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Twin Town High (vol. 8) |
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Round the Dial
Wednesday 05 February @ 12:31:04 |
 QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “The package I hope is going to be called “Deaf, Dumb and Blind Boy.” It’s a story about a kid that’s born deaf, dumb and blind and what happens to him throughout his life...what it’s really all about is the fact that because the boy is “D, D & B,” he’s seeing things basically as vibrations which we translate as music...inside; the boy sees things musically and in dreams, and nothing has got any weight at all. He is touched from the outside, and he feels his mother’s touch, he feels his father’s touch, but he just interprets them as music. His father gets pretty upset that his kid is deaf, dumb and blind. He wants a kid that will play football and God knows what.”
-—Pete Townshend, explaining his concept for the
upcoming Who album Tommy to Rolling Stone’s Jan
Wenner in 1968.
SONG OF THE WEEK: “A Legal Matter”
-—The Who
We’ll get to readers’ letters concerning last week’s Pete Townshend column in a moment, but first, here’s the scoop (no pun intended, Pete) on the recent legal misfortunes of a few other well-known musical legends:
Phil “Wall Of Sound” Spector, the diminutive but psychotic producer/songwriter/genius responsible for writing such ’60s classics as “To Know Him Is To Love Him” (the title of which was taken from the gravestone of his father, who committed suicide in 1949) and producing dozens of rock classics (The Ronettes, The Beatles, John Lennon, Ike And Tina, The Righteous Brothers, The Ramones), was arrested last week on suspicion of homicide after a woman’s body was found in his L.A. digs. Spector, who’s now 62 years old, has long had a proclivity for violence and subversive behavior. His ex-wife, Ronettes lead singer Ronnie Spector, allegedly left him for those reasons, his sessions with former Beatle John Lennon in the ’70s were rife with insanity; and the late Dee Dee Ramone claimed that Phil had kept him and the rest of the punk godfathers prisoner in his mansion at gunpoint. Spector came clean about his mental abberations in the late ’70s, saying, “...being the rich millionaire in the mansion and then dressing up as Batman...had to stop.” But he left the door open a second later in the same quote, signing off with, “I have to admit, I did enjoy it to a certain extent.” No details as yet about this latest fiasco, but when California cops arrest a famous white person with as much money as Spector has (according to one source, God, Allah, and Buddha have all recently applied for loans from him), they’re usually pretty sure they’ve got a solid case. RTD will keep ya posted. In other celeb news, soul belter Aretha Franklin is being sought for questioning as a possible suspect in a recent arson case involving one of her Detroit-area homes. She claims she’s innocent, but prosecutors are doggedly pursuing her and making public statements alluding to her recent financial problems. Also, Motown diva Diana Ross has recently entered rehab in response to her arrest last month for drunken driving. And to top it all off, cool-as-hell jazz fusion/conga rhythms maestro Ramon “Mongo” Santamaria passed away a few days ago of natural causes at the age of 85. Mongo was best known to the public for his far-out cover of Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man,” but was highly-respected in the music community as a composer and performer, especially for his jazz standard “Afro Blue,” which was covered by everyone from Count Basie to Dizzy Gillespie. The Townshend, Spector, Franklin, and Ross debacles are bad enough, but I’m not sure we’ll ever replace somebody like Mongo—and you can bet that the way things are going nationally and politically, the chances of someone as eclectic and well-balanced musically as he was being nurtured and someday taking his place are next to nil. Oh well, I’m crankin’ “Watermelon Man” and crawling back inside the Way Back Machine—1973 was a %@!#$&load more fun than 2003’s shaping up to be. See ya on the other side...
THIS MONTH IN WHO-STORY—February, 1982: Who singer/songwriter/guitarist Pete Townshend checks himself out of Meg Patterson’s rehab clinic, claiming to have beaten his addictions to drugs and alcohol. Pete has written only two songs since the band’s last album (“Athena” and “It’s Hard”) and is worried about his fellow bandmates’ reaction to them.
THE MINSTREL’S DILEMMA
OR, TOMMY CAN YOU HEAR ME?
READERS’ RESPONSES TO LAST WEEK’S PETE TOWNSHEND COLUMN:
Note: Last time ‘round, your humble correspondent offered his opinion on the recent arrest of Who axeman Pete Townshend (I’m not judging him until I hear all the facts, and even if he is guilty of downloading computer porn, I don’t think that negates all the great music he’s given to the world) and printed an open letter from W.A.S.P. frontman Blackie Lawless in defense of Pete. The responses are pretty evenly divided, but those folks not inclined to believe Pete’s side of the story definitely have more to say on the subject than those who are choosing to refrain from judgement.
Tommy-
Nice column on Townshend. I’m with you 100%.
Dan Israel, local musician
Tommy-
As stated in your column, Pete’s transgression doesn’t negate his great tunes, but his tunes aren’t the issue as I see it. It’s not my place to judge, but I firmly believe that the exploitation of children is a terrible wrong. Those who view or in any way support such exploitations are very wrong. I’m not upset at Pete the musician...the fact that he’s a great guitarist and songwriter does not change. I’m upset at Pete the man, and alleged sicko. The fact that he’s even in this mess is enough to turn my stomach. Just my two cents.
Matt Anderson, local musician
Tommy-
Frankly, we don’t care whether Pete Townshend is guilty of child porn or not. We’re wondering why you’re wasting space in your column on a washed-up, dried-out old man who hasn’t made any music worth hearing in years. Does anyone in the local music community even listen to him or The Who anymore? I doubt that you’ll find too many locals who were even influenced by those English wankers, either. Wise up and start writing about the hot new bands on the scene who are bringing music to a new level for the new century.
Anonymous, local musician
Tommy-
Something told me to checkg hrththurtyt xcvb bgyjktj n nnn n n n n n n n n n nn n alsjkdf alksdfj alksfjd ;la;ksfjd lasdfj paskdfj alksjfd alsdhf aldfj alksdfj laskdf alskdfj alsdjf alkdfj alsdfh alskdfj al sdfj alsdfj alskjdf alskdfj alksdjf alskj f alskdfj alkjsdf alksjdf alskjfd laskfj asldfj do you think it’s alright to leave the boy with Rachael, she’s had a few too many...? So, we’re in Portland listening to Tommy with The Last Waltz playing for visual accompaniment, and I read that the quote o’ the week is Pete, and the song o’ the week is Pete, and the call for comments is ‘bout our old bloke Pete. Well, I have to go potty now. Like I said, Pete %@!#$&ing rules.
Love, Tony and Rachael...from Portland
Tommy-
The self-righteous, quick-to-judge moralists who have already tried and convicted Pete are the same types he’s been writing and singing about for three decades. I’m appalled at how quick some people are to pass judgement and wonder how they’d feel if someone they knew and loved were to be so easily condemned without a trial. All I have to say is, once he’s found innocent, don’t you dare come crawling back saying you were a big fan and on his side all along. I will see the lies in your eyes...
The Acid Queen, Minneapolis
Tommy-
The Who’s music saved my life when I was a teenager. Nothing will ever change that. Peace & love to you, Pete.
Gary H., local musician
Tommy-
Pete Townsend is—how can I put this?—GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY. Look at these quotes from the Reuters story on his arrest: “On one occasion I used a credit card to enter a site advertising child porn. I did this purely to see what was there,” he said.
What was there? If somebody gives me a Web address and tells me that it contains child pornography, I’m (a) going to take their word for it, and (b) assume that what I would see would be pictures of naked children. His excuse is the same one closeted husbands give their wives when they’re busted going into gay chat rooms.
“To fight against pedophilia, you have to know what’s out there,” he said, adding that he was involved in an anti-pedophilia campaign that had fizzled out. Equally shoddy. You know, you’d think ol’ Pete would have checked with a lawyer to see if this was going to be a one way ticket into Gary Glitter’s realm of troubles. I can only assume that Pete Townsend has a serious problem if he was that compulsive. Guilty, guilty, guilty, I say.
On the other hand, I don’t think SIXTEEN COPS were needed to arrest Townsend.
Jason Josephes, Seattle
Tommy-
Can you hear me? I mean, can you really, really, really HEAR ME? PETE TOWNSHEND IS NUMBER %@!#$&ING ONE!! If I hear one more “Pictures Of BILLY” joke, I’m going to break MY guitar over some asshole’s head. Rock on!
Carlos B., local musician
There ya go, kids. The responses keep pouring in, so if I get any as interesting as those above, I’ll continue the Pete theme next week. Otherwise, ya gets a surprise! Until next time, make yer own damn news.
If you have local music news/gigs/events that you’d like to see listed in this column, or you’d just like to threaten your fellow local musicians with your instrument, send replies to: TMygunn777@aol.com.
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