THE WHO MUSEUM

[Brian.Cady@turner.com]

        I didn't know if anyone on the list had heard of this, but if you 
        haven't, I've typed up a copy of the article as it appeared in the 
        7/8/94 issue of Goldmine.  Has anyone visited this place?  Also this 
        must be the mildest version I've ever heard of Moon's famous "21st" 
        birthday party.
        
        The Who Goes Collegiate
        by Lisa L. Barker
        
                I have never before featured one person's collection in this 
        column, but I think it's worth the space to mention this one.  More than 
        120,000 photos, prints and negatives, and more than 2,000 tapes and 
        photographic recordings chronicaling a rock band, have found a permanent 
        home at the University of Texas' Center for American History.  The group 
        with the collegiate credentials is The Who and the contributor is Tom 
        Wright.
                "I have been trying for years to get a college or a university 
        to take my collection, but no one seemed interested, until U.T.," says 
        the San Antonio resident.
                Wright, who was a native of Alabama, studied photography in 
        England at the Ealing Art School, where he met painting student Pete 
        Townshend in 1961.  "He was very shy back in those days," says Wright.  
        "We used to share my recordings of American blues, jazz and R&B.  I even 
        gave him my collection, before I left England."
                Wright went back to America, but kept in touch with Townshend.  
        When Townshend gave up art for rock 'n' roll, he called up Wright and 
        invited him to photograph his new band on its U.S. tour in 1967.  Wright 
        became The Who's photographer, and their road manager.
                "I was also managing The Grande Ballroom in Detroit at the 
        time," says Wright.  "That's where they performed Tommy for the first 
        time in the United States."
                Wright recorded the performance on both audio tape and 
        photographs.  Wright stayed on, photographing the band until its 1989 
        25th anniversary tour.
                Many of the photos show the band in a playful, staged mode, 
        during its early years.  "There is a birthday shot of Keith Moon when he 
        turned 20," he says.  "He was on tour and wanted to drink, so we staged 
        a huge birthday party for him and announced that Keith turned 21.  All 
        of the news clips worked as a great fake ID for him."
                Wright says the band was staying at a Holiday Inn at the time 
        and listening to a demo recording of The Who Sell Out, "really loud."
                "The manager came in and told us we were making too much noise, 
        so Keith picked up a birthday cake and shoved it in his face."  Wright 
        says the manager then proceeded to call every Holiday Inn across the 
        country and literally banned the group from staying in its 
        establishments.
                The collection also features a shot of Townshend wearing a Tommy 
        helmet.  "The picture was taken in Los Angeles, in 1968,"  says Wright.
                In addition to his work with The Who, Wright also served as road 
        manager and/or photographer for The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and The 
        Faces, The James Gang, J.D. Souther, Elvis Costello, Bob Seger and The 
        Eagles and has donated photos of these artists to the University 
        collection as well.  The University of Texas archives also feature 
        correspondence with Townshend as well as art work, memorabilia, posters, 
        scrapbooks and other material of the band.  All are available for public 
        research and reference.  (Call 512-471-1444 for information).
                
                                        
        Sounds intersting, no?                  
                                                Brian Cady