Re: Pete's marble in the throat comment

[John Hughes <john@pureneasy.fsnet.co.uk>]

Kevin, re

> > this is pure speculation, but I can't help but think that Pete is 
> > battling with the negative press over his "marble in the throat" 
> > comment.  

I shouldn't get too exercised by this, as far as I can see from reading
the British press, it was only two tabloids who picked up on it, one
made a fuss for one day and the other made very little of it. As far as
the whole and general British public are concerned, they don't know who
Pete Townshend is, let alone what he said at Watford.

He might - and I stress - might - have had some private battling with
himself over a stupidly worded and voiced dig at hecklers, but I can't
imagine that's what bothered Pete at the Albert Hall.

> > It's always been my impression that the man takes very seriously 
> > when his words are twisted to mean something different or sinister 
> > from what his real intention was.

Uh? You really think Pete - in his own little world, surrounded by yes
men (as all "rock stars" are) gives a toss what other people think of
him? 

Incidentally, I was at Watford, and I haven't mentioned his comments
before, simply because I didn't quite hear what he said just before he
did say "put a marble down your throat". It was during his rant about
hecklers, which was fair, and actually amusing, he then said something I
didn't catch, and finished with ".....marble down your throat".

The background to this is that an 11 year boy had been murdered in
London and in the trial, the previous day to Watford, it was said in
evidence that after the kid was stabbed in the leg (severing his femoral
artery) his attackers pushed a marble into the boy's throat to stop him
breathing.

Now, for what it's worth, I can tell you lots around me - young and old
- were dismayed. Some very loud sharp intakes of breath and shaking of
heads, and several people said "Pete sure knows how to offend". 

In all seriousness, in the context of a rock concert, during a semi
amused, semi annoyed rant at hecklers, this comment by Pete grated. And
I mean grated. But that's because I didn't hear all of what he said
properly.

However, it doesn't take a lot of imagination to understand that many
other people (including reporters) might not have heard his comment
properly, leading to the "fuss".

Whatever, in the context, I thought it was unpleasant of Pete to say
what he did. If I'd heard all of what he said properly, I still might 
think the same.

John