Pete Townshend has issued his first solo single in 29 years. “Can’t Outrun the Truth” was composed and produced by his wife, Rachel Fuller, under her nom de plume Charlie Pepper, with some of the proceeds going to the Teenage Cancer Trust. Townshend performs vocals, guitar, lap steel guitar and violin. The only other performer listed on the credits is Jolyon Dixon, also on guitar. The track was released on March 24, 2023.
The song was inspired by the difficulties everyone had encountered emotionally due to the lack of human interaction caused by the pandemic. It also occurred to Fuller that young people undergoing cancer treatment may identify with these feelings of isolation.
Townshend first began teasing the song on his Facebook page on Feb. 10. In the following weeks, he and Fuller shared brief interview clips from their home.
Townshend’s last solo album was 1993’s Psychoderelict.
The track can be ordered digitally in the U.S. here, and the U.K. here. A full video has also been released.
The Who have a 2023 tour and a new concert album, The Who With Orchestra Live at Wembley, that arrives on March 31. Details are here.
