Classic Rock
Pete Townshend talks about his and Roger Daltrey’s health issues
The Who recently launched their farewell The Song Is Over tour, performing around the world to bid farewell to their fans one last time. Pete Townshend is 80 and Roger Daltrey is 81 and, understandably at those ages, they are dealing with some health issues, which Townshend addressed in an interview with AARP.
Pete Townshend talks about his and Roger Daltrey’s health issues
“(Me and Daltrey) we don’t communicate very well. He and I are very different and we have different needs as performers. He got upset because he felt I had sometimes given the impression of having left the building. Roger complained about the fact that he is deaf. He’s a singer, and he has to be 100 percent fit in order to do his job.”
Pete was then asked about dealing with tinnitus and he said about his health: “I think I’m on the f—ing mountain top! You know, I just feel supreme. My brain is as sharp as a razor. I’m very, very creative. I’m not good with money, but I’m good at doing business deals. I am healthy, and I think I probably have another five years in show business. I’m not quite sure doing what. I’m very (good at) producing shows, producing artists, working with artists,” the musician said.
He was also asked about feeling suicidal last year as he revealed in an interview. “I have a friend who’s a therapist who works in recovery circles. I would wake up, say, at 9 needing to have a wee, and just put my head back on the pillow. And feel if I pulled the coverlet over my head and tried to sleep again, I would be okay.”
He continued:
“But as soon as I faced the idea of getting up, I would feel a tremendous sense of dread and sadness and frustration and, I suppose, emptiness. I used a metaphor of a gun under the pillow. Perhaps I shouldn’t have been so flippant. It certainly felt very, very real to me.”
“But anyway, I’m good. As soon as I forced myself to get out, have a cup of tea, a couple of sugary biscuits, get on with my day, I’m fine. It was just that sleep is not doing what it’s supposed to do,” Pete Townshend said.
Next The Who and Roger Daltrey tour dates
August
- 23 – Atlantic City, NJ – Boardwalk Hall
- 26 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park
- 28 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
- 30 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
September
- 2 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
- 4 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
- 7 – Chicago, IL – United Center
- 9 – Chicago, IL – United Center
- 17 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
- 19 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
- 21 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
- 23 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
- 25 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
- 28 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena
