Explanations

[msecero@attmail.com (Martin J Secero)]

TO ALL MY FRIENDS ON THE WHO E-MAIL LIST:


I have a few thoughts to convey about a few subjects:

1) The Pete Townshend Address/Letter In The Slot Issue: In late January I had
received an e-mail message asking about Pete's address. I took the
opportunity to convey to those on the list an incident in which I left a
letter for Pete in his front door slot. In the message I expressed
embarassment that I actually had the nerve to do such a thing. I was not
prepared for the level of negativity and outrage that came from the majority
of the WHOlisters. There were inferences to my being obsessed with Pete and
the WHO, and the issue of crossing fan boundary lines (and my needing a
"life", and how my behavior bordered on "psychosis") came up as well. I guess
I'm a little perturbed because, if you think REALLY hard about it, ALL OF US
are obsessed to a certain extent. Which of us doesn't look for WHO material
in record shops, book stores, tv appearances, etc.? Which of us wouldn't
DREAM of asking Eel Pie Studios and Nicola Joss, Pete's assistant, for a
walk-thru tour of the facility? Why does each of us subscribe to the WHOlist,
for godsakes? And which of us, given the right opportunity, wouldn't try to
meet Pete? Just because I did what I did doesn't make it right, but it is
also not right that I be judged so severely by people who, by virtue of their
being on this list in the first place, show a certain level of "obsession"
with the band. People who live in glass houses...Yes, the fact is that Pete
should be left alone when he is at home in Twickenham. And the fact is also
that Pete should be contacted through the appropriate channels. And yes, I
gave in to my impulse instead of thinking long and hard about the
consequences. I agree with you all, and of all the contacts I've made (or
tried to make) with the WHO, it's the letter in Pete's doorslot that bothers
me the most. Because I DID cross a boundary line, and truthfully I feel bad
about it. And FYI, I was put up to the stunt by my UK friends who I was
staying with. But let me put it to you all this way: in the heat of the
moment, what do you do? Go for it and ask questions later, or stay passive
and let life's opportunities pass through your fingers? When I related my
experiences to you guys on the WHOlist, I didn't know that I would be judged
in such a harsh light. My only hope is that by explaining my motivations, I
can dispel any misconceptions about me. Rest assured, I DO have a life
(quite an interesting one, in fact).    

2) Attention Steve Marshall!!!! I got your phone call, and I left one in
return for you. I'll be talking to you this week, promise!!! Thanks!

3) I want to apologize to a few people---Alan M., Pete Higgins, etc.----for
being so short-tempered recently. The past month has been hell for me
personally, as my mother had been very sick. She passed away on Sunday, Feb.
5, at 9:21PM, at the age of 68. Mom was a big music fan, and always supported
my love for music, especially when it came to the WHO. In fact, she saw the
WHO twice with me: Shea Stadium 10/12/82, and Giants Stadium 6/29/89. Her
favorite WHO tunes were "Who Are You" and "Won't Get Fooled Again". She even
arranged for me to go to London in 1985 to see the WHO's set at Live Aid. Mom 
was truly a contemporary woman when it came to music. She got to see quite a 
lot of great live shows: Springsteen twice (1985 and 1992, the day after we 
buried my father after HIS death), Roy Orbison in 1988, U2 three times (1987 
and twice in 1992). My heart is hurting, and life right now is just one big 
ache. I loved my mother more than words can express, and it's difficult to 
accept that her beautiful light has been snuffed out. But her light burns 
brightly inside my heart, as it will for all eternity. That's what I've been 
going through for the past 11 months, and if I have been at all sarcastic 
and/or rude to any of my fellow WHO fans out there, my sincerest apologies. 

Thank you all for listening to me-----it wasn't easy for me to write any of 
this message. But now that it's done, I feel just a bit better. All the best 
to everyone on the WHOlist. I'll be speaking to you all soon. 

Marty Secero
908-668-6439 work
908-757-1577 home

PS---I heard an unsubstantiated rumor last night from a bassist friend of mine
that the WHO will be performing 4 shows in the U.S. in 1995. He said he heard 
this rumor from a friend of his, who heard the rumor on the radio. The two 
states my friend definitely mentioned as WHO concert sites are Alabama and 
Florida. Has anybody else heard something similar? And if it's true, when can 
we buy tickets???!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??????!!?!?!?!?!?!