Re: Bad idea and clean Who

["Jim Sigel" <drjimmy_mrjim@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Joe, Mc, et al...

Everyone involved in this discussion has said quite a lot about Pete's
decision to title the new song, "The Sexy Boy in Tight Jeans".  But what Mc
said here:

>BUT, the whole situation can be so easily avoided with no artistic compromise
whatsoever.

...makes the most sense to me.  I'm with those of you who cringe at that
title.  I'm sorry if that makes me a shallow and superficial person, but
still, Pete/we can avoid a whole shitstorm of sarcasm and insults by simply
changing the title.  As Mc said, doing that does NOT compromise any artistic
value of the work in any way.  I simply cannot understand why Pete/Roger would
willfully stick their hands inside a shark tank and not expect to get bit.
There's no logic in choosing that title, given Pete's recent legal troubles.
It's nothing less than *asking* for ridicule.  Nothing less...

Joe said:

>If you're a fan, you're a fan.  There is no need to defend The Who's work.

I have to disagree with you there Joe - PLEASE don't ask for my cool iron ons
back!  The reason why is simple.  When confronted with situations like Schrade
and Kevin have described, you're not only defending The Who, you are defending
yourself as well.

At least I am.  When Pete's nightmare first came to light, one of the first
questions I asked of MYSELF was - "If Pete is a pedophile, and I'm his '#1
Fan', what does that say about me?"  As time went by, I felt comfortable with
my decision to stick by Pete as I am today and in my Who Devotion.  However,
in general conversations with non-Who fans, the inevitable "hey Pete Townshend
is a sick fucker" comes up.  By defending Pete, I am in a sense, defending
myself as well.  Put yourself in the non educated music fans' shoes:  You like
that freak Pete Townshend, then you're a freak too.  It happens by default.
So if you can simply shrug your shoulders and walk away, fine and bully to
you.  But I sure as hell can't.  And it's bad enough to go through this
pedophile crap as a Who fan, so why add fuel to the fire by releasing such a
title as your first public release directly after all of that negative
publicity.  It's insane, pure and simple.  And no I don't see this a a classic
example of Pete Townshend saying "fuck what the public thinks".  I see this as
an example of sheer stupidity.

Jo said:

>Regarding Pete, I think the day Pete Townshend starts writing his music for
>the sole reason of appealing to the masses and looking only to please fans
and
>non-fans alike, is the day Pete has *lost it* and really, really needs to
>retire.  IMHO.

I think we're all in agreement there Jo.  If you examine Pete's guitar playing
since the 2000 touring began, it's clear he certainly hasn't lost it.  The
playing that is.  And when we finally get to hear "The Naked Boy in the
Bathtub", we'll be able to examine whether or not Pete's lost it as a
songwriter too.  I'm not worried about that, I'm sure it will be great.
However, in the mental stability department, I certainly think Pete has "lost
it" if he releases that song with that title.

The truth is, I'm not worried about being ridiculed myself for being a Who
fan, I'm worried about The Who and their legacy.  Right now, it appears that
the legacy of the band is still intact despite last year's debacle, but
releasing that song under this title is nothing less than willfully
undermining of The Who's legacy.  I bet you Keith and John would tell Pete to
scrap that title.  I think Roger is too biased to try and persuade Pete to
change it.  I'm betting that Roger would record a Pete song if it was titled
"I Fuck Adolescent Barnyard Animals", so don't look for him to add some common
sense about this.

If they release the song with a new title:  Then I play it loud in my car with
the windows rolled down.

If they release the song with the current title:  I listen to the song quietly
when no one else is home.

I'd rather my Who very loud.  Peace...

Jim in Colorado

PS - A request:  PLEASE take political commentary to a politically themed
message board and refrain from grandstanding here.  This message board is
about The Who - NOT about people with George Bush envy.  You would be more on
target in this forum if you were to post messages about the Bay City Rollers
than you are with your anti-Bush comments.  Please keep that in mind.  With
the US elections coming next year, you'll have all the opportunity you could
imagine to post your comments about Bush - IN A POLITICAL FORUM.  You have
every right to have your opinions, and I support your American right to vote
the evil Bush out of office next year, but you insult those of us who disagree
with your political views here, not to mention that it's inappropriate for
this message board.  We've got a pretty decent and respectful co-existence
here lately, it would be nice to keep it that way.  We all know the
consequences of arguing politics and religion so let's try to avoid that, eh?
At least here anyway.  If anyone really wants to argue politics with me, meet
me at Zak's on Rt 24 to Woodland Park, Co and we'll talk all night; I could
hit you Bush haters with plenty of hypocritical crap from your side of the
fence too.  The first round will be on me.  Thanks...Jim