Roger Daltrey was honoured as the 25th recipient of the Music Industry Trusts Award, at a dinner event at London's Grosvenor House Hotel last night (7). Here's a film of highlights from the star-studded occasion, which included performances by Tom Chaplin, the Shires and Daltrey himself, singing with Wilko Johnson and his band.
The MITS honour recognises outstanding achievement in both music and philanthropy, and last night's event is expected to take the total raised for its two charities, Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy and the BRIT Trust, to over £6m. The dinner first took place in 1992, and Daltrey becomes the 25th name on a roll of honour that also includes artists such as Elton John & Bernie Taupin, Tom Jones, Peter Gabriel, Gary Barlow and Annie Lennox, and industry figures including George Martin, Ahmet Ertegun, Michael Eavis, Michael Parkinson and last year's winner, Simon Cowell.
Attendees from the music industry and beyond also watched a tribute film featuring contributions from Daltrey's colleagues and admirers such as Johnson, Robert Plant, Paul Weller and Roger Taylor of Queen. The night was again hosted by BBC Radio 2 broadcaster Jo Whiley, who introduced Daltrey's friend, TV personality Jeremy Clarkson, to present the trophy. For comic effect, Daltrey, 5'6”, stood on a chair next to Clarkson, 6'5”.
The Who frontman proceeded to give a stirring speech in which he spoke movingly about his life as a rock frontman and his work supporting the Teenage Cancer Trust. He then rounded off the evening with Wilko and his band with a short set that included 'I Keep It To Myself' and the title song from their gold-selling 2013 album Going Back Home.
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