Roger Daltrey says he’s feeling the march of time, revealing to a live performance viewers that he’s going deaf and blind.
The frontman for The Who opened up at a gig at London’s Royal Albert Corridor lately, telling followers that he’s shedding his sight and listening to.
“The thrill of getting previous imply you go deaf,” Daltrey stated at a live performance for the Teenage Most cancers Belief final Thursday, experiences Sky Information. “I additionally now have gotten the enjoyment of going blind.”
“Thankfully I nonetheless have my voice, as a result of then I’ll have a full Tommy,” the 81-year-old continued, referencing the fictional Tommy Walker from the band’s 1969 album-turned-rock opera Tommy, who’s deaf, mute and blind.
Daltrey has been a longstanding patron of the Teenage Most cancers Belief and has spearheaded the Royal Albert Corridor concert events since they started in 2000, elevating funds to assist U.Ok. teenagers dealing with most cancers.
Greater than 60 years on stage as a part of one of many world’s most profitable rock bands has taken its toll on the singer and this isn’t the primary time Daltrey has revealed points together with his listening to.
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In 2018, he advised a Las Vegas live performance crowd that he’s going “very, very deaf,” and had some recommendation to followers and fellow musicians.
“Take your f–king earplugs with you to the gigs,” he stated on the time, in response to TMZ.
Extra lately, he advised The Occasions that he’s come to phrases with getting older and that he’s “able to go at any time.”
“My desires got here true so, hear, I’m able to go at any time,” he advised the outlet final 12 months. “My household are all nice and all taken care of.”
“You’ve bought to be real looking,” Daltrey continued. “You’ll be able to’t dwell your life endlessly. Like I stated, folks my age, we’re in the best way. There are not any guitar strings to be modified on this previous instrument.”
Guitarist Pete Townshend, 79, additionally joked about his knee substitute on the occasion however stated it was nothing in comparison with what the sufferers within the Teenage Most cancers Belief cope with.
FILE – (L-R) Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who carry out on the Outdoors Lands Music & Arts Pageant at Golden Gate Park on Aug. 13, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif.
Steve Jennings / Getty Photographs
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“Possibly I ought to public sale off the previous one (knee),” he stated. “Elton John had one accomplished, and he wears his as a bracelet. Sadly, mine’s in three bits.”
The Who shaped in 1964 earlier than breaking apart in 1982. They performed a couple of reunion gigs collectively within the mid-’80s earlier than reuniting in 1996.
For the final couple of years, Daltrey and Townsend have talked about nearing the top of their careers.
“We’re each previous,” Townshend stated in a 2023 interview with The Solar. “That in itself has a draw back as a result of, other than what you’ll be able to or can’t do on the stage, if you end touring, you come again to regular life — no matter it’s that you just resolve to do to fill your time away from the street — and it’s tougher and takes longer.
“So life slows down as a result of it’s a lot tougher getting up and down the steps, nevertheless it additionally hurries up.”
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