Re: Leo the excellent/Punk meets Godfather/Stay Tuned

[JB2TheWho@aol.com]

12 June, 1997
Hello, Leo!

Many, many thanks for a most interesting and informative response to my
little Bowie (AKA DAVID JONES) and his having been caught red-handed ripping
off Pete Townshend riffs at a young and fame-less age!

I'm sure that this has been publicly commented upon before, but it merits a
repeat...I must congratulate you for not only possessing a remarkable
knowledge of the most significant artistic/social movement of our times (THE
WHO!), but even more for you superb talent when it comes to
expressing/sharing that knowledge in writing. (As a very-struggling writer
myself, I may not be very good, I I do appreciate quality writing when I see
it, so kudos to you, and I hope you keep it coming!!)

For ref, and as they definitely bear repeating, a quick summary of one part
of your fascinating comments:

In a message dated 97-06-10 09:14:59 EDT, Leo.O'Sullivan@globalone.net (Leo
O'Sullivan) writes:

<< 
 JB -2-The Who:  Loved that Bowie story.  I've read a bunch of times how
 Bowie idolized Townshend before he himself made it.  There's a story
 that right after Bowie cut "Space Oddity" and well before his career
 took off he asked Pete what he thought of this new song.  He never heard
 what Pete thought.  Years later, Pete was a guest guitarist on Bowie's
 newest album (Scary Monsters, '80, I think?) and as Pete was leaving one
 day he said something like "Oh yeah, by the way, I think that "Space
 Oddity" song will do all right".  Here's another Who influence story:
 An up and coming rocker is hanging out at a Who concert with his pal (I
 think his manager).  As WGFA reaches the deafening final verse, "Meet
 the new boss..." both men stand mesmerized by the raw power of the
 band.  The manager turns to his young friend and says, "That's you. 
 You're the new boss."  The name stuck.  Say what you will for or against
 Springsteen, but it's still a tribute to the legend of The Who.  Bruce's
 nickname had validity to him because it came from a classic Who song. 
 Anyway, the real bosses went back to England at the end of that tour.
  >>
That really was interesting and it further illustrates the remarkable
length/life span/depth that the influence of THE WHO and 
Townshend in particular has, and will continue to, have.

A few "Quick Ones.." (Thoughts)

Everyone knows, because the publicists told everyone, how the early Beatles
and Stones got themselves a sound by ripping-off old and relative unknown (at
the time) American Black blues artists, etc......AND NOW, ONE hears no
similar stories of the enduring influence/contribution of the Stones/Beatles
(The Beatles, socially, yes, artistically...not really)..

Then along came THE WHO and they, Townshend in particular, linked up with MOD
in part because they were sick of the "new" trend to eschew everything
British and copy everything American (Hence all the right proper bashing of
"Elvis" knock-off, greased-back Rockers--but that's subjective)!....AND NOW,
ONE sees such a pervasive a lasting influence attributable to THE
WHO/TOWNSHEND as was so well document in your contribution cited above!

There was one very recent event which, I fear, not too many WHO fanatics were
able to catch and which anyone, so inclined would, I am certain, love to hear
about.

One of the aspects of the endurance of TOWNSHEND's legend and influence, to
me at least, which struck home the hardest came way at the end of the 1970's
after rock had suffered through years of decadent and meaningless disco with
a thorough 
trashing of all the value and sensibilities which made rock great.

Then along comes John Lyndon (sp?) - AKA "Johnny Rotten" at the time, with a
genuine social sense and transcendent understanding of what rock had to be,
starts the SEX PISTOLS, blows the disco world to pieces, and restores to us
all a modicum of revolutionary possibility. The SIGNIFICANT aspects of all
this is, of course, the fact that after thoroughly dismissing all of the
famous rock bands of the "Sixties" as phonies, sell-outs, etc., Johnny
displays the tremendous artistic 
sensibility to note one exception to this rule -- one guy who was FOR REAL -
WHO knew what it was supposed to be all about - and as you no doubt already
know, the person in question was, of course, PETE TOWNSHEND.

I imagine you also know the story of the creative friendship developed
between Pete and Johnny and the other band members, right down to the fact
that the song "WHO ARE YOU" was something Pete wrote describing the actual
events following his first encounter with several members of the SEX PISTOLS,
who told TOWNSHEND (who was at that moment apoplectic, pissed (BRIT word for
drunk), etc.) that they hoped to God he never broke up the WHO because it was
the SEX PISTOL'S favourite band!

Here's the latest installment which I fear might not have been as widely
viewed or noticed. About two weeks ago, Tom Synder (who does a 1 hour, late
night interview show following Letterman) had John Lyndon on as a guest. It
was the remarkable Synder/Johnny Rotten interview from the SEX PISTOL days
which had created a sort of special relationship (and even respect) between
the two of them. 

Anyway, Synder takes call-ins, and usually he gets 4-5 calls on with any
given guest. The conversation with Johnny two weeks ago was so "hot", they
ended up with time for only ONE call. And of all the things a caller might
have asked JOHN LYNDON that night 2 weeks back, and there are a lot of
possibilities, what do you suppose the caller's question was?

(I paraphrase slightly here)

"John"

"Yeah"

"I got one question for you....I mean, it's something I've heard about you
for years and I was wondering if it was true!"

"O.K., what"

"Well.....I..ah..heard that although you don't think much of established
"rock stars", that you feel very differently about PETE TOWNSHEND!?"

(John smiles/speak without hesitation) "That's absolutely true. Pete and I
are very good friends, and more than that, I really respect Pete TOWNSHEND
and always have. We was decades ahead of his time....He's one of the closest
artistic friends that I have.."

So, I thought I'd pass that one along FWIT. Yet another bit of evidence, and
from one of the most interesting but opinionated personas in rock, of the
transcendent and enduring nature of TOWNSHEND and his influence. (I hope this
is not so widely know already that I have been tedious!! But it just happened
and I didn't see it written up anywhere...you had to "be there" so to say!

Thanks again for your excellent insights!!!

Face To Face!

JB2The WHO!