The Who’s Roger Daltrey: ‘I survived meningitis and was given a second chance’
The singer tells Graham Norton about his new album and the effect the illness had on his life.
Singer Roger Daltrey has said he feared he would “not make it” as he battled viral meningitis in 2015.
The Who lead singer and founder, 74, was diagnosed with the illness while the band was on the road forcing them to postpone all 50 dates on their North American tour.
“I survived and was given a second chance. I have the album, I’m touring and I have a book out later in the year.”
He is due to release a new album titled As Long As I Have You and a memoir.
“Performing solo has always been a hobby, but this one I have taken seriously,” he said of the new album.
“Part way through creating it I became disillusioned. I was very ill with meningitis and when I recovered and went back to recording I thought it was rubbish and tried to buy it back from the record company to shelve it. Pete (Townshend) took a look and what he did with the songs blew me away.”
Commenting on the rock band’s “wild days” from early on in their career, he told Norton it was “mostly Keith Moon and Pete Townshend”.
He added: “We thought it was a great jest at the time but looking back, it’s not very funny.”
The Graham Norton show airs on BBC One on April 13 at 10.35pm
