Before I Get Older...

[mleaman@sccoast.net (Mark Leaman)]

>7 simple words:  "Hope I die before I get old".  Roger himself said
>something to the effect that he couildn't see himself doing this at 50. 
>Rock was onece by youth for youth (which has all changed since the
>superstars are ageing) On one hand, I'd love to see Pete do a summer tour
>every year, but on the other hand there is a somewhat valid question
>whether or not someone 50+ years can communicate as effectively in a
>medium that is so youth oriented. 

Shane:

I'm reminded of Blues musicians like John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Elmore
James, and so on...all of whom played or are playing all the way to the end.
No reason why Pete can't do the same, is there?
Rock USED to about youth, but as the audience gets older I don't think
that's true. TOMMY was the first step in that direction (with The Kinks'
ARTHUR being a close second)...the direction of more maturity in the medium.
Sure, there are still a majority of Rock musicians "writing for the kids,"
but I would say that A) 90% of anything is shit anyway & B) that's merely
one extreme. I think Townshend was a prime factor in the maturity of Rock
Music...and still can be. He's had to struggle with that his entire career,
but he's a pioneer and they always have the difficult road.
So he's certainly entitled to continue to create and perform...three cheers
for him, IMHO. "Little (Petey's) still doing fine..."
(sorry, I was just listening to Fillmore East 1968)



                   Cheers                   ML

"Never underestimate the power of human stupidity."  L. Long