Rock History

2010 – Rockers The Who fear they’ve taken their final bow – because they’re struggling to stage shows with Pete Townshend’s hearing problems. The 64 year old has suffered from partial deafness and tinnitus for many years, and admits the condition is now so bad he is having to cut back the amount of time he spends on stage and in the recording studio.

He is testing new in-ear monitors, which help ease his tinnitus – but frontman Roger Daltrey fears their performance in London last month could be their last, if Townshend’s health problems persist. Daltrey tells Uncut magazine, “If carrying on is going to mean Pete going deaf, let’s stop now. Entering old age is a silent world – nothing is worth that.”

“That (last month’s concert) might have been the last gig. I honestly don’t know. We’re trying to deal with issues that we have never dealt with before. Our bodies are beginning to give up on us. I’ve had voice problems in the past year that I’ve managed to sort out and I’m really enjoying singing again but you have to be realistic – I am 66 years old.”