Launch Radio Networks has issued the following report from Howie Edelson:

PETE TOWNSHEND says he doesn't regret continuing with as THE WHO with just frontman ROGER DALTREY, despite half of their original lineup being dead. Townshend feels that, by continuing to perform, the surviving pair actually pays tribute to their late drummer Keith Moon and bassist John Entwistle who died in 1978 and 2002, respectively, of drug related deaths.

Townshend spoke with the Minneapolis Star Tribune and explained that the surviving members recording and touring as The Who is different from LED ZEPPELIN's singer and guitarist ROBERT PLANT and JIMMY PAGE reuniting as a duo in the '90s. Townshend explained that, "Their case was different. (Bassist) John Paul Jones was still alive, and available, and I don't think any of them wanted to fly the Zeppelin kite again."

He added that, "For us there are just two of us left alive. The Who name belongs to Roger and me as a brand - even if we called ourselves something else people would still see The Who, writers would refer to The Who, and we would be measured against our Who past. We live in reality. John and Keith get better reverence by Roger and me playing their music than by sitting in retirement homes blowing smoke into the air."

Unlike Plant and Page, who according to Plant do not keep in touch, Townshend and Daltrey have cultivated a new-found friendship - something that they never shared during the band's original run. Townshend shed light on his and Daltrey's current relationship: "It just gets better. Neither of us ever hoped for such a coming together at this stage. We've always respected and loved each other, but have often said we don't care that we don't actually always like each other. That is changing now, we do like each other. Maybe this happens because of an increased dependence, but more because we see each other very clearly now."

Townshend explained to us why he believes that he and Daltrey still embody a great creative partnership: "It's not just about the largest numbers, it's about the greatest effectiveness. And I think that, you know, Roger and I together, once the creative work is done, you know, we're a good delivery system (laughs)."

Pete Townshend will appear with Steve Winwood, Bill Wyman, Joe Walsh and others at a memorial concert for TRAFFIC drummer and songwriter Jim Capaldi on January 21st at The Roundhouse in London. The concert, dubbed Dear Mr. Fantasy - A Celebration For Jim Capaldi, will mark the second anniversary of Capaldi's death.

The Who kick off their next series of dates on February 23rd in Reno, Nevada at the Reno Events Center.