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The Who's Roger Daltrey says fame isolated him from his old friends

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 19: Roger Daltrey during the Music Walk Of Fame Founding Stone Unveiling at on November 19, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Roger Daltrey during the Music Walk Of Fame Founding Stone Unveiling at on November 19, 2019 in London, England. (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

Roger Daltrey has admitted that becoming famous had a negative impact on his relationships with his old friends.

The veteran rocker shot to fame with his band The Who in the 1960s.

But, speaking on Good Morning Britain, he confessed becoming a star wasn’t all rosy.

Read more: Roger Daltrey launches charity cancer single

Daltrey opened up about the downside of being famous as he discussed what he had been missing during the coronavirus lockdown.

He cited “human contact”, explaining: “That is one thing I didn’t like about being a celebrity.

“It kind of distanced me from my mates and everybody treated me differently immediately I became famous.”

ARCHIVO - En esta foto de archivo del 18 de septiembre de 2019, Roger Daltrey, izquierda, y Pete Townshend de la banda The Who actúan en Atlanta. La banda aplazó su gira por el Reino Unido e Irlanda que debía desarrollarse del 16 de marzo al 8 de abril debido a la pandemia de coronavirus.  (Foto by Robb Cohen/Invision/AP, File)
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend (Robb Cohen/Invision/AP, File)

“I didn't like that,” added the 76-year-old musician, saying that he hadn’t wanted to be set apart.

“I never wanted to be different,” he told the show’s hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid.

“I like to just chat to people, to be treated normally.

“I just miss that human contact.”

Daltrey founded The Who along with Pete Townshend and John Entwistle in 1964, after the trio met at school in London, and the band’s popularity has endured over the decades.

Members of the rock band The Who (from l-r) John Entwistle, Kenney Jones, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend. At least 11 young people were trampled or smothered to death today as thousands of rock fans rushed to grab the best seats at a concert given by the band in Cincinatti, Ohio.
Members of The Who (from l-r) John Entwistle, Kenney Jones, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend

The rockers have released 12 studio albums, with their latest, entitled Who, unveiled in December.

They have also enjoyed several top 10 singles, including I Can’t Explain, My Generation, Won’t Get Fooled Again and Substitute.

Daltrey was on Good Morning Britain to discuss his work for the Teenage Cancer Trust, which raises funds for young people with cancer.