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more Lifehouse input



I'm kind of confused.  I think you are getting extremely "wrapped around
the wheel" on a few points, Mark.  It seems to me that you aren't being
very consistent with your analysis.

> Fight, fought...no difference. It just doesn't work as well as "work" for
the
>next line, since to get one's back into fighting means (I suppose) bare
>knuckles.
If you are arguing semantics here, then yes, "fight" and "fought" has two
different meanings. Or, if you analyzing these lines, then supposition
**is** all you are doing.  Providing your own opinion of what these words
means.  

If you want my opinion, I think Pete's intent in using the word fight was a
more subjective means to convey the idea of struggle and effort of reality
(virtual, as you mentioned, or otherwise) against the fragility of the
human condition.

It seems like you are moving between subjectivity and objectivity pretty
fast here.

>In the Lifehouse story, they were all hooked into a sort of
>virtual reality machine to get their experiences, instead of living
>them. Definitely a waste, no?
I think you are making a huge assumption here, that everyone believes the
internet is a waste.  Arguably, isn't life itself virtually real?  

Although, the nature of existential questions certainly existed, along with
Pete's tremendous foresight, there is no indication that there was a
defined rhetoric of virtual reality in place when Pete started writing this
project.  I think you are taking for granted that the common understandings
we have today regarding tools like the internet where certainly not in
place in 1970-1.

>Let's hope not. TOMMY on Broadway was bad enough, and then there's Rog
>with the orchestra and Pete with a drum machine...
Here, I think you missed my point too.  I was considering the fact that
Pete has been tentative in putting out Lifehouse all these years because he
doesn't know **how** to do it.  I'm not talking about Roger or Pete's live
shows.  I'm talking about Pete having to sit down and create the artistic
vehicle as a creative outlet for this project.

I too have found limited materials in the subject, but if I recall, Pete
has never had the financial support.  He has never had the creative
support.  He has never had his management support him.  He has never been
able to get out of his head and (quite literally) "sell" this huge idea,
and if he **has** found the support, it hasn't been effective enough to
persuade anyone to do anything with it.

I think he blamed Terrence Stamp (or somebody like that) for leaving right
after Tommy for that very reason.  Pete had a conformable symbiotic
relationship with a lively exchange with Stamp until the end of Tommy,
leaving Pete's grandiose plans unrealized. 

My point here and to clarify what I stated before, I feel Pete's creative
staging of his projects like, "Tommy" on Broadway, "The Iron Man" and even
the minimal staging and theatrics he collaborated with Roger on the 96-97
Quad shows, is a learning process which will allow him to develop the
skills necessary to sit his @$$ in a chair and write the music, the story,
the staging, the situations, the relationships and co-relationships that
will someday collect dust in everyone's CD/video/DVD/vinyl/8-track
"whatever" library, for the work we know as Lifehouse.

I don't want to come off sounding like a blowhard, because I am no means a
Lifehouse know-it-all.  Far from it.  But, I did want to makes sure that I
was clear on a few items.  

Once again, if anyone wants my thoughts, I think it would truer to Pete's
ideal in that story that forums such as this should be a place to create
such ideas.  This is the place to Join Together, Let's See Action and all
that standard Townshend-fare dogma.

Hell, I say we all get together and make our own Lifehouse!  Forget
Townshend.  I sincerely believe there is enough ideas, creativity and
talent among the folks on this mailing list to put together one fine piece
of work...who's up for it?

Finally, Pete's work, although it stands up to such rigorous delineation
and intense criticism, I like to enjoy it for what it is: great music.
Enough talking...

What was my point, again?  I think I've taken up enough of your time with
my rambling.  Thanks...regards!

"F*ck art...let's mosh..."