The Who frontman Roger Daltrey mocked Gen Z and social media influencers during a concert performance in California, warning that online platforms are destroying civilisation.
The 82-year-old singer addressed a packed crowd at the Yaamava' Resort and Casino in Los Angeles earlier this week, delivering a scathing assessment of modern internet culture and digital validation.
Addressing the audience during his solo set, the father of eight questioned the authenticity of social media friendships and urged fans to let go of online ego metrics.
Daltrey told the venue: "When you think about it, we've got this new world of social media which seems to be destroying civilization. I think. A platform for everybody to scream at each other, but nobody's f***ing listening."
The singer, whose solo achievements include the hit single Giving It All Away, continued his critique of online follower counts as he spoke directly to concertgoers during his performance.
"So, everybody's screaming. Oh, yeah. What's that all about? And how many friends have you really got when you look at Oh, I got all these likes. That's just your ego. Let it go. Let it go. It's not worth it. So, when it comes to the end, and I’m getting close," Daltrey said.
He then giggled and added: "Closer than you think."
Reflecting on the nature of friendship and his past songwriting, Daltrey asked the audience: "How many friends have you really got? We did a song once. How many friends have you really got? You can count them on one hand. Never a true word was written."
The audience shouted their approval in response to his remarks before Daltrey performed the teen rebel anthem My Generation, which was first released by The Who in 1965 and became a defining track of 1960s youth culture.
Views on Woke Culture and Modern Life
Daltrey's casino speech is not the first time he has publicly criticised modern cultural trends and online behaviour. In 2021, the rock veteran expressed strong opinions regarding woke culture and emotional sensitivity.
Speaking about contemporary social attitudes, Daltrey said: "If you’re going to micromanage every emotion you ever have and you live in fear of upsetting someone or being objectionable."
He added: "We all have the right to be objectionable to anyone we meet. If you’re offended, fine. Get over it. Get a life and move on."
Away from his music career and touring commitments, Daltrey today lives a quiet life in the English county of Sussex with his second wife, Heather.
History of The Who
Daltrey originally founded rock band The Who in London in 1964. The legendary group's classic lineup comprised Daltrey as lead vocalist, Pete Townshend as guitarist and songwriter, John Entwistle on bass, and Keith Moon on drums.
The group went on to become one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century, selling over 100 million records globally and releasing landmark albums including Tommy and Who's Next.
Tragedy altered the band's lineup over the decades. Drummer Keith Moon died in 1978 at the age of 32, while bassist John Entwistle passed away in 2002 at the age of 57.
Townshend previously reflected on continuing the band after the losses of Moon and Entwistle, noting that the remaining group effectively became a "Who tribute" band following their deaths.
