Townshend May Issue Solo Set Featuring Endless Wire Outtakes Who guitarist-songwriter Pete Townshend says he is considering putting together a solo album from songs penned for, but left off, the band's upcoming album, Endless Wire (due Oct. 31). "[The tunes] don't actually make a particularly powerful record, but wow, they would make an extremely interesting record," the axe-man maintains. Meanwhile, Townshend reveals that Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder is "very keen" to appear on his girlfriend Rachel Fuller's In the Attic webcast show.
from Billboard.com--
Townshend Mulling Solo Set, Hopes To Jam With Vedder
October 10, 2006, 11:20 AM ET
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Pete Townshend gets his fill of big, loud arena rock each night while on tour with the Who, but before the shows, he indulges his quieter side during the In the Attic webcasts, hosted by his girlfriend, singer/songwriter Rachel Fuller. So far, the series has boasted guest appearances by the Raconteurs, the Flaming Lips and Martha Wainwright, and is likely to get a visit this week from Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder.
"He's on the phone a lot at the moment," Townshend tells Billboard.com of longtime friend Vedder. "In Seattle, we're hoping to do an In the Attic featurette with him. He's very keen to be on."
Townshend has utilized In the Attic to perform stripped down versions of material from the upcoming Who album, "Endless Wire," as well as vintage favorites such as "Blue, Red & Gray" and "Let's See Action." He has also participated in what Fuller has dubbed Attic Jams at smaller venues after Who shows.
"We did one at [New York's] Joe's Pub with Martha Wainwright and we did one at [Chicago's] House of Blues with Rose Hill Drive and Willy Mason. Willy Mason is knockout. Wow. So young and so wise behind his years. He's an incredible writer. So, we're doing a bunch of those shows on the next leg. That, at the moment, is satisfying my desire to pick up an acoustic guitar and play."
Townshend concedes he is considering rounding up material that didn't make the cut for "Endless Wire" for his first solo album since 1993's "Psychoderelict."
"A lot of the songs either I excluded from presenting to [Who vocalist] Roger [Daltrey] or that Roger passed on once he'd heard them, they don't actually make a particularly powerful record, but wow, they would make an extremely interesting record," he says. "So I might actually look at the possibility of putting out a solo record. But again, the only reason I would do that is if I felt I could support it."
A rainy-day project that I hope to someday complete is to put together a CD-R (or two) of the otherwise unreleased music Pete has offered through his website. I did download the "Mini-Scoop" collection a few months back, but have any Townshend fans more obsessive than I ever compiled a comprehensive list of the free downloads Pete has offered over the past several years?
The Who star sings the hit show's theme song "Who Are You." Wednesday, October 11, 2006
The Who frontman Roger Daltrey will finally make an appearance on CSI: Criminal Scene Investigation after singing the theme song for six years.
The singer is set to guest star on an upcoming episode on the hit show but the producers are keeping details about who he will play under wraps, calling it a "surprise role that will keep viewers guessing."
The song "Who Are You" has been the forensics drama's theme song since the launch in 2000.
A rainy-day project that I hope to someday complete is to put together a CD-R (or two) of the otherwise unreleased music Pete has offered through his website. I did download the "Mini-Scoop" collection a few months back, but have any Townshend fans more obsessive than I ever compiled a comprehensive list of the free downloads Pete has offered over the past several years?
A while back he posted a project called "Twenty". It consisted of 20 songs of mainly demos and a couple of live tracks (MP3 format) spanning his career, a mini Scoop he said. You can still download them:
I've got quite a few of them. I don't know that I have a list of them handy, but they're all listed under the dot com address so I could probably access them quickly.
Here's an update & clarification from Pete on the possible "solo album"...
Townshend Not Thinking Solo Disc After All Pete Townshend has clarified a statement he made recently about potential plans for following up the Who's forthcoming Endless Wire album with a solo release. "I may have said I would consider one, but I have no plans to even think about this right now," writes the guitarist, while hinting that yet another Who album is a possibility.
Meanwhile, click here to check out a recently launched official website promoting Endless Wire, which is due out Oct. 31:
Pete: "Hamish (webmaster) tells me there is a story developing that I plan a solo album. I may have said I would consider one, but I have no plans to even think about this right now. Roger allowed me so much creative space while recording 'Endless Wire' that I got exactly the same kind of satisfaction from writing and recording it as I did from my work on 'Quadrophenia'. If we can do that again one day, that would be my first choice."
NEW YORK -- Howard Stern's radio guests expect him to air their dirty laundry and play along. Pete Townshend isn't one of them.
The legendary Who guitarist-songwriter ducked out of his scheduled interview on Stern's satellite radio show on Wednesday upon hearing Stern talk about a touchy subject for him — his 2003 arrest in London on suspicion of possessing child pornography. Townshend was cleared of the charges.
Townshend, along with girlfriend Rachel Fuller and Who bandmate Roger Daltrey, was listening to Stern's New York-based broadcast as he waited in a London studio for his interview to begin. Co-host Robin Quivers brought up the "child pornography stuff" and Townshend's claims that he was abused as a child. "Oh yeah, we could ask him about that," Stern said. Townshend stormed out, leaving Daltrey and Fuller to talk to Stern.
During that conversation, Quivers said that Townshend would have walked out of the interview even "if we didn't bring that up. He's a real testy guy."
Daltrey weighed in on Townshend's behalf, accusing Stern of "sniffing dirty underpants."
"Can you imagine you're accused of this stuff and then you're found not guilty? If you had to defend yourself through this stuff? The wounds are so deep on the man, and it's just tragic because he's got so much to offer," he said.
Stern, who jokingly referred to Fuller as "Yoko" after it was mentioned that Fuller had co-written a song on the new Who album, wound up apologizing to Townshend.
"Tell Pete I am very sorry," he said. "We would have had a great interview with him. I really wish he'd reconsider this. We adore him."
The Who is in the midst of a 15-month concert tour all around the world, its largest ever. The band's first album in 24 years, "Endless Wire," is set for release at the end of this month.
The Who's tour resumes this Saturday and Sunday at the Hollywood Bowl here in L.A.
Who Keyboardist Opts Out of Tour To Care for Ill Wife The Who's longtime keyboardist, John "Rabbit" Bundrick, will sit out the next leg of the band's North American tour to spend time with his sick wife, Sue. "Rabbit [recently] called to say [Sue] might be facing the end," guitarist-singer Pete Townshend writes online. "Rabbit cannot leave her at such a time, so we are going to continue the tour without him, but we will not replace him." The Who's trek resumes Saturday in Los Angeles.
from Pete Townshend's Official Site--
31 October 2006 Planes and Pains
Rachel and I fly to L.A today for the second leg of the Who tour, this one dotted with quite a few more In The Attic events. We are extremely upbeat, looking forward to seeing special friends in California, and playing music. But we are also sad for Rabbit (John Bundrick).
This morning a gloomy pall hangs over the future despite the energetic, blustering wind over the Richmond meadows on this beautifully crisp autumn day. Rabbit's wife Sue has been ill lately, and yesterday he called to say she might be facing the end. Sue is a very special person. She is beautiful, calm, forgiving, generous, loyal and funny. I met her for the first time when I was recording my solo album 'Empty Glass' in 1979 and she and her husband Mike Vickers (of the Manfred Mann group) often entertained Rabbit and I at their home near the studio we were using.
Mike and Sue's marriage was in trouble, though they are such lovely people, and I was so self-absorbed with the record, that I didn't notice. A romance blossomed between Rabbit and Sue, and Mike left them to it. Since then they have been inseparable. They have lived a very simple life in the West Country of England, Rabbit grows his own vegetables. Their daughter Jackie and her musician husband Reg live nearby. Usually Sue accompanies Rabbit on tour, and we have missed her lately.
Rabbit cannot leave her at such a time, so we are going to continue the tour without him, but we will not replace him. We have some keyboard players in our team who will cover where necessary, but no one can play rock piano and Hammond like Rabbit and I will miss his many moments of stratospheric brilliance. His playing at our last show at the BBC Proms at the Roundhouse here in London on Sunday was especially beautiful I thought. Of course Sue was on his mind, and when Roger sang See Me, Feel Me from Tommy, Rabbit's accompaniment was as loving, gentle and sympathetic as I've ever heard it arranged and played.
More news about Sue and Rabbit will be posted in the News Pages here and on other Who websites throughout the tour. Prayers and positive thoughts please for Sue, Rabbit and Sue's family and friends.
A real bummer and very sad news. It must be beyond painful to see your wife that ill and not be able to do anything about it. I will also dearly miss Rabbit's playing on the tour as he is one of my favorite keyboardists going back to his days with Free. He's been with The Who since 1978 save for the 1982 tour and it won't be the same without him!
_________________ "We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."—College Basketball player Weldon Drew
The musical side of me says to go and see Daltrey. In truth, it'll be a great excuse to go and drool at the sight of Marg Helgenberger again. I haven't watched a CSI in ages.
The Who/ The Pretenders 11-25-06 Wachovia Center, Philly, PA
It's late so I'll be brief. Great show from both bands. The Pretenders were amazing and played a nice 50 minute set that shockingly did not include songs like "Tattooed Love Boys" (damn!), "Brass In Pocket", "Talk Of The Town" and "Middle of The Road". They DID play great versions of these:
The Wait Day After Day Don't Get Me Wrong Back On The Chain Gang Up The Neck My City Was Gone-killer, with smoking guitar work by Andy Seymour which drew a standing ovation! Message Of Love My Baby-nice surprise! Roomfull Of Mirrors-definite surprise-their Hendrix cover from 1986's Get Close LP. The Night In My Veins
As for The Who, well, they were damn good, but the setlist was pretty weak. Same old stuff as every tour save for the new material which translated much better than the disappointing studio album. Pete played with abandon and Roger sounded fairly strong but not as much as ther past few tours-he's still amazing though, really! Pino is so into the groove on bass now it's great to see and hear. Zak Starkey remains a demon on drums-he was fantastic and it pissed me off all the more that he wasn't on the new album (yes, I know he was busy with Oasis...), Simon supplied his vocals and guitars to complement things and Brian Kehoe (couldn't quite make out his name) filled in very admirably on keyboards for Rabbit. The new stuff really did sound good and "Man In The Purple Dress" was my favorite along with "Fragments". The "Wire & Glass" segment flowed well but most of the audience went to the bathrooms (idiots). But, the new stuff still leaves me cold on the album and even though I liked it live better than the studio I still didn't quite get into it 100%. "Eminence Front" was awesome-Pete shredded! "Sparks" was incredible too. "My Generation" went on way too long but "Won't Get Fooled Again" remains stellar. There were a few screw-ups here and there, notably on "Who Are You" but that was so powerful who cared? Overall, really good-great lights too, and man, does Philly love The Who. They mentioned that often and it wasn't the typical b.s. I really would've liked to hear songs like "Cry If You Want", "Sister Disco" (why won't they play that?), "Love Reign O'er Me", "Join Together" (another one missing for years), "515", "Slip Kid", "Love Ain't For Keeping"-a mix of often-played, never played and seldom played, but hey, it was still a good night out and The Pretenders were great too! The Who's set I believe:
I Can’t Explain The Seeker Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere Fragments Who Are You Behind Blue Eyes Black Widows Eyes Excerpts from Wire & Glass:
Sound Round Pick Up The Peace Unholy Trinity Endless Wire We Got A Hit They Made My Dreams Come True Mirror Door
Baba O’ Reily Eminence Front Man In A Purple Dress Mike Post Theme You Better You Bet My Generation Won’t Get Fooled Again
ENCORE: Pinball Wizard Amazing Journey/Sparks See Me, Feel Me/Listening To You T And Theater
_________________ "We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."—College Basketball player Weldon Drew
"Eminence Front" was awesome-Pete shredded! "Sparks" was incredible too. "My Generation" went on way too long but "Won't Get Fooled Again" remains stellar. There were a few screw-ups here and there, notably on "Who Are You" but that was so powerful who cared? Overall, really good-great lights too, and man, does Philly love The Who. They mentioned that often and it wasn't the typical b.s. I really would've liked to hear songs like "Cry If You Want"
If they played My Generation the way they have of late (they did in Atlanta Wednesday when I saw then) you heard Cry If You Want sort of. Roger incorporates the lyrics of Cry If You Want into the jam section of My Generation. On the European tour they played the song outright along with more old material (Love Reign O'er Me, Bargain, Naked Eye, Drowned, I'm One, Greyhound Girl, etc.) than they have played in the US. They felt fans in the US want to hear more new material and the Festivals in Europe had a younger crowd that wanted the old stuff.
Ox: Yeah, I heard the 2 sentences or so of "Cry If You Want"-no way I consider that playing the song. I know you didn't mean that by the way! I've seen the setlists from overseas and even there they didn't really break out anything really rare except a song here or there. Still a damn good night out though. Hope you enjoyed the review and any shows you've seen/or will see!
_________________ "We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."—College Basketball player Weldon Drew
Interesting Townshend interview, especially his comments about playing at "The Concert for New York.
Rick A.
There's always been power and fury in Who songs, and that's been intentional, even if it wasn't obvious from the beginning. Singer-guitarist Pete Townshend, who's written virtually all of the band's music, told the British newspaper The Telegraph, "I understand now where the power of this music comes from. It's the aftermath of a great world war and how our generation dealt with that. When I was four, I lived in a house where 12 people had died. We played in bomb sites, we'd find bits of bodies, skeletons, and watches every day. We grew up in the shadow of this horrible bomb that had brought the war to an end. So it was never going to be about making beautiful music with an electric guitar, it was about trying to evoke the sound of trouble, the sound of anguish."
He added that performing at the Concert For New York City following the September 11th terror attacks was a turning point for him, in his understanding of where the Who's music fits in people's lives. Instead of just being a juvenile pleasure, Townshend said, "I went on stage and it was people in uniform who had been hauling bodies out of buildings and suddenly I thought, 'We have a job here.' I realized why we are gonna be good at this job, because it is where we started, playing on bomb sites. Moments like the 9/11 concert, where you put the music and the audience together in the midst of tragedy, and suddenly we have this palliative, pure way of conveying empathy, solidarity, love, with no possibility of a solution -- that is what rock is about... This music fits the world. It fits the temperature of the planet, so that's why it won't go away. It's very effective."
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum
