Roger Daltrey ‘didn’t want to live’ during meningitis battle
Roger Daltrey "didn’t want to live" during his meningitis battle.
The 72-year-old lead singer of The Who fell desperately ill with the infection in 2015, leading to him cancelling a series of planned appearances, and Roger has admitted he was convinced he would not survive his health struggles.
Speaking ahead of The Who headlining the Desert Trip festival in California on Sunday (10.09.16), he explained: "I can’t believe I am going to be there if I am honest.
"A year ago, I was literally at death’s door. I had meningitis. It was no f***ing joke, it was serious.
"For a couple of days, I really thought I was going to die. I gave up.
"I didn’t want to live, it was so painful. It was horrible. Nothing worked and it was agony."
Roger spent four weeks in and out of hospital and his diagnosis led the rock icon to cancel The Who’s 50th Anniversary Tour.
Meningitis inflames membranes round the brain and spinal cord, which leads to a number of debilitating side effects, such as vomiting, confusion and seizures.
As a result, Roger was ordered not to rush back to performing and he has admitted that despite making a recovery, the illness has taken a long-lasting toll on his body.
He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "I am not quite as fit as I was before I had the meningitis, but I’m training again and I’m 99 percent there. I am a fit guy for my age so that has helped.
"At my age you take every gig and every tour one day at a time.
"You just hope you get through it and come off the stage standing. Saying that, we are all deaf as posts these days with hearing aids."
