The Who's Roger Daltrey and Rolls Royce collaborate on a series of Wraith models.

• British rock and vocal legends create the ultimate collectors’ editions by commissioning Bespoke design enhancements to nine Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’ motor cars to express their own musical legacies
• Two Bespoke commissions by Roger Daltrey are the first in a series of nine one-of-a-kind collectors’ pieces to be announced
• Proportion of the value of the nine Wraith ‘Inspired by British Music’ motor cars will be donated to charities including The Teenage Cancer Trust
• Remarkable one-of-a-kind motor cars celebrate the marque’s long held allure among the most revered names in the contemporary music world

Rolls-Royce is delighted to announce a series of remarkable collaborations with some of British music’s most revered names that serve to celebrate the marque’s long-standing relationship with the world of Rock & Roll. The first collaborations to be announced in this remarkable series are with The Who’s legendary frontman, Roger Daltrey.

In total, nine Wraith ‘Inspired by British Music’ motor cars will be commissioned and crafted with perfectly executed design touches, commissioned by icons of the British music scene – creating the ultimate collectors’ items for the marque’s patrons. Rolls-Royce will donate a proportion of the value of each motor car to charities including the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The unique designs will then be deftly crafted within the existing canvas of Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’, a collection of Bespoke motor cars, created in 2015 to celebrate Rolls-Royce’s long-held standing in music folklore. Further names drawn from the pantheon of British music royalty are set to be announced in the coming months.

Echoing the creation of some of the most striking examples of Bespoke design in the marque’s history, the project was conceived by a highly creative individual, inspired during a visit to the marque’s global centre of excellence in Goodwood, England. In this instance, acclaimed portrait photographer Alistair Morrison, on first viewing Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’, was moved to propose a bold idea, inspired by his work photographing some of British music’s most celebrated icons.

“I am currently working on a series of photographs commissioned by The Who’s, Roger Daltrey, entitled ‘Rock Stars Legacy’ – in essence it brings together the crème of the British music scene in one truly iconic image,” said Alistair Morrison. “On seeing Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’ and in learning about the way Rolls-Royce patrons collaborate with the marque’s Bespoke Designers, I saw an opportunity to express the spirit of this project, in revealing the personalities and musical legacies of these music icons through the medium of these extraordinary motor cars.”

The Who’s Roger Daltrey was so inspired by the project, he committed to commissioning two cars. The first inspired by his own personal music legacy, featuring elegantly expressed pieces of iconography from the Who’s history, including the band’s famous ‘bullseye’ logo and a laser-etched depiction of Daltrey’s famous microphone swing to the car’s door-flights.

For his second car Daltrey worked with artist Mike McInnerney, creator of the famous album artwork for The Who’s seminal album, ‘Tommy’. For this stunning tribute to one of the 1960s’ most highly regarded LPs, McInnerney will work in close collaboration with the artisans in the marque’s surface finish centre to create an extraordinary expression of the album’s iconic sleeve design – a piece that promises to stand alone as a notable collectors’ item. This, the last of the nine cars to be built, will be auctioned for the Teenage Cancer Trust in April 2017.

“I am enormously excited at the prospect of raising vital funds and awareness for the Teenage Cancer Trust in collaboration with Rolls-Royce, a true British icon,” said Roger Daltrey, frontman of The Who. “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. 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.”

“It says much about our marque’s enduring allure that so many of music’s greatest icons have held Rolls-Royce as the ultimate symbol of their success. 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 whilst supporting worthy charities,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “Our patrons work in concert with our Bespoke designers and craftspeople to express deeply-held personal passions. These unique motor cars perfectly express the intimate relationship between artist, patron and artisan that defines Rolls-Royce’s standing as the most celebrated luxury house in the world.” 

Rolls-Royce’s reputation as a true luxury house is borne of a fundamental understanding that its patrons seek authenticity in the goods they commission. The resulting collaborations therefore echo the manner in which these patrons work in close collaboration with its Bespoke designers. The artists were invited to the Home of Rolls-Royce to further their understanding of the canvas on which they could celebrate their legacy. Bespoke Designer, Matthew Danton, under the leadership of Design Director Giles Taylor worked in collaboration with each artist to capture the most iconic and personal elements from of their body of work. The result delivers true, one-of-a-kind collectors’ pieces.

“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. “In joining our Bespoke design team and envisioning authentic, perfectly executed tributes to their art, these stars will have helped create the ultimate bond between our Marque and their remarkable musical legacies." 

Each of these very special collaborations will represent a one-of-a-kind commission. Collectors will be invited to acquire these extraordinary representations of automotive and rock history through the marque’s European dealer network. A proportion of the value price of each car will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust and other charities.

The two Roger Daltrey cars are the first of nine collaborations with British music icons set to be announced. Further details will emerge as the cars near completion at the marque’s global centre of excellence in Goodwood.

Rolls Royce continues to be a big part of the world of Rock 'n' Roll, from its birth to today's rappers.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has contributed to the myth and legend of the contemporary music scene since the birth of Rock & Roll. Over half a century later, this long-standing love affair lives on, with some of the world’s most celebrated artists choosing the marque as the ultimate affirmation of their success. 

In this spirit, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is delighted to present Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’.

Since the launch of Wraith in 2013, customers have been able to commission their Rolls-Royce Wraith with Bespoke Audio; the most exhaustively designed sound system in automotive history.  

Like every element of a Rolls-Royce motor car, its construction blends the finest components with the skill of the most eminent experts in their field. 

Now, with Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’, these characteristics, and the precious materials used in the Bespoke Audio system, are brought very much to the fore, creating ‘the most exclusive music venue’ that delivers an unrivalled aural experience.

“Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’ appeals to those looking to Rolls-Royce for unique and creative motor cars. 

Its effortlessly cool appearance complements the superior Bespoke Audio system; the contemporary use of copper creates an atmospheric setting for the most encompassing music system on the market,” commented Torsten Müller Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

A Lyrical Copper exterior paint finish, presented with a blend of brushed and polished textures elegantly hints at the use of copper in only the very best audio systems. 

On opening the car’s coach-doors attention is drawn to re-imagined speaker grilles, here presented in copper theme, and engraved with the words ‘Bespoke Audio’. 

The door panniers and floor mats have been crafted from finely-woven leather to add an additional depth of tactility to the car’s interior cabin. 

Copper-coloured door inserts, which start at the front of the cabin before tapering at the rear, have been included in the design to emphasise Wraith’s characteristic internal curves.

A book matched copper finish features for the first time on Wraith’s fascia, boldly extending the car’s theme. The same copper tone extends to Wraith’s signature seat bullets.

The fastidious detail that went into the development of the car’s sound-system is employed in every facet of the construction of the car. 

For example, the chaplets on the clock have been designed and meticulously crafted with a combination of warming copper and silver, whilst the radial lines of the outer bezel playfully emulate the look and feel of vinyl records.

The Bespoke Audio system was created from scratch by a team of the world’s very best automotive audio engineers. The two-year development process saw the team work closely with Rolls-Royce interior designers to ensure the system was perfectly tuned to the interior of the cabin. 

Indeed, this pursuit of aural perfection was deemed so important the interior designers had to consult with the Chief Audio Engineer before making any changes.

The extraordinary clarity of sound and dynamic range is delivered via a 1300W, 18 channel system comprising two highly powerful bass speakers, seven tweeters and seven mid range speakers. 

Two ‘exciter’ speakers hand-fitted in the car’s headlining play a vital role in bringing the sound to the listener at ear-level; ensuring the output perfectly imitates the way music is experienced in a live setting. 

Microphones constantly monitor ambient and exterior noises and will adjust volume and tone settings automatically to ensure no external agent detracts from the user’s listening pleasure.

Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’ completes a trilogy of striking and distinctive Bespoke Collections. 

The first, Wraith ‘Inspired by Film’ celebrates Rolls-Royce’s long association with the silver screen whilst, Wraith ‘Inspired by Fashion’ allows customers to commission a true piece of automotive haute couture inspired by the materials and motifs of cutting-edge high fashion.

Rolls-Royce: the ‘Rock & Roll’ years:

In January 1961, Elvis Presley walked into the Beverley Hills Rolls-Royce dealership. Flush with the success of his music career and a five-year movie deal, he ordered a Rolls-Royce Phantom V; the only motor car in the world that could possibly befit his status as the ‘King of Rock & Roll’. From that day on, a Rolls-Royce motor car became the conveyance of choice for the music scene’s burgeoning elite.

Many of these cars have taken their place in automotive and music folklore. John Lennon, for example, acquired a Phantom V in 1965. During his ownership he commissioned a number of cutting-edge additions for the time including; a television, portable refrigerator, record player and the first blacked-out windows to appear on a car in England. 

He was so enamoured with the interior comfort of the finest riding car in the world, he is reported to have converted the rear bench-seat into a double bed.

However, it is his car’s exterior that ensures its place in the pantheon of famous Rolls-Royces. Not satisfied with the Phantom’s stately Valentines Black finish, he commissioned a Dutch art collective to re-paint the car in a psychedelic motif designed to mirror the decorations on fairground caravans. 

The result was not met with universal acclaim, with Lennon often recounting the tale of a woman who chased the car, shouting, “You swine! You swine! How dare you do that to a Rolls-Royce!”

One particular story resulting from the music world’s love affair with Rolls-Royce has segued from folklore to infamy. It concerns The Who drummer, Keith Moon and the night of his 21^st birthday at the Holiday Inn in Flint Michigan. 

Legend goes that a somewhat high spirited Mr Moon drove his Rolls-Royce into the hotel’s swimming pool. This is categorically untrue and is probably an overblown conflation of two stories.

The first, involves a regrettable yet entirely understandable lapse of concentration, with Mr Moon failing to fully secure his Rolls-Royce’s handbrake. Unfortunately he had parked on a slope leading to a half-constructed swimming pool. The car made a characteristically graceful descent down the hill before coming to rest at the bottom of the unfilled pool.

The second is a little closer to the legend. On purchasing a new American car he tried to charge it to the band’s account, naturally they refused to indulge his request. 

Mr Moon expressed his displeasure by parking the car in an ornamental pond before telephoning the dealer to take it away. Not something he would ever have done to his beloved Rolls-Royce.