Roger Daltrey with Paper Zoo

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Roger Daltrey has one of rock’s most legendary voices, but he doesn’t take it for granted. That’s why the set of solo dates he’ll be playing – beginning Oct. 10 in Vancouver – has been dubbed the Use It or Lose It Tour. As lead singer for The Who, he’s lent his Olympian pipes to a staggering array of enduring rock ‘n’ roll anthems. And with plans for the band’s next tour still up in the air, Daltrey decided a solo jaunt – his first since 1985 – would be just the thing “to keep my voice in trim, so I’ll be ready,” he explains. “Those songs demand a lot of voice!” Of course, the iconic singer’s vocal regimen is just part of the equation. “I thought it’d be nice to play smaller, more intimate venues,” he says. “I look forward to getting back to that. I want to give people a good night out. The economic situation being what it is these days, I think that’s what they want: to go out and feel they’ve had a good jolly-up.” Promising a healthy serving of Who songs (“but they’ll be my versions of them”), solo material – including some songs he’s never played live – and covers that pay tribute to his influences and admired contemporaries, Daltrey relishes the chance to showcase dimensions of his vocal ability that even longtime fans haven’t yet experienced. “I think I have one of those unique, recognizable rock voices,” he ventures with typical understatement. “Even in a Who show there’s enormous range, but this show will give me an even greater opportunity to explore.” Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets: $55 in advance