'The Who' May Call it Quits

[Brian Damage]

Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend performed as The Who during a spectacular halftime show at Super Bowl XLIV, and if Townshend's ears get the best of him, it will be among the last of their concerts -- ever. Townshend tells Rolling Stone (via the Guardian) that he suffers from tinnitus, a painful ringing in the ears, caused by years of exposure to high sound volumes.

"If my hearing is going to be a problem, we're not delaying shows. We're finished," the legendary guitarist says. "I can't really see any way around the issue."

Townshend's medical issues have already caused the band to cancel a spring tour and scheduled appearances at the Coachella and New Orleans Jazz festivals. The Who is still planning to give a concert at London's Royal Albert Hall on March 30 as part of a charity concert series benefiting the Teenage Cancer Trust.

"It's a good test of Pete's hearing," singer Roger Daltrey tells the magazine. "We won't know until we try."

The band has enjoyed a career spanning nearly five decades. The Who's first hit, 'I Can't Explain,' came in January 1965. Last month's Super Bowl performance featured a medley of the Who's greatest hits -- familiar to fans and 'CSI' enthusiasts alike: 'Pinball Wizard,' 'Baba O'Riley,' 'Who Are You,' 'See Me, Feel Me' and 'Won't Get Fooled Again.'

http://www.popeater.com/2010/02/23/t...shend-hearing/