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Re: Roger interview
Some belated comments on the Daltrey interview:
> The Who are still The Who.
Pete said something similar in 1979. He said, "The Who remains The Who &
The Who remains on rails." That was debatable in '79 - what with arguments
by Moon purists - and it's really debatable in 2003. Perhaps Daltrey has a
point, though. As long as Pete is still playing the guitar & he (Daltrey)
is singing - it's still The Who. Sort of. I guess.
> The music is in my head. I never listen to anything we do once we've
> done it. I think it happens to a lot of artists: you record an album
> and you never want to see it again.
This is weird. He *has* to have listened to past studio albums on occasion.
He's commented that he appreciates WBN more in his later years than he did
when they made it. And he complained quite a bit about the vocal levels on
the original QUAD release. Maybe he's just talking about live albums. But
wouldn't he be interested in hearing the final product?
> Will The Who still record?
> Very much so. We'll be in the studio in October. It may just be Pete and
> me from the original line-up, but we were always the driving force behind
> the band anyway.
Ah, the "driving force" comment. Yes, I believe he means "driving force"
as in band direction & projects, not musicianship.
> It may not be the same without John, but it's not worse. It's just dif-
> ferent.
I think he's trying to maintain that the band wasn't destroyed by the death
of John. They can still put on a show. He's really trying to get across
that concerts without John aren't substandard. They can still put out the
music. Again, that's debatable.
> It would be too easy to focus on the door that's just closed and not on
> the ones that are opening up.
Man, does this sound like a quote from '79.
> I can tell you now, there's more fire in Townshend's belly than there has
> been since the early 1970s.
Heh, heh. Pete's belly.
> You have to give that credit to Pete. He was the most important songwriter
> of the 20th century.
True. Sorry, Mr. McCartney. Sorry, Mr. Dylan. Sorry, Mr. Springsteen.
> He did more to move music and lyrics on than any other writer.
Yes! Music *and* lyrics. And subject matter, too. Themes & ideas. Not
just musical hooks with throw-away, cheap lyrics tacked on.
> Look at John Lennon - lyrically brilliant, but most of the arrangements
> were done by someone else. Townshend did everything.
Roger is so pro-Who, it's funny. I love it. Wouldn't it be great to hang
out with him for an evening?
> Where did you fit in?
> I can't be objective, but I think I could add the drama to his lyrics,
> probably better than he could.
Tough question. Realistic answer. Kind of hard to put your finger on it.
Daltrey *did* add something to Pete's songs. Some sort of depth or rich-
ness, for lack of a better word. And it fit. That's the most important
thing. Ironic, too, because, as two individuals, Pete & Roger don't neces-
sarily "fit" each other. Yet, as a vocalist, Daltrey "fit" into Townshend's
songs. Strange. Lovely.
> I've done stuff I'm proud of and stuff I'm not so proud of.
Very honest.
> What I have come to believe though is that most actors spend their careers
> polishing turds.
Ha! Very true!
> Does Chesney Hawkes stay in touch?
> I do hear from him quite regularly. He's doing well. He's a great musical
> talent and does a lot of writing.
Little help. Who is Chesney Hawkes?
- SCHRADE in Akron