Roger Daltrey admits he’s “nervous” about The Who farewell tour due to health issues
The Who frontman, Roger Daltrey, has expressed his fears about the band’s forthcoming farewell tour due to potential health issues.
The run of dates began July 20th in Italy, marking their first show with drummer Scott Devours following the exit of Zak Starkey. They also played in Milan on July 22nd, before kicking off the North American leg of their tour later this month at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, on August 16th.
The set of shows in North America is set to last for six weeks, which will see The Who play iconic venues such as Madison Square Garden, Fenway Park, the United Center and the Hollywood Bowl for the final time.
Now, in a new interview with The Times, Daltrey opened up about battling meningitis nine years ago and the longterm effect it has had upon his health, sharing, “It’s done a lot of damage. It’s buggered up my internal thermometer, so every time I start singing in any climate over 75 degrees I’m wringing with sweat, which drains my body salts.”
Daltrey then explained how this could potentially impact The Who’s farewell tour, stating, “The potential to get really ill is there and, I have to be honest, I’m nervous about making it to the end of the tour.”
However, he is hoping to deliver an age-defying rock show to the masses who are set to watch them perform and play with “the same amount of passion as I did the first time round”.
In the same interview, Daltrey slammed Zak Starkey’s handling of his dismissal from the band, which included the drummer alleging he was asked to claim he was walking away from The Who to focus on other projects, which he says he refused to do. “It was kind of a character assassination and it was incredibly upsetting,” Daltrey said.
After Starkey was let go from The Who for a second time in a matter of weeks earlier this year, the band said in an official statement: “The Who are heading for retirement, whereas Zak is 20yrs younger and has a great future with his new band and other exciting projects.”
Before The Who head to the United States to begin their farewell tour, Daltrey is set to perform a solo show at Dreamland in Margate on August 8th.
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