Time out with Timmy: Happy birthday Roger Daltrey

The word legend is a curious one. I looked it up in the dictionary. According to Cambridge, one meaning goes like this: “Someone very famous and admired usually because of their ability in a particular area.” We tend to bandy that word about in a scattergun fashion these days. 

It’s bestowed on individuals willy nilly and I cringe sometimes when I see certain people referred to as having legendary status, be it in sport, entertainment or business. I can, however, safely say that I wholeheartedly concur with those who consider ‘Who’ frontman Roger Daltrey a legend. 

A living one thankfully and he’s just celebrated his 80th birthday. A giant of rock music, this guy has lived a life and he’s not finished his race yet. He stands out as a huge inspiration to anyone concerned about their approaching latter years. Along with Mick Jagger, he seems to defy time and has shown you don’t have to spring for the pipe and slippers if you don’t want to.

A post war kid, Roger was most certainly not born to wealth and privilege. In his excellent autobiography “Thanks A Lot Mr. Kibblewhite”, he documents a hard growing up in London just after World War II. An upbringing that toughened up the young rock star in waiting.

People today probably would find it difficult to imagine sharing a bathroom with two sisters and three cousins in rented accommodation. Far from idyllic. He told of the nightly bombing raids by the Germans. Something that definitely traumatised his mother who would forever be nervous when even a clap of thunder sounded. Despite the constant threat to life and lodging, Roger says everyone kept their spirits up. The more they were bombed, the more they sang. It’s those gritty but humble beginnings that forged an attitude that would go on to serve him very well in later life. A mind-set that had no time for whining or complaining about your lot in life. Yes, they had little but he stresses they were not poor and had a wonderful sense of community.

“Whatever we wanted, we had to go out and strive for; very little was given to us. The only thing we had was the love and encouragement of our parents, they had five years of hell and the memory of losing their parents in the First World War. We lived in a more healthy period both dietary and mentally we were healthy.” What little he had he appreciated. That was to be the cornerstone for being thankful for the rock star life he was to lead.

School days were a whole other story. Time and time again, I’m heartened by the amount of people I admire who went on to succeed in life despite doing poorly in school or hating it altogether, regardless of aptitude. It’s reinforced in me a belief that academic prowess, while obviously useful, is no great barometer as to what and who you are and what you’re really made of.

Roger Daltrey was not destined for college after school. Indeed, he has probably a lot to thank one of his old teachers for. His book was named after a certain Mr. Kibblewhite who expelled a 15-year-old Daltrey over an air gun incident. Ironically, the weapon had been discharged by someone else, not Roger, but he took the rap for it and he was out. So on his 15th birthday he was left with the rather unpleasant job of going home to tell his parents the news.

Before he was marched from the school, Mr. Kibblewhite had told him that they couldn’t control him and it was the end for him. The fateful line that I’m sure a few boys and girls have heard uttered over the years remained ringing in his ears, “you’ll never make anything of your life”. Mr Kibblewhite was to be proved wrong.

Rock n roll would offer a way out for him as it has for countless others. What a career was to follow. A path that would navigate the music scene of the 60’s as the Who first came to prominence and would see Roger venture in to the world of acting and films with starring roles in movies like Tommy and later McVicar in 1980.

To say that he made his name primarily though as an awesome rock frontman would be an understatement. I would put him up there in the top 3 lead singers of all time. I was privileged to get to see him perform with The Who at the Marquee in Cork. He did not disappoint.

For me, the music is always what’s mattered and the body of work this man is responsible for will never be matched. Even after the death of the wayward drummer and court jester Keith Moon in 1978, the band wasn’t done. There may have been breaks but the road always seems to have another twist or turn. He might be 80 but he’s still doing selected performances and although it’s not clear whether he and Pete will do much more with The Who, his legacy is secure.

His story will resonate with many I’m sure. Starting out with nothing but hitting the big time and ending up living the dream. The real journey often only begins after you leave those school gates.

Young musicians today could really learn a lot from his path. Any of you who are concerned about your kids’ lack of progress at school might consider that no teacher has the final word. They can only speak what they see of course, but they don’t have a crystal ball. Exam results may qualify you for college but it’s only part of the picture and life experience can’t be taught from a book.

Mr. Kibblewhite may have got it wrong but he lit a fire in Roger Daltrey that burned brightly for decades to come. Roger thanked Mr Kibblewhite and I think we should be thanking the Roger Daltreys, Mick Jaggers, Clint Eastwoods, Dolly Partons, and maybe even some people in our own circles who constantly show us how to age well and with purpose. Happy Birthday Roger Daltrey.