At 80, Pete Townshend has lived a life most could only dream of. For over six decades, he’s been at the heart of one of rock’s most legendary bands, The Who. The rocker has seen and done it all. However, all good times must come to an end, and he is more than ready to put the wild times behind him and live a tamer life for the years he has left.
Pete Townshend is slowing down. He is facing a time in his life when he wants to start preparing to wrap up some major chapters of his life. With The Who’s final tour on the horizon, Townshend is reflecting on his health, his legacy, and the sobering reality that he may only have about ten years left, give or take.
“I’ve got maybe 10 years left as a creative,” he reasoned. “So I’m doing all kinds of interesting things. I’m trying to keep myself fueled up.”
At his age, Pete reveals that while looking forward to The Who’s final tour, he has a lot of things he wants to make time for once that chapter closes. He reveals he is still writing and still passionate about music, but he’s also facing the reality of aging, according to Radar Online.
One harsh reality is that he has forced himself to remain clear-eyed about the ticking clock ahead of him. Pete wants to make the most of his remaining time with projects that keep his creativity burning.
His projects include a massive seven-disc box set that chronicles his solo work, alongside collaborations with younger acts like the Wild Things and Bookshop. Pete Townshend isn’t afraid to admit he’s thinking about the end. Not just of his career, but of his time. This farewell tour, he insists, is truly the last. After all, he’s been touring for six decades, and now, it’s time to bow out gracefully.
As heartbreaking as it may be for Pete to come to terms that his rockstyle life has come to a close, he still has decades of memories. Good and bad, but none he has any issues with speaking out about.
Townshend Opens Up About Addiction And Past Relationships with Men
One of his biggest regrets comes from his past battles with drugs and alcohol. The addiction has cost him a lot over the years, but it has also taught him a lot. Pete Townshend reveals he has more than his share of troubles with alcohol.
His drinking became so out of hand that it forced him to move out on his family. He also admits he developed a serious Ativan addiction and that he barely survived the experience. However the help of a treatment program, he kicked the addiction and also stopped drinking, and has been sober for more than 40 years.
But it was his most recent interview that got his fans buzzing. Pete Townshend got raw and personal. He opened up about his sexuality in a way he never had before. While discussing the meaning behind his 1980 solo single Rough Boys, he acknowledges the fan speculation that it was a nod to his own experiences.
Pete states he was very experimental and that for a period of time, he had relationships with both women and men. However, he ultimately found that being with men “wasn’t for him.” Still, Townshend confessed there was a time in his youth when he wanted to be gay. He reveals it was not out of love. But it was because for him it felt edgy, illegal, and rebellious.
The Who is heading out on a 15-city tour starting in Miami and wrapping up in Las Vegas. Titled The Song Is Over, the 2025 farewell tour is meant to be a final thank-you to their North American fans. However, this road trip has a much different feel for them.
They plan to savor every final moment on stage. Maybe even add a few more rockstar stories along the way. But these days, it’s more about enjoying the ride. For Townshend, this farewell isn’t just an ending. It’s a celebration of his life.
