Frontman Pete Townshend, who has suffered for years from tinnitus and partial deafness, has revealed to Rolling Stone that his symptoms have reached a point where he and Roger Daltrey are seriously considering calling it quits.
“If my hearing is going to be a problem, we’re not delaying shows – we’re finished,” Townshend, 64, said. “ I can’t really see any way around the issue.”
Despite a rumored spring tour that was to include stops at Coachella and the New Orleans Jazz Festival, there’s only one confirmed date on The Who’s itinerary this year: a March 30 benefit for Daltrey’s Teenage Cancer Trust at London’s Royal Albert Hall featuring a performance of Quadrophenia in its entirety – and that might not happen.
The only hope still left for the band is a special in-ear monitor Townshend’s in the process of being fitted for by an audiologist recommended by Neil Young.
The guitarist explained that he’s waiting to see if his hearing gets any worse in the meantime and if not, he’ll test out the monitor at the benefit.
For his part, Daltrey has his fingers crossed, telling RS, “It’s a good test of Pete’s hearing. We won’t know until we try.”