The Who’s Roger Daltrey has told fans he’s going “blind” while performing live at a charity concert.
The 81-year-old lead singer was performing alongside his bandmate Pete Townshend on Thursday in the first of a series of gigs at London’s Royal Albert Hall in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Daltrey told the 5,000-strong audience: “The joys of getting old mean you go deaf. I also now have got the joy of going blind.
“Fortunately, I still have my voice.”
He went on to say if he lost his voice too, he’d have a “full Tommy” – referring to the title character of The Who’s 1969 album. “Deaf, dumb and blind kid” Tommy is also mentioned in Pinball Wizard from the same record.
Daltrey has long worn purple-tinted glasses when out and about.
During a later song at Thursday’s gig, Daltrey’s voice cracked, which he called a “senior moment”, before adding: “No apologies, I f***** up.”
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Guitarist Townshend, 79, also revealed an age-related ailment, saying: “Four and a half weeks ago, I had my left knee replaced.”
He said he had done it by dancing in the style of Sir Mick Jagger, lead singer of the Rolling Stones, who is two years his senior.
Daltrey is stepping back from his role as curator of the Teenage Cancer Trust’s Royal Albert Hall concerts, having launched the series in 2000.
However, he will remain an honorary patron of the charity.
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The trust will now work with a series of guest curators, with The Cure’s Robert Smith announced as the first musician to oversee duties next year.
Daltrey and Townshend have been performing together for six decades, and are the only surviving original members of The Who.
With hits including I Can’t Explain, My Generation and Substitute, The Who are widely considered to be one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century.
The Who will return to the Royal Albert Hall for another gig in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust later today.
