We also did a great gig that year at the Southfield High School.

Q: And how about those legendary shows at the Grande Ballroom? A: Yeah, I remember the Grande! I can still see it now: Joe Cocker was often our support act, and it was a really good place to play. I can't remember what I did yesterday, but I still remember the Grande. U.S. audiences generally take music a whole lot more seriously than in the U.K. and the rest of Europe. It's more an ingrained part of life than in England, where it's much more throwaway.

Q: There's been talk of the Who recording an album of R&B covers. What's happening with that?

A: Yeah, it's still on the burner, but it might just end up on our Web site. We loved Motown, and we would copy those songs and any others if they were good. We were English, and we were white. But we knew where the center of the music came from. The idea is perhaps to revisit that now and play it like we used to play it when we were 17 or 18. We'd love to do it, but don't know quite what the market would be for that kind of project these days.

Q: You and Pete Townshend will receive this year's Kennedy Center Honors, along with Barbra Streisand, Twyla Tharp, Morgan Freeman and George Jones. What was your reaction when you got the news? A: I mean I was totally stunned! For someone from our background, from London and totally inspired by American music, to be honored by the country that inspired you was extremely humbling and an honor indeed.

Q: Any final thoughts for your many fans in Detroit? A: The bad times in Detroit won't last forever. Never bet against the working class; they just need some relief right now. I really do believe in the blue-collar side of America. They're resilient and tough, but need inspiration from people in power to make things happen. Basically, your auto industry needs rethinking and rebuilding, but the possibilities there are quite promising.