Roger Daltrey’s Final Days: 81-Year-Old Fears Becoming Too Ill to Perform

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00:00Roger Daltrey's final days, 81-year-old fears becoming too ill to perform.

00:05Sir Roger Daltrey is gripped by fear that his failing health could bring an abrupt end

00:10to what is expected to be The Who's final tour.

00:13The 81-year-old rocker feels nervous about getting through the band's North American

00:17dates, which begin August 16th in Florida, citing the long-term effects of meningitis

00:22and the toll of singing in extreme heat.

00:25He said, There's a big part of me that's going, I just hope I make it through.

00:30The Who, Daltrey and longtime bandmate Pete Townshend, 79, will tour the US and Canada

00:35until September 28th with a final show at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena.

00:42Daltrey is increasingly unsure about performing live again, as the physical toll is taxing

00:47despite his strong voice.

00:48Concerns about his health are mounting backstage.

00:51One longtime associate commented, Everyone sees the cost.

00:55This might really be the last time we see him do this at all.

00:58Daltrey's fears are rooted in the aftermath of a near-fatal meningitis infection nine years

01:02ago, which left him with an impaired ability to regulate his body temperature.

01:07Performing in hot climates is now physically draining, yet summer schedules dominate.

01:12It's done a lot of damage, Daltrey says, affecting his internal thermometer.

01:17Singing in over 75 degrees climate leaves him drenched in sweat, body salts drained, and

01:21potentially really ill.

01:23Crew members have grown uneasy about his condition during rehearsals and early shows.

01:28There have already been moments where we've had to scale things back, a production team

01:32member said.

01:33Despite his worries, Daltrey continues to stay upbeat, affirming, Fortunately, my voice is

01:38still as good as ever.

01:39However, privately, acceptance that the end of the road is near has emerged.

01:44This is certainly the last time you will see us on tour, Daltrey said.

01:48As to whether we'll play, one-off, concerts again, I don't know.

01:52The Who to me is very perplexing.

01:55Friends say that even if standalone shows are offered, Daltrey is unlikely to accept unless

01:59he can guarantee the performance won't compromise his health.

02:03Terrified of collapsing on stage or being forced to cancel at the last minute, an insider said,

02:07It's not the way he wants to go out.