Legendary rocker suffering from some health issues – including ‘incurable’ degenerative problem with eyes
The Who frontman Sir Roger Daltrey has admitted that he’s ‘not going to be here much longer’ as he admitted some health battles in a new interview. The 81-year-old was recently embroiled in a row over the sacking of Ringo Starr’s son Zak Starkey as drummer in The Who.
However in an interview in The Times Daltrey said he had more pressing health concerns, explaining that catching meningitis nine years ago is having a major health impact on him. And he added that he is suffering from ‘incurable’ macular degeneration, meaning he can’t see autocues properly and described his sight as ‘not good.
Firstly he spoke about his getting a Knighthood on the back of annual fundraising concerts at the Royal Albert Hall for Teenage Cancer Trust, which was set up in 1990 to provide specialist units for young people suffering from cancer.
He said he was delighted to help as long as he could as he’s ‘not going to be here much longer’: “Of course, but the honours system is in desperate need of updating. It’s a weird club to be a part of and I’m not entirely comfortable with it.
“Still, I’m not going to be here much longer. If I live another ten years it will be way past anyone in my family, and it’s important for Teenage Cancer Trust to continue. We were seeing teenagers put in wards alongside two-year-olds or geriatrics and the isolation was devastating. The environment of someone suffering from a serious illness is every bit as important as a good drug.”
He explained main problem is the effects of contracting meningitis nine years ago. “It’s done a lot of damage,” he says. “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. 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.”
Wrking in a sheet metal factory in Acton when he was 16 might have destroyed his hearing at an early stage. At the Teenage Cancer Trust concert in March, he revealed that not only was he going deaf but he was losing his sight too. If he lost his voice, he told the audience, he would “go the full Tommy”.
Unlike many rockers his age, Daltrey doesn’t use an Autocue. “There’s no point. Can’t f***ing see it!” he roars. How is his sight now? “Not good,” he replies, from behind tinted shades. “I’ve got an incurable macular degeneration.” All these years later, Daltrey is determined to rock until he drops, whether the Who keep touring or not. “Never, never retire. You’ll be dead in three years. Daytime TV will kill you.”
To read the full interview click here.
