The Who Puts Covers Album On Hold

A planned covers album by the Who, to be produced by T-Bone Burnett, is on hold but still on the British duo's radar, according to frontman Roger Daltrey.

The vocalist tells Billboard.com that there's "no status" on the covers project at the moment because of Burnett's duties on the road with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. "It's an idea that's ticking away," Daltrey says. "It still probably will happen, but I think the smaller the idea is kept, the better. Small and fluid, maybe just something for our Web site."

Daltrey also confirmed that guitarist Pete Townshend is writing new material for the Who, and the singer is waiting to see what he comes up with. "(Townshend) doesn't like to talk about it," Daltrey notes. "It's the lap of the Gods, isn't it? He doesn't know if he likes it until he knows what it's going to sound like. You just have to be there for him if he needs you."

Daltrey and Townshend will be together in October, when the Who launches a brief 10-date U.S. tour on Oct. 21 in Auburn Hills, Mich. Come Dec. 7, the Who will be feted at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C., which Daltrey says has left the duo feeling "flabbergasted. It really is an honor indeed, coming from (England) and being kind of totally inspired by American music at such a young age and now being honored by the country that inspired us. I've never ceased to be incredibly humbled by the affection shown by America towards the Who. It's been an incredible relationship."

Away from the Who, Daltrey feels he has "one more really good (solo) album in me," and he's currently looking for material. "I feel there must be an enormous amount of really talented songwriters out there who can't sing," he says with a laugh, "so, please, send me your songs."

Daltrey is also continuing to work on developing a film biography of the late Who drummer Keith Moon but says he's been underwhelmed by the screenplays that have come to him so far.

"They just don't get it, basically," Daltrey says. "When you see the kinds of scripts they've got in mind to make, it's sad. I don't want to do a 'Carry On' about Keith. If I can keep that from happening, I've done my job."