Guitarist Pete Townshend withdraws from the Crossroads Guitar Festival

Pete Townshend has withdrawn from Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival, which runs September 26 and 27 at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. The Who guitarist was due to make his debut at the event, and pulled out over complications tied to his recovery from knee replacement surgery.

In a statement he pointed to damage to his left foot and the balance problems that followed it, and said the flights from London and the jet lag on the way back would undo progress he could not afford to lose. "I so desperately wanted to appear, and have battled to get in shape," he wrote, adding that he is improving.

Townshend will donate $50,000 through his Double O charity to Crossroads Centre Antigua, the addiction treatment facility Clapton founded in 1998 and which the festival exists to fund. He also revealed that Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi had offered to back him on stage had he made the trip.

The two guitarists have a long history. Townshend organised Clapton's Rainbow Concert in London in 1973, the show that brought Clapton back to the stage after a period of seclusion and heroin addiction. "One day I hope I can accept Eric's invitation to appear with him," Townshend said. "He has now asked me several times."

Clapton still plays both nights of the seventh Crossroads Guitar Festival. Trey Anastasio, Tommy Emmanuel and Julian Lage are among those making their Crossroads debuts, with John Mayer, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Buddy Guy, Gary Clark Jr., Billy F Gibbons, Joe Bonamassa, Del McCoury Band, Sierra Hull, Marcus King, Taj Mahal and Robert Randolph also on the bill.

The withdrawal lands while questions about The Who's future are back in circulation. Roger Daltrey, who opened his own solo tour in Mesa this summer, recently said the band had rehearsed with Zak Starkey, the drummer fired, rehired and dismissed again last year before their farewell North American tour. Starkey has confirmed his return, though no new Who performances are on the books. The Austin weekend is tracked on the festival tracker alongside the rest of the autumn rock calendar.