Roger Daltrey 'gave up' and wished to die during meningitis battle

The Who singer Roger Daltrey has revealed he mentally “gave up” and wanted to die last year when he was battling meningitis.

The Who are headlining Desert Trip festival this weekend in California along with The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Roger Waters and speaking ahead of the gig, Roger said he was amazed he was fit and well enough to perform because last year he was ready for death.

He said: “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.”

Meningitis is marked by intense headache and fever, sensitivity to light, and muscular rigidit and Roger spent four weeks in and out of hospital and his diagnosis led the rock icon to cancel The Who’s 50th Anniversary Tour.

Roger was ordered to rest following his treatment and he has admitted 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.”