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The Who's Roger Daltrey, 81, is going through a health crisis as he ages. Daltrey, while speaking to his live audience at London's Royal Albert Hall on March 27 for Teenage Cancer Trust, mentioned that he's "going blind":
"The problem with this job is that you go deaf. And now I've been told that I am going blind."
He then referenced The Who's 1969 rock opera title character, saying:
"Thand God I've still got my voice. If I lost that I'll go full Tommy."
The band, which previously toured with a larger group of musicians and a local orchestra, has now been stripped down. Their recent performance in London featured only drummer Zak Starkey, guitarist Simon Townshend, bassist Jon Button, background vocalist John Hogg, and keyboardist/backing vocalist Loren Gold.
The setlist included their classics: I Can't Explain, Who Are You, Baba O'Riley, and other tracks such as Tea and Theatre, Bargain, and Love Ain't for Keeping.
More about Roger Daltrey's health
Eighty-one-year-old Roger Daltrey has been vocal about his declining health as he ages. The musician contracted viral meningitis while touring America in 2015. In a 2024 interview with The Times, Daltrey mentioned that he was ready for death:
"My dreams came true so, listen, I'm ready to go at any time. My family are all great and taken care of. You've got to be realistic. You can't live your life forever."
Daltrey added that people his age were "in the way" and admitted that he would consider joining the assisted dying organization Dignitas if his health became a burden on his loved ones.
His band member, Simon Townshend, while speaking to Rolling Stone before rehearsals for their Teenage Cancer Trust performance, said that both he and Roger were nervous:
"I've got no idea what it's going to be like. I'm actually nervous. And I think Roger's nervous as well. We're both in our eighties, beyond our eighties, in Roger's case. I'm 80 in May. And I've just had a knee transplant, which it was nothing to do with being young or virile."
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As per reports, Daltrey is prepared to step down from his work with the Teenage Cancer Trust after a long run with the organization. The charity is scheduled to work with a series of guest curators to take the shows forward and raise money for the cause.
Robert Smith will be taking over the role from co-founder Roger Daltrey, who had been overseeing curation duties for more than 26 years.
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