The lead singer of seminal British rock group The Who has been commissioned to design a bespoke Rolls-Royce Wraith.
The collaboration is the first of nine duets that Rolls-Royce is planning with legendary British music stars that it hopes will be music to collectors' ears.
"There has always been this fascinating synergy between Rolls-Royce and those artists who create music that not only defines their genre but equally transcends time and age. The Wraith ‘Inspired by British Music' cars express unique design collaborations with rock icons such as Roger Daltrey and celebrate music's love affair with some of our finest motor cars," said Giles Taylor, Director of Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
However, this collection is as much about helping good causes as it is about showing off the company's bespoke capabilities or celebrating the enduring link between being a British rock icon and owning a Rolls-Royce.
A proportion of sales will be donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity Daltry holds dear. So much so that he is developing two cars.
One will be an automotive reflection of his own career and musical tastes, and the second a collaboration with Mike McInnerney, the artist who realized the album cover for "Tommy."
"The themes, so perfectly expressed by the Rolls-Royce designers in both cars, are as relevant today as they were when we first performed them," said Roger Daltrey. "I worked hard with the designers to capture the spirit of our songs and what their lyrics mean to fans of all generations. I'm certain both cars will serve as the ultimate collectors' pieces for any Who aficionado."
The first car will be littered with visual cues from The Who's history including the RAF Roundel inspired bullseye.
The second is described as "an extraordinary expression of the [Tommy] album's iconic sleeve design." And although it's one of the first car commissions to be announced, it will the final car to be completed.
"We are delighted to collaborate with some of Britain's most celebrated rock and vocal musicians on a project that promises to add to this legacy, by creating truly collectable masterpieces while supporting worthy charities," said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
The completed Roger Daltrey cars, along with the names of other rock aristocracy taking part in the project, will be revealed in the coming months.
