The Who's Roger Daltrey has admitted he has not spoken to his bandmate Pete Townshend in a year.

The frontman, 74, told how lead guitarist Pete, 73, wanted a year off to himself and the pair didn't feel the need to keep in touch during the break.

Roger told The Mirror: 'He wanted a year off, so I haven’t spoken to him for a year. That is how we are. He needs that time away.'

Contact: Roger Daltrey, 74, told how lead guitarist Pete, 73, wanted a year off to himself and the pair didn't feel the need to keep in touch during the break

The group, who formed in 1964, know the value of taking time away from the spotlight.

Thinking back to 1973 when Pete was battling drugs, Roger explained it was necessary for him to take time away from the band for his own health.

He said: 'I knew what a state Pete was in. He had quite a run-in with heavy drugs, a lot to do with pressure that the band wasn’t quite gelling and he was having trouble songwriting.

'He needed a break. If we had carried on it would have killed him. And there was no way I was going to let that happen.'

Break: Roger said: 'He wanted a year off, so I haven’t spoken to him for a year. That is how we are. He needs that time away'

Plan: Roger reckons the band will never officially retire from the music business, rather it will be the industry itself that decides when they leave

Roger reckons the band will never officially retire from the music business, rather it will be the industry itself that decides when they leave.

The singer explained that their type of music needs a 'fighting edge' behind it and if they ever were to lose it, they will call it a day.

When asked by Rolling Stone magazine if he thought The Who were better than fellow iconic band The Rolling Stones, Roger insisted they couldn't be compared.

He said: 'The Stones were a rock & roll band. They are the best rock & roll band in the world, by far.

'The Who are a rock band. Whether we’re the best in the world, I can’t tell you, because I’m in the thing.

'But the Who are a rock band. We don’t do the roll. We do the rock.'