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Is this the last tour? - to album or not to album...



>Subject: Re: Is this the last tour?
>From: "John M. Snodgrass"
>
>Then, after the Detroit show, their manager said in an
>interview (at least this is what was posted to the list)

Indeed.  I'm more than a bit hesitant to believe that.  Why not something in
an article?  Why didn't any of the "media" pick up on that?
I'm not biting until I read something more credible (no offense to the
poster!).
That goes for the "rumor" about Abbey Road Studio's posted on PT.com. as
well.

>But...in recent posts by many folks, once more there's lots of talk
>about this very likely being the last tour, etc.

I'm not taking any chances.
As a result, I'm attending Boston II.  My thinking is this *may* be the last
time we'll see Pete and Rog on the same stage (plus, some very nice 15th row
tix fell into my lap).
That thought is *not* so far fetched.  It's been a great past 6 years, but
take a moment and think back to the *long* dry spells prior to '96.  Things
looked pretty bleak, didn't they?  And, Pete and Rog are now pushing 60
(what ever that means).

 >Another issue that's been raised re recording new material is a worry
>that it will somehow do significant damage to the Who's legacy,
>reputation, etc.  The only way I can picture that as even vaguely possible
>is if a new album were downright bad, and that seems highly unlikely.

First off let me say that I hope this type of debate doesn't create some
sort of "I'm on this side, and they're on that side" dichotomy with silly
hard feelings in-between.  I hope people can see that by discussing this
*VERY RELEVANT ISSUE*, as relevant an issue as we've seen in quite some
time, it's helping at least me to think through this all.

Now, let me disagree with you.  ;-)
There is another way the Who's legacy can be damaged.
It's by critics.  It's by how much critics influence the non-hard-core, the
DJ's, the record companies, the entire industry.
It's by those that feel going forward is wrong.
Check out Schrade's friend as an example.....had great things to say about
the show, but thought it wrong to go forward after John's death.
If they do go forward, brace yourself for a TON of this kind of crap.

>At worst, it might turn out like
>FD or IH, which were arguably mediocre (for them), but even there I don't
>see those albums as having created any real damage to their rep in any
>serious way.  So why would new material?

I don't think it necessarily has to do with what the quality of the album
is.
Obviously, a great album will make it harder for critics to tear it apart.
But think about this...."The Doors" are going to tour with only 2 or their
original members.  To me that doesn't sound so bad.  After all, in this
sense, saying The Doors is referring to the music.  In the same way this
tour is The Who.  The music we have been listening to being played is The
Who.  Even so, I know of two VERY hard core Doors fans that are pissed as
hell about it.
Now, what if Manzarek and Krieger decide to do a new album, and call
themselves The Doors?
Is that right?
I say hell fucking no way in god's green earth is that right.

Is it only different for us because Pete is the principle song writer?
If Roger dies, can it still be The Who?
I'm real interested in where the line is.
Jon's come out (ballsey man that he is ;-) and said that if Pete dies,
that's it.
Can Pete be replaced?
What about Roger?

> I also thought a recent poster had a good point that, awful as John's
>death is, it might actually be easier for Pete & Roger to keep working,
>write new stuff, etc. now, because they wouldn't have to deal w/John's
>substance abuse problem, which has evidently been pretty bad for awhile.

John's "problems" have never gotten in the way.  I've never heard one thing
from Pete, or Rog. or anyone within The Who Group that there have been
problems.  Not a one.
I can't get with your above statement at all.  Not at all.

>So it seems to me that if Pete & Roger want to record new stuff, keep
>going, etc. we have every reason to be optimistic.  I was really surprised
>to see some posters suggesting otherwise.

Surprise!
And, we'll have every reason to brace ourselves for the negative onslaught
that we are going to see.
A new album better be damn good, otherwise this nice run we've enjoyed will
fade away real quickly.

>If you'd asked me in advance whether anyone
>could really fill in for Keith & John, I would've said it was almost
>impossible.  But...I think it's happening right before our eyes &
>ears--virtually a miracle, really.

I keep asking myself why Pete, after all this time of not wanting to tour or
do new material, why would he want to do a new album now.  Why now?
I don't get it.
If he goes forward, he's got the biggest balls I've ever seen.

Kevin in VT