THAT WAS GREAT RAMBLING JOE I ENJOYED READING IT.... T
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- To: TheWho@igtc.com
- Subject: Brian's July Who Timeline, Camden Show
- From: "Joe Lewinski" <lewinski@icanon.com>
- Date: Sat, 08 Jul 2000 12:41:31 -0400
- Sender: owner-thewho@igtc.com
Brian: Nice job on July! July 8th is my birthday, 1963. I wonder what the boys where doing when I was born? Group: I saw them in Camden last night where I met Kevin from VT for the first time. The show was fantastic due to the performance of Pete Zak and Rabbit. Roger seemed to be suffering from something late in the Show, and Pete carried them on his shoulders as cheerleader, lead Musician, embassador, and Front Man all rolled into one. He was in a pissy mood early in the show, and I think he sensed that some of the audience was not into the slow jazzy jamming of Substitute, and seemed to mouth "Are your Bored?" looking right at people, and shooting them with his guitar as his fingers edged down the fretboard. This is "Pete the punk". The side of his personality that we do not get to see often. Later he said fuck-off to somebody and then fuck-you directly at a member of the first couple of rows. After which he handed them the mic to let them shout back at him. This guy is for real. He lets it all hang out. All the fun, bad, sad, shit, pissy, joyful, and exquisite moods and personalities. I had a blast just watching him move and interact with everyone. He then has the presense of mind to recant the entire evening in a concise post on his web site while I am still rubbing my eyes this morning. This guy is an animal, an endangered species, and should be on the protected list! All I can say Pete is clearly the most talented, professional and well oiled individual of his era, and is bigger than life, and at the same time very down to earth. We are all lucky that this guy decided he wants to tour and to perform with his energy, because without his energy the Who would seriously suffer. Roger and John owe Pete much gratitude for all of the creative effort he has put forth over the years, and for him keeping the Who as something special (through refusing to overexpose the group by over-touring without new material.) He did everyone a favor with his timing (in the musical sense and with special tours and performances). It is the confidence to perform a rest and not strike a note or chord that sets genius composers and performers apart from musical hacks. Pete may feel awkward still performing music that he created so long ago, he dosen't look awkward. It is a boost to people who have to do the same shit day in and day out to see somebody who does not have to perform live, give it their all because they simply "Get It". They get the fact that this is where their esteem, success, and joy comes from. For selfish reasons, altruistic reasons, and for dealing with their relationships with each other. An old friend who could not attend the tour sent me the November, 1982 Rolling Stone with The Who's farewell tour photo on the cover, and story inside. The quote by Pete towards the end struct me as profound: Pete says: "I think the Who's relationships are more about need than desire," he says, "We don't necessarily want to be dependent on one another, but we are. So it doesn't matter whether you walk away from this relationship..." He spreads his palms, all-explaining. "It still remains." Kevin: Thanks for stopping by and for the ticket swap. My friends enjoyed the show. It was nice to finally meet you. I was not let down, you appear and sound exactly as I expected. I hope I didn't dissapoint you with my dopey kite and all. See ya folks. Thanks for reading my ramblings! Joe
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