The Who Postpones North American Tour, Roger Daltrey Is Sick
The Who has postponed their upcoming, “Who Hits 50!” North American tour until at least 2016 due to a virus contracted by Roger Daltrey, Rolling Stone reports.
The Who postpone entire ‘Who Hits 50’ tour due to Roger Daltrey virus http://t.co/4jd2X5JaBE pic.twitter.com/dwOH2yphDr
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) September 18, 2015
The news likely doesn’t come as too much of a shock to fans of The Who, as the band has already postponed four shows, and cancelled their appearance at the iHeartRadio Music Festival (September 17), following the news earlier this month that Daltrey had contracted an “unspecified virus.”
The Who confirm postponement of all remaining dates on the N. American tour due to Roger’s illness. Full statement http://t.co/nGa5P79c4V
— The Who (@TheWho) September 18, 2015
As it turns out, the unspecified virus is reportedly viral meningitis, and Daltrey’s doctors have put him on extended rest for at least the remainder of the year, the rocker said in a statement.
“We are very sorry to disappoint our fans in this way. For the last four weeks, I have been in and out of the hospital and have been diagnosed with viral meningitis. I am now on the mend and feeling a lot better, but I am going to need a considerable time to recover. The doctors tell me I will make a complete recovery, but that I should not do any touring this year.”
The Who Hits 50! Tour — which guitarist Pete Townsend has described as “the beginning of a long goodbye” for The Who — has been tentatively postponed until spring 2016. Ticket holders will have their current tickets honored at the re-scheduled concert dates, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer.
In his own statement, Townsend promised that fans of The Who won’t be disappointed once Roger is healthy and back up to the rigors of touring.
“We are rescheduling all the shows for next spring 2016. We apologize to all our fans who have supported us in the last 50 years. Once Roger is completely well we will come back stronger than ever and Roger and I will give you all a show to remember.”
On The Who’s official website, fans are offering their condolences to the ailing 71-year-old
“Get well soon Roger, seen The Who at O2 Arena and Hyde Park this year, always fantastic..looking forward to seeing you back on stage in 2016.Long Live The Who”
As of this post, The Who have not officially set the date of the start of their re-scheduled North American tour.
[Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images]
