Description

David recalls: “When Ken Russell made a film of the life of Liszt he envisaged the composer as an early pop idol in the mould of Roger Daltrey, who was consequently cast in the part, having known fame, fortune and adulation. The film Lisztomania proved something of a turkey. With such dialogue as, ‘Piss off, Brahms,’ it wasn’t surprising that the critics had a heyday. Meanwhile, as filming ended, Daltrey removed from the set of the two enormous alabaster phalluses that Russell had made for a scene, took it home and installed it in his back garden. It projected some 12 feet above his garden fence and was the subject of giggling curiosity from the nearby girls school. When the local residents association complained, Daltrey went back to the film set and fetched its mate, which he placed alongside the first. He was saddened when eventually both corroded and melted away due to adverse weather conditions, thus denying him the chance to witness the police taking them into custody. Daltrey has been singing with The Who since 1964. Today he works tirelessly with The Teenage Cancer Trust, giving rock concerts at The Royal Albert Hall, which involve his superstar friends and colleagues.

Location: London
Year: 1978
Print Type: Fibre-based Harman Galerie FB Digital
Printed by: Metro Imaging, London
Limited Editions: All prints are limited editions, no further prints are produced once sold
Bespoke: All prints are bespoke and printed to order, stamped and numbered
Presentation: Prints are supplied to clients flat in an acid-free box or rolled in a tube
Watermark: Watermarks will not be present on an original print
Copyright: © David Steen / The David Steen Archive

Biography: Born in 1944 in the same area of west London as future band mates Pete Townshend and John Entwistle. The three formed a band called The Detours which gradually mutated into The Who, with Keith Moon on drums. The band are often seen as the forerunners of punk; their raw, high-energy music vocalising the anger and dislocation of millions of frustrated teens. But ultimately they were far too musically accomplished for the later punk scene.
In 1975, Daltrey starred in the film version of The Who’s rock opera Tommy and began a small parallel career as a television and film actor. He released his first solo album, Daltrey in 1973 and has continued to release solo work with varying success ever since. He and Townshend still occasionally tour as The Who, and Daltrey remains one of the greatest front men for a live band ever