, 2018
About the author
Roger Daltrey
12 books33 followersRoger Daltrey came to prominence in the mid-1960s as the founder and lead singer of the rock band The Who. The Who is considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century. In a career spanning more than 50 years, Daltrey has also been a film producer, writer, and an actor on stage, film and television. Since 1973 Daltrey has released eight solo albums. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and has received numerous lifetime achievement awards for his contribution to music.
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December 14, 2018
Thanks a Lot Mr. Kibblewhite by Roger Daltrey is a 2018 Henry Holt and Co. Publication.
“We’ll be fighting in the streets, with our children at our feet. And the morals that they worship will be gone. And the men who spurred us on, Sit in judgment of all wrong. They decide, and the shotgun sings the song.”
Roger Daltrey. He’s kind of an enigma, I think, or least to me he is. It seems every member of “The Who’ has commanded newspaper headlines over the years, everyone except Roger, that is. No insane antics or stage theatrics or ghastly criminal charges like those of Keith or Pete. Roger, by comparison, seems to be rather square. I honestly didn’t know a thing about him, other than what everyone else knows, which is centered around his career. I couldn’t have told you one single thing about his personal life. I didn’t even know the basics about him, like if he was married or had children, although I’d heard a few tales of his childhood where he had garnered a tough guy reputation. But the details of his upbringing were sketchy.
So, while I’ve become rather picky about memoirs, especially those written by rock stars, my curiosity about Roger Daltrey won the day.
I love ‘The Who’. Having formed in 1964, this is a group I’ve listened to my entire life. This is one of those enduring bands that have weathered many storms and survived over fifty years as a group. Incredible, when you think about it.
Not only has Roger witnessed some monumental historical events, he’s also been a participant in them. Having spent so many years behind that insular rock star barrier, Roger has become accustomed to a way of life most of us couldn’t relate to. That’s part of the reason these books are so alluring, I suppose. We hear stories about conflict within the band, we know Roger and Pete had their moments, we know about Keith Moon’s antics, and of John’s untimely death. But we still want a bird’s eye view, want to hear Roger’s side of the story, want to relive his glory days with him, take a trip down memory lane, and want to know more about the person behind the rock star persona.
Roger’s approach to his memoir is laid back and relaxed. He can be funny, charming, and witty, but does show a vulnerable side of himself on a very rare occasion. Despite spending over fifty years in a rock group, he still carries a blue collar, working class, chip on his shoulder. He’s capable of sensitivity and spoke with some candor regarding childhood and school days, traumas, which left emotional scars he battled much of his adult life, hiding his lack of confidence behind a tough exterior.
“That was the point at which the headmaster, Mr. Kibblewhite, decided I was expelled. “We can’t control you, Daltrey”, he said. “You’re Out.”
And, as I left his office for the last time, a parting gesture: “You’ll never make anything of your life, Daltrey.”
“Thanks a lot, Mr. Kibblewhite, I thought.”
Yet, despite those rare glimpses inside of Roger’s more personal inner workings, the bulk of the book is centered on Roger’s professional life-the road to success, and all the various ups and downs of forming a band, maintaining the unit, and of course coping with the excesses of life on the road and the horrible tragedies the band endured. However, I never really felt the chemistry between Roger and his band-mates, other than a poignant story he shared about Keith shortly before his death.
Roger’s personal relationships with friends, colleagues, and women also lacked warmth or depth. There was one point in the book where, despite knowing this is normal operating procedure for rock stars, I still balked, and yes, passed judgments, on Roger’s view of fidelity or his case- infidelity.
What he described was a one-sided open marriage. He was not to be expected to be ‘a good boy’ while on the road, because it gets lonely out there. I wondered if his wife got lonely during his long absences, and if she were expected to be ‘a good girl’ while he was away or if she was free to engage in emotion-less hookups too. I mean, according to Roger, a shag is just a shag. A bit of a double standard there, I think.
But this was not the only area in which Roger showed his age. It was a bit ironic that one of the ‘My Generation’ performers sounded very old-fashioned at times.
Occasionally Roger would bait the reader with information, only to never mention the subject again or to toss it out as an aside, when it clearly deserved more attention and time than he gave it. The book comes in at less than three hundred pages, which is awfully thin, when there is obviously so much ground to cover, both personally and professionally.
Still, as far as rock memoirs go, this one is not too shabby. Roger is articulate and plain spoken, and as a performer, he knew how to keep the reader’s attention. The material is well-organized, and he does hit upon the major events that shaped his life and career, which for the casual fan will certainly suffice. Diehard fans will be pleased with anything Roger puts out there, but others, like myself, may wish there had been a little more bulk and depth than was provided.
One thing I was reminded of, however, is how compared to many other people in his line of work, Roger is very dependable and is a solid performer. He may not have the artistic flair of Pete Townshend, but he puts everything into his shows, has an admirable work ethic, is a highly energetic singer, and a really nice set of pipes. He grew to be a versatile, multi-talented artist in his own right, not only as the ‘The Who’frontman, but with other groups, and in his acting roles. He’s a superstar rock star all the way from the top of those luscious curly locks to the tips of his toes.
Roger has recently experienced some health problems, and is feeling the effects of his age, but he’s still sharp as ever, and still performs with ‘The Who’ on occasion His most recent show took place just this past summer.
One can’t help but feel awed by the longevity of the group, and Roger’s stamina. His body of work is impressive, as is the mark he’s made on the world of music and the arts.
3.5 stars
“We’ll be fighting in the streets, with our children at our feet. And the morals that they worship will be gone. And the men who spurred us on, Sit in judgment of all wrong. They decide, and the shotgun sings the song.”
Roger Daltrey. He’s kind of an enigma, I think, or least to me he is. It seems every member of “The Who’ has commanded newspaper headlines over the years, everyone except Roger, that is. No insane antics or stage theatrics or ghastly criminal charges like those of Keith or Pete. Roger, by comparison, seems to be rather square. I honestly didn’t know a thing about him, other than what everyone else knows, which is centered around his career. I couldn’t have told you one single thing about his personal life. I didn’t even know the basics about him, like if he was married or had children, although I’d heard a few tales of his childhood where he had garnered a tough guy reputation. But the details of his upbringing were sketchy.
So, while I’ve become rather picky about memoirs, especially those written by rock stars, my curiosity about Roger Daltrey won the day.
I love ‘The Who’. Having formed in 1964, this is a group I’ve listened to my entire life. This is one of those enduring bands that have weathered many storms and survived over fifty years as a group. Incredible, when you think about it.
Not only has Roger witnessed some monumental historical events, he’s also been a participant in them. Having spent so many years behind that insular rock star barrier, Roger has become accustomed to a way of life most of us couldn’t relate to. That’s part of the reason these books are so alluring, I suppose. We hear stories about conflict within the band, we know Roger and Pete had their moments, we know about Keith Moon’s antics, and of John’s untimely death. But we still want a bird’s eye view, want to hear Roger’s side of the story, want to relive his glory days with him, take a trip down memory lane, and want to know more about the person behind the rock star persona.
Roger’s approach to his memoir is laid back and relaxed. He can be funny, charming, and witty, but does show a vulnerable side of himself on a very rare occasion. Despite spending over fifty years in a rock group, he still carries a blue collar, working class, chip on his shoulder. He’s capable of sensitivity and spoke with some candor regarding childhood and school days, traumas, which left emotional scars he battled much of his adult life, hiding his lack of confidence behind a tough exterior.
“That was the point at which the headmaster, Mr. Kibblewhite, decided I was expelled. “We can’t control you, Daltrey”, he said. “You’re Out.”
And, as I left his office for the last time, a parting gesture: “You’ll never make anything of your life, Daltrey.”
“Thanks a lot, Mr. Kibblewhite, I thought.”
Yet, despite those rare glimpses inside of Roger’s more personal inner workings, the bulk of the book is centered on Roger’s professional life-the road to success, and all the various ups and downs of forming a band, maintaining the unit, and of course coping with the excesses of life on the road and the horrible tragedies the band endured. However, I never really felt the chemistry between Roger and his band-mates, other than a poignant story he shared about Keith shortly before his death.
Roger’s personal relationships with friends, colleagues, and women also lacked warmth or depth. There was one point in the book where, despite knowing this is normal operating procedure for rock stars, I still balked, and yes, passed judgments, on Roger’s view of fidelity or his case- infidelity.
What he described was a one-sided open marriage. He was not to be expected to be ‘a good boy’ while on the road, because it gets lonely out there. I wondered if his wife got lonely during his long absences, and if she were expected to be ‘a good girl’ while he was away or if she was free to engage in emotion-less hookups too. I mean, according to Roger, a shag is just a shag. A bit of a double standard there, I think.
But this was not the only area in which Roger showed his age. It was a bit ironic that one of the ‘My Generation’ performers sounded very old-fashioned at times.
Occasionally Roger would bait the reader with information, only to never mention the subject again or to toss it out as an aside, when it clearly deserved more attention and time than he gave it. The book comes in at less than three hundred pages, which is awfully thin, when there is obviously so much ground to cover, both personally and professionally.
Still, as far as rock memoirs go, this one is not too shabby. Roger is articulate and plain spoken, and as a performer, he knew how to keep the reader’s attention. The material is well-organized, and he does hit upon the major events that shaped his life and career, which for the casual fan will certainly suffice. Diehard fans will be pleased with anything Roger puts out there, but others, like myself, may wish there had been a little more bulk and depth than was provided.
One thing I was reminded of, however, is how compared to many other people in his line of work, Roger is very dependable and is a solid performer. He may not have the artistic flair of Pete Townshend, but he puts everything into his shows, has an admirable work ethic, is a highly energetic singer, and a really nice set of pipes. He grew to be a versatile, multi-talented artist in his own right, not only as the ‘The Who’frontman, but with other groups, and in his acting roles. He’s a superstar rock star all the way from the top of those luscious curly locks to the tips of his toes.
Roger has recently experienced some health problems, and is feeling the effects of his age, but he’s still sharp as ever, and still performs with ‘The Who’ on occasion His most recent show took place just this past summer.
One can’t help but feel awed by the longevity of the group, and Roger’s stamina. His body of work is impressive, as is the mark he’s made on the world of music and the arts.
3.5 stars
February 10, 2020
Whilst not traditionally a massive fan of the Who, I do find rock biographies consistently interesting. It’s fascinating to me how a few kids can buy their first guitar or sing in their first band and then, with a little talent, a little time and a lot of luck, become some of the biggest, most influential rock musicians in the world (rather than grumpy guitar teachers like myself!)
Roger Daltrey writes a good honest account of his life and the history of The Who. As someone who takes his fitness seriously and never slid down the rabbit hole of drugs and alcohol, he is able to cast a clear eye on the life of the band. In his book he examines the often disfunctional relationship between himself and Pete Townshend, the self destructive ways of Keith Moon, the band’s haphazard creative process, the crazy excesses and the mad, incident packed world tours.
The Who never really functioned well as a group of friends and the bust ups were endless. Strangely, this may have helped the longevity of the band ie when not on tour they led their own lives away from each other.
Daltrey lives a comfortable life in a big house in the country with his wife and family and as well as being the iconic frontman of The Who, has had various solo projects, from solo albums, acting jobs to the extensive, long term manual labour involved in restoring his historic house.
I liked Roger Daltrey which is always good when reading an autobiography, his honesty, outspokenness even his occasional cockiness was refreshing.
On the downside, I found the book too short and it felt a little rushed - interesting incidents were mentioned but not elaborated on - I also wasn’t so keen on the structure which was incident and subject based rather than chronological and (as a bit of a music geek) I would have liked more detail on the song writing process, but I guess I’ll have to read Pete Townshend’s autobiography for more on that.
Overall though, a good solid autobiography written without a ghost writer. It didn’t tick all the boxes for me but it was written from the heart and Daltrey’s summing up of his life so far, is surprisingly moving.
3.5 Stars
Roger Daltrey writes a good honest account of his life and the history of The Who. As someone who takes his fitness seriously and never slid down the rabbit hole of drugs and alcohol, he is able to cast a clear eye on the life of the band. In his book he examines the often disfunctional relationship between himself and Pete Townshend, the self destructive ways of Keith Moon, the band’s haphazard creative process, the crazy excesses and the mad, incident packed world tours.
The Who never really functioned well as a group of friends and the bust ups were endless. Strangely, this may have helped the longevity of the band ie when not on tour they led their own lives away from each other.
Daltrey lives a comfortable life in a big house in the country with his wife and family and as well as being the iconic frontman of The Who, has had various solo projects, from solo albums, acting jobs to the extensive, long term manual labour involved in restoring his historic house.
I liked Roger Daltrey which is always good when reading an autobiography, his honesty, outspokenness even his occasional cockiness was refreshing.
On the downside, I found the book too short and it felt a little rushed - interesting incidents were mentioned but not elaborated on - I also wasn’t so keen on the structure which was incident and subject based rather than chronological and (as a bit of a music geek) I would have liked more detail on the song writing process, but I guess I’ll have to read Pete Townshend’s autobiography for more on that.
Overall though, a good solid autobiography written without a ghost writer. It didn’t tick all the boxes for me but it was written from the heart and Daltrey’s summing up of his life so far, is surprisingly moving.
3.5 Stars
May 3, 2019
Thanks a lot, Mr. Daltrey, for sharing Who you are!
November 16, 2024
“Listening to you, I get the music
Gazing at you, I get the heat
Following you, I climb the mountain
I get excitement at your feet
Right behind you, I see the millions
On you, I see the glory
From you, I get opinions
From you, I get the story”
- ‘See Me, Feel Me’ from ‘Tommy’ (1969)
************
This 2022 autobiography written by the lead singer of The Who doesn’t follow the usual path of rock biographies as a sensationalistic tell all about the excesses during the 60’s and 70’s although there is enough of that to ‘get the story’. Roger Daltrey, despite fronting one of the world’s most popular rock ‘n roll groups from Tommy (1969) through Quadrophenia (1973), comes across like the sane man in the asylum. It seems to be the honest reflections of a former working class teenager with a high school degree, thrown into the limelight against overwhelming odds of failure at the height of an era.
After playing the Monterey Music Festival, where guitarists Peter Townshend of The Who and Jimi Hendrix of The Experience had tossed a coin to decide who’d follow who, headlining Woodstock to half a million tripping American hippies, singing in the first rock opera Tommy and starring in the big screen extravaganza of the same name, Daltrey claims he barely could pay his bills due to their management team stealing and snorting up the profits. Drummer Keith Moon trashed hotel rooms and drove cars into swimming pools while Townshend swung guitars at Daltrey in fits of blitzed out rage.
Things got so bad Moon had to be evacuated from concerts in ambulances, and agreements were entered where Roger wouldn’t punch out Pete. From that time until now Daltrey remained married, returning home to his wife between long tours while teens, of whom I was one, blasted My Generation and Won’t Get Fooled Again from our stereo systems. And we still do occasionally. Townshend is acknowledged as the creative force behind the words and music, but the group functioned as an organic whole, similar to Jimmy Page’s Led Zeppelin. Drummer Keith Moon died in 1978 at age 32 after 14 years in The Who.
Despite financial challenges Daltrey managed to buy and pay off a 15th century farmhouse with a 35 acre estate which he renovated and landscaped himself. Friends from his factory working days were invited to fish in lakes he had dug and eventually opened to the public. In a period when UK high earners were taxed at a 98% rate rock stars moved to France or America. Daltrey stayed in England. After Keith’s death The Who continued tours with less virtuosic drumming and material, as Townshend acquired and overcame a heroin habit. In the 80’s innovative rock was in decline and The Who were no exception.
In 1982 Daltrey announced their last tour and quit the band in order to focus on acting roles and solo records. By 1989 they had run out of money and regrouped for another final tour. One off concerts led to tours during 2002-20 with Zak Starkey on drums, Ringo’s son, and a replacement bassist for Entwhistle who overdosed in 2002. Daltrey spares the diapers to dirt nap details in his 240 page memoir and cuts to the parts most people are likely to be interested in. But for those who are curious Mr. Kibblewhite was a schoolteacher who predicted that Roger Daltrey would never amount to much of anything.
Gazing at you, I get the heat
Following you, I climb the mountain
I get excitement at your feet
Right behind you, I see the millions
On you, I see the glory
From you, I get opinions
From you, I get the story”
- ‘See Me, Feel Me’ from ‘Tommy’ (1969)
************
This 2022 autobiography written by the lead singer of The Who doesn’t follow the usual path of rock biographies as a sensationalistic tell all about the excesses during the 60’s and 70’s although there is enough of that to ‘get the story’. Roger Daltrey, despite fronting one of the world’s most popular rock ‘n roll groups from Tommy (1969) through Quadrophenia (1973), comes across like the sane man in the asylum. It seems to be the honest reflections of a former working class teenager with a high school degree, thrown into the limelight against overwhelming odds of failure at the height of an era.
After playing the Monterey Music Festival, where guitarists Peter Townshend of The Who and Jimi Hendrix of The Experience had tossed a coin to decide who’d follow who, headlining Woodstock to half a million tripping American hippies, singing in the first rock opera Tommy and starring in the big screen extravaganza of the same name, Daltrey claims he barely could pay his bills due to their management team stealing and snorting up the profits. Drummer Keith Moon trashed hotel rooms and drove cars into swimming pools while Townshend swung guitars at Daltrey in fits of blitzed out rage.
Things got so bad Moon had to be evacuated from concerts in ambulances, and agreements were entered where Roger wouldn’t punch out Pete. From that time until now Daltrey remained married, returning home to his wife between long tours while teens, of whom I was one, blasted My Generation and Won’t Get Fooled Again from our stereo systems. And we still do occasionally. Townshend is acknowledged as the creative force behind the words and music, but the group functioned as an organic whole, similar to Jimmy Page’s Led Zeppelin. Drummer Keith Moon died in 1978 at age 32 after 14 years in The Who.
Despite financial challenges Daltrey managed to buy and pay off a 15th century farmhouse with a 35 acre estate which he renovated and landscaped himself. Friends from his factory working days were invited to fish in lakes he had dug and eventually opened to the public. In a period when UK high earners were taxed at a 98% rate rock stars moved to France or America. Daltrey stayed in England. After Keith’s death The Who continued tours with less virtuosic drumming and material, as Townshend acquired and overcame a heroin habit. In the 80’s innovative rock was in decline and The Who were no exception.
In 1982 Daltrey announced their last tour and quit the band in order to focus on acting roles and solo records. By 1989 they had run out of money and regrouped for another final tour. One off concerts led to tours during 2002-20 with Zak Starkey on drums, Ringo’s son, and a replacement bassist for Entwhistle who overdosed in 2002. Daltrey spares the diapers to dirt nap details in his 240 page memoir and cuts to the parts most people are likely to be interested in. But for those who are curious Mr. Kibblewhite was a schoolteacher who predicted that Roger Daltrey would never amount to much of anything.
March 17, 2020
Solid, well written autobiography by Roger Daltrey, lead singer of The Who. 8 of 10 stars
November 27, 2021
I am not a big fan of The Who but like them well enough. I decided to read Roger Daltrey's biography more on a whim than anything else.
It’s surprisingly good.
Roger Daltrey comes over as a forthright and decent bloke who just happened to end up in a rock band. The stories from his humble West London working class childhood are really interesting.
That Roger is by far and away the most grounded and sane member of The Who comes as no surprise. His matter-of-fact tales of his bandmates' behaviour are frequently jaw dropping. To say the other members have (or had) issues is an understatement.
Overall this is an entertaining, insightful, hugely likeable and extremely readable rock biography. My only complaint, it's far too short.
5/5
It’s surprisingly good.
Roger Daltrey comes over as a forthright and decent bloke who just happened to end up in a rock band. The stories from his humble West London working class childhood are really interesting.
That Roger is by far and away the most grounded and sane member of The Who comes as no surprise. His matter-of-fact tales of his bandmates' behaviour are frequently jaw dropping. To say the other members have (or had) issues is an understatement.
Overall this is an entertaining, insightful, hugely likeable and extremely readable rock biography. My only complaint, it's far too short.
5/5
October 21, 2018
In a 2016 Rolling Stone interview Daltrey mentioned he was working on his biography. He said there was no publishing deal, so he could take as long as he liked, and only publish if he liked it. Pretty much sums up how he likes to live life.
To me Daltrey has always seemed edgy, a bit of a hard nut and most definitely not one to mince his words. Generally, the book doesn’t disappoint. A few scores are settled, some stories put straight and we get Rog’s worldview as he sees it. There’s also plenty of humour – a story about a “cut and shut” Aston Martin had me laughing out loud.
Some of Daltrey’s perspectives aren’t that surprising – like many others in their senior years (he’s now 75) he looks back longingly at the simpler times gone by, professing not to understand the modern world demands for instant gratification, although his nostalgia seems undiminished by the poverty of his upbringing. Content and comfortable with his lot now, it’s done little to take the edge off him. Witness his description of Kenney Jones drumming – and he regards Kenney as a mate!
Daltrey is driven and uncompromising. Generally, not a recipe for longevity in a rock band. And yet he made it work. He was smart enough to see that Townshend was the creative genius that the band needed to take them to the very top, and as undesirable as some of their personal qualities were, Entwistle and Moon were the other elements needed to make it happen. He says more than once that he was all in – he had nothing else going.
He doesn’t shy from describing the downsides of working with such dysfunctional band mates – Townsend’s lack of focus, cushioned by his publishing income, Moon’s desperate need for attention. Few surprises here although Daltrey’s reference to Entwistle’s “nasty” nature were new to me. Overall, it reads as if Daltrey put up with it all because he knew it was better than the alternative – something that it’s far from clear that the others understood.
In many respects Daltrey sees himself as the outsider. Bright enough to pass the 11 plus, but alienated from his new “posh” schoolmates, he saw education as a punishment and only grasps later in life it was something he could have taken much more from. He also becomes exile in the band – fired and then grudgingly re-admitted – on probation - after laying Moon out to finish an argument about drugs. Two years of niggling windups follow, Daltrey determined not to give them the satisfaction of resolving it with his fists. All of that said looking back Daltrey sums it up “something that gets missed in all the war stories about The Who …. we respected each other”.
A few things remain unremarked upon; his CBE award in 2005, The Who’s induction to the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, his album with Wilko Johnson. But beyond these details, it’s a comprehensive story, told with energy and humour.
Still, a bit surprised at the book title though – “I Can Explain” surely?
To me Daltrey has always seemed edgy, a bit of a hard nut and most definitely not one to mince his words. Generally, the book doesn’t disappoint. A few scores are settled, some stories put straight and we get Rog’s worldview as he sees it. There’s also plenty of humour – a story about a “cut and shut” Aston Martin had me laughing out loud.
Some of Daltrey’s perspectives aren’t that surprising – like many others in their senior years (he’s now 75) he looks back longingly at the simpler times gone by, professing not to understand the modern world demands for instant gratification, although his nostalgia seems undiminished by the poverty of his upbringing. Content and comfortable with his lot now, it’s done little to take the edge off him. Witness his description of Kenney Jones drumming – and he regards Kenney as a mate!
Daltrey is driven and uncompromising. Generally, not a recipe for longevity in a rock band. And yet he made it work. He was smart enough to see that Townshend was the creative genius that the band needed to take them to the very top, and as undesirable as some of their personal qualities were, Entwistle and Moon were the other elements needed to make it happen. He says more than once that he was all in – he had nothing else going.
He doesn’t shy from describing the downsides of working with such dysfunctional band mates – Townsend’s lack of focus, cushioned by his publishing income, Moon’s desperate need for attention. Few surprises here although Daltrey’s reference to Entwistle’s “nasty” nature were new to me. Overall, it reads as if Daltrey put up with it all because he knew it was better than the alternative – something that it’s far from clear that the others understood.
In many respects Daltrey sees himself as the outsider. Bright enough to pass the 11 plus, but alienated from his new “posh” schoolmates, he saw education as a punishment and only grasps later in life it was something he could have taken much more from. He also becomes exile in the band – fired and then grudgingly re-admitted – on probation - after laying Moon out to finish an argument about drugs. Two years of niggling windups follow, Daltrey determined not to give them the satisfaction of resolving it with his fists. All of that said looking back Daltrey sums it up “something that gets missed in all the war stories about The Who …. we respected each other”.
A few things remain unremarked upon; his CBE award in 2005, The Who’s induction to the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, his album with Wilko Johnson. But beyond these details, it’s a comprehensive story, told with energy and humour.
Still, a bit surprised at the book title though – “I Can Explain” surely?
February 26, 2019
Very readable autobiography by The Who’s frontman. It feels very honestly written and there are some laugh aloud parts to it. I really like the fact that it’s clear Roger wrote it himself, with no ghost writer. As I read, I could imagine him talking and that was great. He skips out a few parts I’d have liked to have learned more about.. Live Aid, for example. However, it’s very straightforward and to the point, which is how I imagine the man himself to be. He pulls no punches about his relationships with other members of the band, and it’s interesting to hear how he and Pete Townshend have settled their differences, but there was always respect albeit grudgingly so at times. Well worth a read.
March 17, 2020
A solid, well written autobiography from Roger Daltrey, lead singer of The Who. 8 of 10 stars
October 29, 2018
Loved it. As much as I enjoyed Pete Townsend's memoir, Daltrey's is more down to earth and less ego than Pete's. A quick and fun read.
December 7, 2018
Anyone who follows me likely knows the absurd amount of books about The Who that I read. When I saw Roger was coming out with an autobiography I immediately slammed the "put on hold at your local library" button. What else was I to do? At least I had 22 people behind me waiting for it. Nevermind there were over 10 people ahead of me. I'd get it in time.
It's a shame this book didn't garner the press that Pete Townshend's book did. While both are rather good, I felt Roger Daltrey's was much more what people wanted when they wanted a Who biography. They wanted information about the band, interspersed with information about the person's life. Daltrey's book was just that, whereas Townshend's was the opposite. Both have their own merits, and I devoured both of them with a similar level of eagerness. Daltrey is just a much more accessible person than Pete. It has always been that way.
Daltrey's book is a book of thankfulness. In it he talks often about his own work ethic, and there is a constant undercurrent of his knowledge of how lucky he has ultimately been. His luck comes largely from his willingness to work, to show up, to force other's into shape. Still, there is that element of luck there all the same. Miss one element of the core four members of the band and they never would have exploded onto the scene the way they did. There's a reason the hiatus post-Keith went on for as long as it did, after all. Roger knows that. And he is open from start to finish about his thoughts on it all, as he always has been.
This book was a true pleasure, and optimistic from start to finish. There's always a view towards the future, and a wry smile that when he goes, he wishes to go out right. He'll be working on until his dying day, and as long as Pete is there the music will never quite end. Nevertheless, he knows the world now isn't quite what it used to be... and on that he is open as well. There was a certain cultural climate that allowed the rock and roll revolution to happen, and he explain it in a far more accessible way than most books about the band do. You get it.
In short, I think this book is a great book for fans of the band and the lay-reader alike. Although obviously fans of the band will likely get a bit more out of it than others.
It's a shame this book didn't garner the press that Pete Townshend's book did. While both are rather good, I felt Roger Daltrey's was much more what people wanted when they wanted a Who biography. They wanted information about the band, interspersed with information about the person's life. Daltrey's book was just that, whereas Townshend's was the opposite. Both have their own merits, and I devoured both of them with a similar level of eagerness. Daltrey is just a much more accessible person than Pete. It has always been that way.
Daltrey's book is a book of thankfulness. In it he talks often about his own work ethic, and there is a constant undercurrent of his knowledge of how lucky he has ultimately been. His luck comes largely from his willingness to work, to show up, to force other's into shape. Still, there is that element of luck there all the same. Miss one element of the core four members of the band and they never would have exploded onto the scene the way they did. There's a reason the hiatus post-Keith went on for as long as it did, after all. Roger knows that. And he is open from start to finish about his thoughts on it all, as he always has been.
This book was a true pleasure, and optimistic from start to finish. There's always a view towards the future, and a wry smile that when he goes, he wishes to go out right. He'll be working on until his dying day, and as long as Pete is there the music will never quite end. Nevertheless, he knows the world now isn't quite what it used to be... and on that he is open as well. There was a certain cultural climate that allowed the rock and roll revolution to happen, and he explain it in a far more accessible way than most books about the band do. You get it.
In short, I think this book is a great book for fans of the band and the lay-reader alike. Although obviously fans of the band will likely get a bit more out of it than others.
November 8, 2018
( Format : Audiobook )
"Behind blue eyes."
Long time fans of the group, The Who, are used to periodic public pontificating by Pete (Townsend) but from Daltrey, not so much. In fact, hardly at all. So this is a very welcome book from the band's singer and voice of Tommy who was there from the very inception of the group fifty years ago. And because he's written it himself, his voice shines out from every page, telling his story, correcting some myths and describing his journey with the three other legends, Pete, of course, the genius behind the music, their crazy talented drummer, Keith Moon, and the bass guitarist who changed the way that instrument was played, John Entwistle. All were huge talents, all had enormous egos and it was down to Roger to hold it all together - which miraculously he did, even after the deaths of two of their number.
This is a modest book from a man who not only fronted - and still continues with Pete - one of the greatest rock bands ever, but who also works hard to raise money for the Prince's Teenage Cancer Trust. There is very little name dropping even though he has played and been acquainted with many of the top stars in the industry, but when someone is mentioned, it is usually to thank them. Instead, he concentrates on personalities, his own and the others in The Who, and his general life history, no punches dodged, from growing up in the post war deprivation to his now much more comfortable life with his family. And what comes through it all most strongly, as in Michael Caine's autobiography, B!owing the Bloody Doors Off, is the dedication to hard work with singleminded pursuit of the goal combined with the love of and reliance on family.
This is a quick and easy book to read. I had first purchased the hardback then saw it's availability on Audib!e. Roger Daltry narrates, his distinctive voice slightly gruff following a throat injury and life threatening illness not too long ago. It has always amazed me that someone who can belt out Pete's lyrics with such power - and, oh, that scream in Won't Get Fooled Again! - could still talk at all. But he can and his warmth in the telling of his story, with just a tinge of bitterness at times, shines through. Whilst almost identical to the text version, the audio does have occasional small differences, a word changed, a sentence ommitted, nothing much, but what isn't in the text book and is so precious is Roger's occasional burst of delighted laughter at a memory recovered. Pure magic.
A must for all Who fans, this is also a book to be enjoyed by everyone: with a vibrant picture of life in the post war years, the coming of music and colour in the sixties and a story of four completely different and distinctive personalities who came, and somehow stayed, together to help change the music scene. Great stuff.
"Behind blue eyes."
Long time fans of the group, The Who, are used to periodic public pontificating by Pete (Townsend) but from Daltrey, not so much. In fact, hardly at all. So this is a very welcome book from the band's singer and voice of Tommy who was there from the very inception of the group fifty years ago. And because he's written it himself, his voice shines out from every page, telling his story, correcting some myths and describing his journey with the three other legends, Pete, of course, the genius behind the music, their crazy talented drummer, Keith Moon, and the bass guitarist who changed the way that instrument was played, John Entwistle. All were huge talents, all had enormous egos and it was down to Roger to hold it all together - which miraculously he did, even after the deaths of two of their number.
This is a modest book from a man who not only fronted - and still continues with Pete - one of the greatest rock bands ever, but who also works hard to raise money for the Prince's Teenage Cancer Trust. There is very little name dropping even though he has played and been acquainted with many of the top stars in the industry, but when someone is mentioned, it is usually to thank them. Instead, he concentrates on personalities, his own and the others in The Who, and his general life history, no punches dodged, from growing up in the post war deprivation to his now much more comfortable life with his family. And what comes through it all most strongly, as in Michael Caine's autobiography, B!owing the Bloody Doors Off, is the dedication to hard work with singleminded pursuit of the goal combined with the love of and reliance on family.
This is a quick and easy book to read. I had first purchased the hardback then saw it's availability on Audib!e. Roger Daltry narrates, his distinctive voice slightly gruff following a throat injury and life threatening illness not too long ago. It has always amazed me that someone who can belt out Pete's lyrics with such power - and, oh, that scream in Won't Get Fooled Again! - could still talk at all. But he can and his warmth in the telling of his story, with just a tinge of bitterness at times, shines through. Whilst almost identical to the text version, the audio does have occasional small differences, a word changed, a sentence ommitted, nothing much, but what isn't in the text book and is so precious is Roger's occasional burst of delighted laughter at a memory recovered. Pure magic.
A must for all Who fans, this is also a book to be enjoyed by everyone: with a vibrant picture of life in the post war years, the coming of music and colour in the sixties and a story of four completely different and distinctive personalities who came, and somehow stayed, together to help change the music scene. Great stuff.
June 24, 2019
Much, much better than Who I Am by Pete Townsend. More direct, more candid, more personal -- just more.
April 11, 2021
I'm not what you'd call a HUGE Who fan and yet I still enjoyed the heck out of this. With music bios, I usually like hearing about the "early days" before they were famous. Daltrey doesn't disappoint! The formation of The Who was especially interesting. What the hell, I'll give it 5-stars. It may not be perfect, but I found it perfectly enjoyable!
September 8, 2020
In most stories you'd read in the 70s and 80s, Roger Daltry was generally looked on as the villain of the group, the one most difficult to get along with. With this biography, we see he was the glue that held them together as essentially the other three were a bunch of musically talented assholes. They never made any money from their tours because it all went to paying for all the damage Kieth Moon caused. I never cared for John Entwhistle's bass playing (too cluttered) but till now I never realized what a jerk he could be. As for Townshend, it was his way or the highway. No matter how much something might have benefited the group, if Daltry was for it then Townshend was automatically against it. I came away from this with a new respect for Daltry. He came across as someone I wouldn't mind meeting. Hard working, industrious, and dedicated to doing the best he could.
I appreciated the title because in junior college I had my equivalent of a Mr Kibblewhite. He taught economics which in 1971 was a required course. Teachers then could get away with murder and Mr McGregor constantly belittled and ridiculed me in front of the rest of the class. Stuff like: 'Now those of you who want to get a good job and earn a nice living will want to take note of this. Unless of course your goal is to be a bum like Mr Hold. Then you can ignore it.' I never knew what he had against me other than I didn't have a crewcut. (Long hair was forbidden, so the best I could do was a slightly Moe Howard look.) In any event, teachers were immune and there was nothing I could do about it. I don't know if I'll ever write a biography, but if I do, because of Daltry, I know I'll call it Fuck You, Mr McGregor.
I appreciated the title because in junior college I had my equivalent of a Mr Kibblewhite. He taught economics which in 1971 was a required course. Teachers then could get away with murder and Mr McGregor constantly belittled and ridiculed me in front of the rest of the class. Stuff like: 'Now those of you who want to get a good job and earn a nice living will want to take note of this. Unless of course your goal is to be a bum like Mr Hold. Then you can ignore it.' I never knew what he had against me other than I didn't have a crewcut. (Long hair was forbidden, so the best I could do was a slightly Moe Howard look.) In any event, teachers were immune and there was nothing I could do about it. I don't know if I'll ever write a biography, but if I do, because of Daltry, I know I'll call it Fuck You, Mr McGregor.
March 25, 2020
Totally enjoyed this book and as a fan I am proud to say Roger Daltrey personally signed this to me on the rock legends cruise 2020. Before he smashed his birthday cake in my face. I can definitely say I am a true fan!
November 2, 2018
An engaging, easy and fast read. Daltrey has lived an interesting life and his narrative is refreshingly humble, honest and plainly told. Quite blunt in places, he portrays his former Who colleagues - like Keith Moon - not as gods but real people with plenty of failings and demons. It is fascinating to read Daltrey's not entirely amused take on the copious hotel carnage and on stage antics. He also makes it clear that family life is more important than work - even for a rock legend!
I really enjoyed this.
I really enjoyed this.
November 12, 2018
O κύριος Kibblewhite απέβαλλε τον Roger Daltrey απο το σχολείο λέγοντάς του οτι δεν θα καταφέρει τίποτα στη ζωή του.Ο 15χρονος Roger είχε άλλη άποψη,πήρε την κιθάρα που είχε φτιάξει μόνος του και τράβηξε το δρόμο του.
Πολύ ωραία αφήγηση.Γέλασα πάρα πολύ με τα κατορθώματα του Keith Moon και ακολούθησα την πορεία των Who απο την αρχή της μέχρι σήμερα.
Πολύ ωραία αφήγηση.Γέλασα πάρα πολύ με τα κατορθώματα του Keith Moon και ακολούθησα την πορεία των Who απο την αρχή της μέχρι σήμερα.
March 18, 2019
Almost a five. I can't explain.
February 7, 2020
I remember when I was a wee lad I was watching this movie called Tommy where the content of the movie went way over my head but the music impressed the heck out of me. This was before I really was conscious of the Beatles or the Rolling Stones and made me more of a fan of the Who than the other two great British bands.
I am generally not that much into the autobiographies of rock bands or Rock stars as they generally use the medium to clear their own front yard and I understood that the other Pete Townsend from the band had laid a lot of blame at Roger Daltry's feet, taking into account that Townsend has been a junkie for most of his career.
But I made an exception for Roger Daltry whose vocals and role in the Who as a lead-singer always had his Charm. I did of course know something about his role in the fantasy tv-series Highlander which gets no mention at all in this book. Daltry was playing a loving rogue which perhaps was a role closer to his personality than he would like to admit.
Anyhow learning about Roger and his youth was interesting and also the early years of Daltry and the band that became known as The Who. While Daltry paint a charming picture he does occasionally slips in some issues you'd like to know more about. Like his infidelities as a Rock Star and how that had his effect on his home situation and then he mentions his children out of wedlock which would be influential on anybodies life. He paints a loving picture about his ever-loving wife Heather who stayed at home and kept his home situation calm and accepted everything that happened when Mr. Daltry was away on the job.
The story of The Who through the eyes of Daltry is nonetheless an interesting story, about the self-destructing attitude of Keith Moon, the stubbornness and sheer genius of Pete Townsend and the original musical genius of John Entwistle. Daltry paints himself as the lead singer that fit the profile for the band with three musical geniuses and one lead-singer.
A nice view upon the antics by a one of the great Bands from the sixties which find me more enchanted than the two other bands that were big at that time. For me an enjoyable tale that tells de lighter side and skips easily about the morality of the darker side of Rock 'n Roll. Still fun to read.
I am generally not that much into the autobiographies of rock bands or Rock stars as they generally use the medium to clear their own front yard and I understood that the other Pete Townsend from the band had laid a lot of blame at Roger Daltry's feet, taking into account that Townsend has been a junkie for most of his career.
But I made an exception for Roger Daltry whose vocals and role in the Who as a lead-singer always had his Charm. I did of course know something about his role in the fantasy tv-series Highlander which gets no mention at all in this book. Daltry was playing a loving rogue which perhaps was a role closer to his personality than he would like to admit.
Anyhow learning about Roger and his youth was interesting and also the early years of Daltry and the band that became known as The Who. While Daltry paint a charming picture he does occasionally slips in some issues you'd like to know more about. Like his infidelities as a Rock Star and how that had his effect on his home situation and then he mentions his children out of wedlock which would be influential on anybodies life. He paints a loving picture about his ever-loving wife Heather who stayed at home and kept his home situation calm and accepted everything that happened when Mr. Daltry was away on the job.
The story of The Who through the eyes of Daltry is nonetheless an interesting story, about the self-destructing attitude of Keith Moon, the stubbornness and sheer genius of Pete Townsend and the original musical genius of John Entwistle. Daltry paints himself as the lead singer that fit the profile for the band with three musical geniuses and one lead-singer.
A nice view upon the antics by a one of the great Bands from the sixties which find me more enchanted than the two other bands that were big at that time. For me an enjoyable tale that tells de lighter side and skips easily about the morality of the darker side of Rock 'n Roll. Still fun to read.
January 1, 2019
I liked the Who growing up. I've long been sick of them and just about all of the classic rock genre having just heard it ad nauseum over the years. I have read about most of the other big names of that era from Zeppelin to Hendrix to Morrison.....down the line so figured it was time.
This was an audiobook read by the author. I highly recommend doing it in this format. Daltrey is a great performer and really adds to the experience.
He mentions Townshend has a book. I may need to read it for contrast. Daltrey almost always has a reason why his perspective was and is still the correct one, don't we all? But I have to believe after reading some of this that his band mates often felt very different on these topics.
Definitely worth the read/listen especially if you're a fan.
This was an audiobook read by the author. I highly recommend doing it in this format. Daltrey is a great performer and really adds to the experience.
He mentions Townshend has a book. I may need to read it for contrast. Daltrey almost always has a reason why his perspective was and is still the correct one, don't we all? But I have to believe after reading some of this that his band mates often felt very different on these topics.
Definitely worth the read/listen especially if you're a fan.
June 20, 2019
I just listened to Roger Daltrey's memoir, Thanks a Lot, Mr. Kibblewhite, narrated by Roger himself.
Did you know Daltrey could sew, and was running a little uniform alteration service for his grammar school, turning baggy pant legs into skinny drainpipes? These skills came in handy later, for creating his rock god outfits. He also can make a decent sandwich, or sarny.
Daltrey has a reputation as a brawler with a temper, but what comes through in this memoir is his love for bandmates, and deep appreciation for his life. Roger is warm, funny, and empathetic, and has nothing but gratitude for his partnership with Pete Townshend in The Who.
He's, in a way, Kirk to Townshend's Spock.
A life of Maximum R&B, and a good read.
Did you know Daltrey could sew, and was running a little uniform alteration service for his grammar school, turning baggy pant legs into skinny drainpipes? These skills came in handy later, for creating his rock god outfits. He also can make a decent sandwich, or sarny.
Daltrey has a reputation as a brawler with a temper, but what comes through in this memoir is his love for bandmates, and deep appreciation for his life. Roger is warm, funny, and empathetic, and has nothing but gratitude for his partnership with Pete Townshend in The Who.
He's, in a way, Kirk to Townshend's Spock.
A life of Maximum R&B, and a good read.
October 29, 2018
The front man for The Who tells his side of the story, in a calm and simple way as though you're hearing your grand da reminisce with a cuppa tea by the fire. Moonie and The Ox certainly led wilder lives, but then they're no longer with us, are they?
February 28, 2019
I love a rock biography and this is a particularly great one.
November 29, 2018
“I spent a lot of time with the disabled extras we had in the film, and they taught me a lot. I already knew from Mike Shaw how difficult life in a wheelchair could be. You just need to push someone around for a day and you realize how hard it is, and how little things make a huge difference. Things like kneeling down to talk to wheelchair users at their eye level. No one’s educated about it, are they? And because they aren’t, it creates a barrier. How hard would it be to replace one, just one, trigonometry class for a lesson run by a disabled person, explaining what would make their lives easier. Because everyone would do it. Even the toughest kids would do it. And it would make a huge difference to society.”
February 16, 2024
What an enjoyable read. Written from the heart and in a fine storytelling manner, this memoir provides a look at not only Roger Daltrey’s musical career but his life as a child and teenager and young adult growing up in a wildly changing world in working class London, where he cobbled his guitars out of scraps, worked from a young age after being kicked out of school, and struggled to make ends meet.
Daltrey provides many anecdotes and details of life as a struggling musician, as an up and coming rocker, as a rock star, as a friend, a family man, an ordinary guy.
Told in an entertaining fashion you get a real sense of the person behind the rock star. Even if you weren’t a fan of The Who, you will recognize many of the songs, the characters, and the tales.
He talks about life on the road, the drugs, the women, the friendships, the frustrations. He talks about the managers, the cities, the tours, the fans. He points out his mistakes as a young and foolish musician, his struggles with his band mates yet he’d do anything for them, his wife Heather who stuck by him through all the ups and downs. He lives to perform and is truly consumed by his music. Yet, despite his ego he is humble in many ways. He often seems like an ordinary hardworking guy.
The story spans his entire life to its point of telling in 2018 and is an interesting and intimate look at the side of a “famous” rocker whose voice and song you will surely recognize. (I mean …who doesn’t know Tommy, the pinball wizard!)
Daltrey provides many anecdotes and details of life as a struggling musician, as an up and coming rocker, as a rock star, as a friend, a family man, an ordinary guy.
Told in an entertaining fashion you get a real sense of the person behind the rock star. Even if you weren’t a fan of The Who, you will recognize many of the songs, the characters, and the tales.
He talks about life on the road, the drugs, the women, the friendships, the frustrations. He talks about the managers, the cities, the tours, the fans. He points out his mistakes as a young and foolish musician, his struggles with his band mates yet he’d do anything for them, his wife Heather who stuck by him through all the ups and downs. He lives to perform and is truly consumed by his music. Yet, despite his ego he is humble in many ways. He often seems like an ordinary hardworking guy.
The story spans his entire life to its point of telling in 2018 and is an interesting and intimate look at the side of a “famous” rocker whose voice and song you will surely recognize. (I mean …who doesn’t know Tommy, the pinball wizard!)
July 13, 2021
Mr. Kibblewhite the headmaster at a grammar school that Roger Daltrey attended expelled Roger because of a fighting incident, "We can't control you Daltrey," he said. "You're out." And, as I left his office for the last time, a parting gesture: "You'll never make anything of your life, Daltrey."(p.21)
Roger Daltrey proved him wrong. In this book he sets the record straight about the iconic rock band "The Who." A man of many talents, Roger Daltrey was one of the founding members of The Who and its lead vocalist. Since its inception, Daltrey was known to be the guitarist for the band, but in the late 1960s, he made a shift from his role as a guitarist to the lead singer for the band – a decision that would, in the future, earn him the reputation of being a rock idol. Nearly sixty years of touring, sex, drugs and rock and roll took a toll on some the band members but Daltrey survived. Conflict plagued the band right from the beginning. Daltrey earned a reputation of turning aggressive, especially when things didn’t go his way, or he needed to exercise control over something. His relationship with Peter Townshend was certainly quite prickly at times as this book explains. Yet, when push came to shove, both gave their best to produce some of the greatest music together. As far as his relationship with rest of the band members he has much to say but his comments have the ring of truth and are fair minded and well balanced.
If I remember anything about a "Who" concert was not only Pete's great windmilling arms playing his guitar and his Olympic high jumps it was Roger's presence on stage as a lead singer, however, was his ability to engage with the piece of instrument that accentuated his skills and made him more prominent to his audience. In the case of a guitarist, it would’ve been his guitar, for a drummer his drums, and for Daltrey, it was the microphone. His act of swinging the microphone on stage by its chord (almost like a whip) became his signature move. Come to think of it; it was quite symbolic, too – Daltrey’s voice booming through the speakers, giving the resounding effect of a whip to his audience.
This is great read for many people who have listen to this music for sometime and now before these rock and rollers pass a way we get to see a little glimpse into their life and see how actually human they were. Also, I would like to say "up yours" Mr. Kibblewhite! Never judge a person until you see what they can achieve.
Roger Daltrey proved him wrong. In this book he sets the record straight about the iconic rock band "The Who." A man of many talents, Roger Daltrey was one of the founding members of The Who and its lead vocalist. Since its inception, Daltrey was known to be the guitarist for the band, but in the late 1960s, he made a shift from his role as a guitarist to the lead singer for the band – a decision that would, in the future, earn him the reputation of being a rock idol. Nearly sixty years of touring, sex, drugs and rock and roll took a toll on some the band members but Daltrey survived. Conflict plagued the band right from the beginning. Daltrey earned a reputation of turning aggressive, especially when things didn’t go his way, or he needed to exercise control over something. His relationship with Peter Townshend was certainly quite prickly at times as this book explains. Yet, when push came to shove, both gave their best to produce some of the greatest music together. As far as his relationship with rest of the band members he has much to say but his comments have the ring of truth and are fair minded and well balanced.
If I remember anything about a "Who" concert was not only Pete's great windmilling arms playing his guitar and his Olympic high jumps it was Roger's presence on stage as a lead singer, however, was his ability to engage with the piece of instrument that accentuated his skills and made him more prominent to his audience. In the case of a guitarist, it would’ve been his guitar, for a drummer his drums, and for Daltrey, it was the microphone. His act of swinging the microphone on stage by its chord (almost like a whip) became his signature move. Come to think of it; it was quite symbolic, too – Daltrey’s voice booming through the speakers, giving the resounding effect of a whip to his audience.
This is great read for many people who have listen to this music for sometime and now before these rock and rollers pass a way we get to see a little glimpse into their life and see how actually human they were. Also, I would like to say "up yours" Mr. Kibblewhite! Never judge a person until you see what they can achieve.
June 20, 2023
It's fair to say that, as a longtime fan of The Who, I neglected Roger Daltrey's role in the band. He's easy to overlook, to be honest: between the stoic sarcasm of the late, great John Entwistle, the passionate songwriting and guitar-destroying of Pete Townshend, and the overall everything chaotic that was Keith Moon, Roger gets lost in the storm. He's the voice, after all, even if he didn't write the songs. But I hadn't really considered reading his memoir until I found it marked down in a national retailer's bargain bin of books. Shame on me.
"Thanks a Lot, Mr. Kibblewhite" has one flaw: it's too short. Roger is a born storyteller, and when he's recounting The Who's early days or talking about his family life over the years, you want to just sit back and enjoy his ability to weave a tale. I read Pete's memoir when it came out, and it was a therapy session (unsurprisingly). With Roger, it's like bellying up to the bar with a great old chum that has a few stories to tell, but who doesn't get bogged down in the details.
From his birth in wartime London, Roger proceeds to tell us all about his youth (troubled by restrictive schools, he is on his own at the age of fifteen), his first meeting with his blood brother Pete Townshend and the fraught relationship he had with Pete and the rest of the band early on, and meeting the love of his life. He manages to cover quite a life story in under three hundred pages, and the funny thing is, it never feels like he's cutting corners or holding back on too much. Like I said, my only real complaint is that the book isn't longer, but it's really compelling at its current length. Rock-star memoirs can be excuses to score points or pontificate, and Roger isn't immune from these traits, but they're less pronounced and not as over-the-top as some other rock stars of his generation have been in their memoirs. Roger comes off like an ordinary bloke, albeit one blessed with one of the best voices in rock history, and his fruitful partnership with Pete is highlighted throughout. Now that it's just him and Pete left of the original four, Roger can't help but look back on his life with The Who, but he's also looking forward to the future.
"Thanks a Lot, Mr. Kibblewhite" gets its title from a schoolmaster who told Roger that he wouldn't amount to anything, and the fact is that of course Roger Daltrey proved that prediction wrong. This book is just fun to read, and I'm sorry that I avoided it for so long.
"Thanks a Lot, Mr. Kibblewhite" has one flaw: it's too short. Roger is a born storyteller, and when he's recounting The Who's early days or talking about his family life over the years, you want to just sit back and enjoy his ability to weave a tale. I read Pete's memoir when it came out, and it was a therapy session (unsurprisingly). With Roger, it's like bellying up to the bar with a great old chum that has a few stories to tell, but who doesn't get bogged down in the details.
From his birth in wartime London, Roger proceeds to tell us all about his youth (troubled by restrictive schools, he is on his own at the age of fifteen), his first meeting with his blood brother Pete Townshend and the fraught relationship he had with Pete and the rest of the band early on, and meeting the love of his life. He manages to cover quite a life story in under three hundred pages, and the funny thing is, it never feels like he's cutting corners or holding back on too much. Like I said, my only real complaint is that the book isn't longer, but it's really compelling at its current length. Rock-star memoirs can be excuses to score points or pontificate, and Roger isn't immune from these traits, but they're less pronounced and not as over-the-top as some other rock stars of his generation have been in their memoirs. Roger comes off like an ordinary bloke, albeit one blessed with one of the best voices in rock history, and his fruitful partnership with Pete is highlighted throughout. Now that it's just him and Pete left of the original four, Roger can't help but look back on his life with The Who, but he's also looking forward to the future.
"Thanks a Lot, Mr. Kibblewhite" gets its title from a schoolmaster who told Roger that he wouldn't amount to anything, and the fact is that of course Roger Daltrey proved that prediction wrong. This book is just fun to read, and I'm sorry that I avoided it for so long.
February 4, 2019
Consider if you will the plight of someone who you have worked with and grown to despise, and you discover you have no career without them. You are forced to be together and it must breed an intense hatred to need someone you can’t stand. Or, the story of The Who.
It really was as crazy as they said it was in the sixties and virtually every stupid thing that could be done, they did it. As in many of these books, the struggle to make it is always the best part of the story. Once they make it and screw it up again and again, it’s pretty cringe worthy. And the way that he deals with the deaths of Keith and John is about as cold as cold can be.
He stayed married to the same woman and stayed in the same house for 50 years, which is almost freakish by rock standards. Good for him. And I truly still love some of their music. Can’t even imagine what they might have created if they weren’t such idiots, but I’m still glad for what we have.
It really was as crazy as they said it was in the sixties and virtually every stupid thing that could be done, they did it. As in many of these books, the struggle to make it is always the best part of the story. Once they make it and screw it up again and again, it’s pretty cringe worthy. And the way that he deals with the deaths of Keith and John is about as cold as cold can be.
He stayed married to the same woman and stayed in the same house for 50 years, which is almost freakish by rock standards. Good for him. And I truly still love some of their music. Can’t even imagine what they might have created if they weren’t such idiots, but I’m still glad for what we have.
November 26, 2020
I found this autobiography by Daltrey to be miles better than Townshend’s. It’s half as long and much funnier and self-deprecatory. Daltrey knows how to tell a story. He hits the high points and doesn’t get bogged down in the details. It was interesting reading this on the heels of Townshend’s autobiography, noting what each included and what they left out. For example, Pete never mentions his heroin problem but Roger brings it up. Pete might be the genius but Roger is the one you want to be friends with.
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