Re: Stones rip? etc...

["L. Bird" <pkeets@hotmail.com>]

>It is funny, to me, that the integrity Pete fought for in his music
>throughout the 70's and beyond, he unabashedly, maybe sardonically, now has 
>come to peddling himself and his catalog in the 90's.  With frequent 
>comments on the bottom line almighty dollar in his pocket.  This guy is a 
>quote master and a man amongst men, he is never afraid to open up, to 
>contradict himself - in a self-depravating way too, to just be human, which 
>is to be fallible.

Do you really think this is true?  Nobody seems to be any harder on Pete 
Townshend than Pete, himself.  And nobody wants to be loved any more than he 
does.  What you get from him are complex reactions.

He's still concerned about the integrity of the music.  That's why it's so 
hard to drag him out on the road with The Who--worry that they're going to 
detract from the legend.  He's held off peddling the catalog until they 
decided to make a move, and I personally think it's part of a masterful 
marketing effort.  The build-up and the tour are remarkably well planned, in 
an environment that isn't exactly friendly to older rock musicians.  There 
are sacrifices, though, and so you get that sarcasm about money from Pete.

I like the bold approach to the tour, and I suspect the same might work with 
an album.  If they are working up to a new album, of course, the tour is a 
great way to lubricate the machine.  They've not played together for years, 
and they need to test out their sound and their ideas.  We've heard snippets 
of possible material, but (if anybody has any doubt) I do like this last 
one.  Pete had a bad day, and all of the sudden there's anger and pain in 
what he's come up with.  Sounds like old The Who to me.  It's just no good 
unless it's got that element of darkness.


keets
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