![Woodstock Was the Who’s Worst Gig Ever, Says Roger Daltrey](https://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2019/08/Roger-Daltrey.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Woodstock Was the Who’s Worst Gig Ever, Says Roger Daltrey
The Who have long expressed disdain for their Woodstock performance, and in a new interview, singer Roger Daltrey noted that a series of delays and equipment problems prevented them from playing until 5AM.
"You’ve got to remember, by the time we went onstage, we’d been standing in the mud for hours," he told The New York Times. "Or laying in it, or doing whatever in it. It wasn’t actually that muddy backstage, but it wasn’t comfort, let’s put it that way. ... That’s all you could do. Waiting, waiting, waiting. We were young, and life is a lot easier when you’re young. I wouldn’t do that show now. Sod that. I’d walk away from it. I’m joking. No, I’d walk away and come back 10 hours later."
Daltrey said he has never listened to the Who's set to reassess it with years of detachment. But, after noting it was the band's worst gig, he still has vivid memories of what went wrong.
"It was a particularly hard one for me, because of the state of the equipment," he said. "It was all breaking down. I’m standing in the middle of the stage with enormous Marshall 100-watt amps blasting my ears behind me. [Keith] Moon on the drums in the middle. I could barely hear what I was singing."
Still, Daltrey has a few positive memories of the weekend, like noting Creedence Clearwater Revival were "fantastic," as well as the vibe coming from the audience.
"They were the stars," he explained. "That half a million people put up with that crap for three days. That coming together of that community was, I think, the key to getting America out of Vietnam. That’s when politicians actually started to take notice."
10 Artists You Didn't Know Played Woodstock
More From Classic Rock Q107
![Rock Songs That Became Popular (or More Popular) After Being Featured on TV Shows + Movies](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2022/08/attachment-Untitled-design-2022-08-01T161003.547.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![How the Who Got Judas Priest on Live Aid Bill](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2022/03/attachment-HalfordDaltrey.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey Have Different Retirement Plans](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2021/11/attachment-the-who.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Pete Townshend Is Ready to ‘Moan’ About Keith Moon Biopic](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2022/02/attachment-townie.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![The Who Announce 2022 ‘The Who Hits Back’ Tour Dates](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2022/02/attachment-TheWhoHitBack.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Win Tickets to See The Who in Las Vegas at Final 2022 Tour Date](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2022/02/attachment-who-giveaway.jpeg?w=980&q=75)
![Pete Townshend Couldn’t Save ‘Crap’ Lost ’70s Who Song](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2022/01/attachment-Townshend.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Pete Townshend Recalls Helping Eddie Vedder After Roskilde Horror](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2022/01/attachment-peteeddie.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Woodstock Promoter Michael Lang Dead at 77](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2022/01/attachment-GettyImages-1166254377.jpg?w=980&q=75)