Roger Daltrey, the lead singer of the legendary rock band The Who, has revealed that he is going blind. The 81-year-old musician shared the news with fans during a recent charity concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Daltrey, who has been open about his hearing loss caused by years of loud live performances, told the audience, “The problem with this job is that you go deaf.
And now I’ve been told that I am going blind.”
He added a touch of humor to the situation, referencing The Who’s rock opera character Tommy, saying, “Thank God I’ve still got my voice. If I lost that, I’ll go full Tommy.”
Despite his health challenges, Daltrey delivered an energetic performance at the Royal Albert Hall, playing a string of the band’s major hits. The concerts were part of a two-show run in support of the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity Daltrey founded in 2000.
Last year, Daltrey announced he would step down from his role as curator for the charity’s annual concert series, allowing new leadership to take over in 2026. However, he assured fans that he was not leaving the charity entirely.
Daltrey shares health challenges candidly
“I’m not leaving TCT – I’ve been a patron since I first met the charity’s founders, Dr. Adrian and Myrna Whiteson, more than 30 years ago – and that will continue, but I’ll be working in the back room, talking to the government, rattling cages,” he said. Daltrey has also admitted to experiencing greater difficulty remembering lyrics in recent years and feeling nervous before performances.
In a published diary entry, he wrote, “On at 8.40pm, and I’ve got to say I really feel it tonight. We haven’t done anything for seven months and this winter’s been brutal. I’ve been in hibernation.
For the whole of January, I lost my voice completely. I live like a monk and if I went on tour for a week I’d be fit as a butcher’s dog again, but tonight, for the first time in my career, I think, ‘Blimey, this is hard.'”
The Who’s guitarist, Pete Townshend, 79, also shared updates on his own health during the concert, including a recent knee replacement surgery. Despite the challenges that come with aging, the band continues to inspire fans with their music and dedication to charitable causes.
