Pete Townshend is “working on getting well” so he can play with The Who “in the future”, after pulling out of Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival due to ongoing health issues.
The 81‑year‑old guitar legend has suffered damage to his left foot and is experiencing balance problems. Despite pushing hard to recover in time for the event – set for 26 and 27 September at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas – he says the long flight from the UK isn’t sensible in his current condition.
In a statement shared on Clapton’s X page, he said: “I’m so sorry to say that due to damage to my left foot, and subsequent issues with my balance, I cannot commit to travel to appear at the upcoming Crossroads Festival in Austin. I so desperately wanted to appear, and have battled to get in shape, and I am improving, but the long flights from London, and the jetlag on my return, would cause backtracking I really can’t afford.”
Townshend has instead made a generous $50,000 donation to Clapton’s Crossroads Centre – a drug treatment clinic near St Philip’s, Antigua – via his own charity, Double O, which supports addiction‑recovery organisations.
He continued: “I am making a $50,000 donation to the festival cause from my charity Double O, and one day I hope I can accept Eric’s invitation to appear with him. He has now asked me several times. There has always been some issue, in this case it is my recovery from my knee replacement in February of 2025, and some complications.
“I want to especially thank Derek Trucks and Susie Tedeschi for their offer to support me as my backing band. Wow! That is something I can only dream about, and maybe one day it will happen.
“Meanwhile I will keep working on getting well so I can work with Roger and The Who in future.”
The post was captioned: “We love you @PeteTownshend_, feel better and we are so appreciative of your donation (sic).”
The Who played their last ever shows in 2025, but it doesn’t sound like they are done yet.
In a statement about his deal with Primary Wave Music, Townshend hinted in May: “Then there is Roger [Daltrey] and all my friends and colleagues in and around The Who. We are always trying to come up with SOMETHING special, and God Willing will continue to do that, hoping one day we can astound you the way we used to.”