The Who‘s Pete Townshend has admitted that he found Roger Daltrey‘s stance on Brexit “very problematic”.
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Following the referendum in 2016, Daltrey has always taken a very pro-Brexit view, going as far to say that it won’t affect British musicians in 2019.
When asked whether he thought Brexit would be “bad for British rock music” at the time he said: “No. What’s it got to do with the rock business?” before an interviewer replied: “How are you going to tour in Europe?”
“Oh dear. As if we didn’t tour Europe before the fucking EU,” he said. “Oh give it up!”
A year earlier he also said apart from “a bit more paperwork”, bands shouldn’t face major obstacles when it comes to playing on the continent.
Roger Daltrey speaks in the press room during the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony on October 19, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio CREDIT: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
“We did it in those days [before the foundation of the EU]”, he added. “It might be a bit more paperwork on this side of the Channel. I’m sure they can make it hard if they want to but these things work both ways.”
Following, Brexit in 2020, bands have continued to struggle to tour Europe after the UK government failed to negotiate visa-free travel and Europe-wide work permits for musicians, crew and artists in Europe post-Brexit, leading to new red tape which saw artists suffering due to “Brexit fuck-ups and a lack of government control”.
Now, Townshend, who voted to Remain in the EU, has told The Daily Telegraph he didn’t agree with his bandmate’s stance on Brexit: “[That was] very problematic for me. I think he was wrong. But we are a nation divided down the middle.”
Despite Daltrey’s views on Brexit, the guitarist added: “He’s not a fascist Right-winger, he’s a very decent man. But it felt to me that with respect to the arts, and particularly to music, the free flow of life from all of the history of Europe…was going to be denied to our young people.”
The frontman has since softened his approach and did sign a letter supporting visa-free travel for musicians which caused a stir online due to his previous stance.
Daltrey issued a response regarding his decision to sign the letter and lend his support to the visa-free touring campaign. “I have not changed my opinion on the EU. I’m glad to be free of Brussels, not Europe,” he told NME in a statement at the time. “I would have preferred reform, which was asked for by us before the referendum and was turned down by the then president of the EU.”
The frontman continued: “I do think our government should have made the easing of restrictions for musicians and actors a higher priority. Every tour, individual actors and musicians should be treated as any other ‘Goods’ at the point of entry to the EU with one set of paperwork. Switzerland has borders with five EU countries, and trade is electronically frictionless. Why not us?”
Meanwhile, The Who recently confirmed they would “definitely” return in 2025, according to Townshend.
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