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RE: Pete's interview / Scott's analysis
Hi everyone - Happy New Year.
So - I'm currently at work, and will be until just before the year turns, so
it's a good time to wish everyone the very best for 2004.
That most certainly includes Pete, Roger and whoever is nominated to be part
of The Who in the coming year.
Regarding Pete's interview: just a couple of observations (pun intended):
Scott, that was a splendid and thoughtful analysis, and well up to your
usual standard of intelligent, pithy and generous-hearted writings. No
surprise to me you're a Who-fan: takes brains, guts AND a big, warm heart to
get the most out of their work (IMHO).
Let's hope that Pete really has learned from this terrible experience, and
can put that extra wisdom to work where it really matters: in his craft and
performances. He needs to set aside some of his ego, and get down to
grafting at what he's great at: writing songs, and delivering them, via The
Who (whatever that is) to the world at large. (Hey, listen to me: "I can't
pretend that I can teach..." but I'm having a damn good try!)
Regarding Scott and Jon's on-going debate (humanism v theology ?) - well,
respect to you both, for having your convictions and sticking to them: I
doubt either of you will ever change the other's mind, so please can I join
the rest of us in sitting this one out?
FWIW, I do believe in a spirituality, and I have felt it. I felt it the
other day when I took my daughter (three, turns four in January) to the
"Peter Pan" pantomime at the local theatre. Hundreds of young kids, all
agog, all showing masses of willing suspension of disbelief, and making us
parents and carers feel their sheer joy and awe and wonder.
It was a spirit created by (very young) people - and it fed back and around
the whole place, so that even world-weary, tired, sad and fretting folk such
as me could feel it, savour it, and be bourne along and uplifted by it.
Does this sound at all familiar? "Listening to you" anyone? That amazing
sense of sheer one-ness, that sensation of transcendance that takes place at
a great, special meeting of art, people, spirit, music and performance
that's best exemplified by the live Who experience.
Why else does a relatively poor, cynical and battered old scroat of 46 like
me keep seeking the ghost of what The Who at their peak meant to me - and
gave to me?
Why else would I want to pass on that flame to my daughter - though I don't
care whether she gets that charge from The Who, from Britney, from Robbie
bloody Williams or some as yet-to-emerge source that will rock her world and
touch her soul when she's ready?
This "spirit" I talk of (and try telling ME Santa Claus doesn't exist!) -
yes, it's generated from within and by people, human beings - but it
transcends the individual, and possibly even the totality. It has its own
life - it flies of its own.
I swear I'm sober! That's enough from me.
Have a great, great time - regards to all. Maybe we'll meet up at the RAH or
IoW, or whenever.
Long Live Rock - be it dead or alive.
Simon
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