Royal Albert Hall, London, March 24
IT’S been a long and impressive stint, but tonight, at 80, Roger Daltrey is stepping back from Teenage Cancer Trust. Powered by 24 years of Albert Hall benefit gigs, the charity has founded 28 specialist UK wards (plus 15 in the US) to provide sympathetic sanctuaries for young cancer patients during treatment, a cause pursued with the single-minded stubbornness characterising Daltrey’s music endeavours.
Introducing this all-star farewell show, he deflects attention to the charity’s “unsung heroes”. Still the personal ovations come, notably during a video tribute when Paul McCartney bashes out a 10-second new number, “Thank You Roger” (“one of the best songs I’ve ever written!”), andunlikely to share a stage again.
