Townshend and Daltrey have continued working despite the deaths of Moon in 1978 and bassist John Entwistle in 2002. But the iconic axeman � who last week apologised for swearing at a young girl � says things could have been so different.

He tells Spinner: "Bands are peculiar things. It could be magic, in a way, two musicians performing together. it doesn't necessarily mean they will be friendly.

"There have been exceptions � I've got a friend Eric Mingus, who's the son of Charlie Mingus. He tells stories about Thelonius Monk coming around and sitting him on his knee and playing the piano. I find those stories intoxicating and I want to know more: the idea that Thelonius Monk and Charlie Mingus would actually hang out in his house and bounce their respective children on their respective knees is kind of delightful.