The Who’s Roger Daltrey, 81, reveals he is ‘going blind’ in frank health admission during concert
The Who’s Roger Daltrey has revealed he is “going blind” during an emotional performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
The 81-year-old rock legend made the candid health announcement while performing at a Teenage Cancer Trust charity concert on Thursday night.
Daltrey, sporting purple-tinted glasses, told the 5,000-strong audience that his eyewear wasn’t merely a fashion statement.
The frontman opened up about his deteriorating eyesight during the first of two shows the band is performing at the iconic venue this weekend, joining fellow music icon Sir Elton John, who is also suffering from seriously declining vision.
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“The joys of getting old mean you go deaf, I also now have got the joy of going blind,” Daltrey told the crowd at the charity event.
His frank admission came during The Who’s performance on March 27, as the band played the first of their two scheduled shows.
Despite his health challenges, Daltrey maintained his sense of humour, referencing the band’s iconic 1969 rock opera.
“Fortunately, I still have my voice, because if I lost that I’ll go full Tommy,” he quipped, alluding to the title character of The Who’s groundbreaking album.
Tommy tells the story of a “deaf, dumb and blind” boy who becomes a pinball champion.
Daltrey founded the Teenage Cancer Trust concerts in 2000 but announced last year he was stepping down as curator. The Cure’s Robert Smith will take over the role in 2026, curating the series of concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.
“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,” Daltrey clarified.
He added that his involvement would continue, but “I’ll be working in the back room, talking to the Government, rattling cages.”
The Who co-founder turned 81 earlier this month and has been candid about his mortality in recent interviews.
“I have to be realistic,” he previously told The Times. “I’m on my way out.”
“The average life expectancy is 83, and with a bit of luck, I’ll make that, but we need someone else to drive things,” he explained regarding his decision to step down from his curator role.
The singer has admitted experiencing greater difficulty remembering lyrics in recent years, as well as increased nerves before performing.
Daltrey’s bandmate Pete Townshend, 79, also shared his own health struggles during the concert.
Townshend revealed he had undergone a “complete knee replacement” just four and a half weeks before taking the stage.
“But because I’m Superman, I’m here!” he told the audience. “Maybe I should auction off the old one. Elton John had one done, and he wears his as a bracelet. Unfortunately, mine’s in three bits.”