Pete Townshend withdraws from Crossroads Guitar Festival due to injury

Pete Townshend has withdrawn from Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival in Austin, Texas, due to ongoing health complications. The 81-year-old guitarist cited damage to his left foot and subsequent balance issues following a knee replacement in February 2025 as the reasons for his absence.

Townshend stated that while he has been working to recover, the physical toll of long-distance travel from London and the resulting jetlag would hinder his rehabilitation. To support the event, his charity, Double O, is making a $50,000 donation to the Crossroads Centre, a drug treatment clinic in Antigua.

Despite missing the festival, Townshend expressed a desire to perform with Clapton in the future and noted his intention to continue working with Roger Daltrey and The Who once his health improves.