He’s not given enough credit as a visionary with music technology and ‘sound sculpting’. He embraced electronics so far beyond distortion pedals… beyond the organ in rock music into synthesizers, but in a fresh way that wasn’t pretentious. And somehow it seemed completely natural with the rest of his music. Brilliant music mind.
The Who, and especially Pete, were probably the best live band ever, in there prime. Just think, a young man, writing Tommy, and Quadrafinia. Two unbelievable albums, every freaking song, great. What a fucking genius.
Ray & Dave Davies of the Kinks acknowledged by a legend. Kinks, amazing & lovely of Pete to mention them. Poets, abundant in the 1960’s. Disguised as pop musicians, guitarists. Incredible, competent musical people. Great to hear Jimi ripping the world apart.
One of the joys of a Townshend interview is his knowledge and insight. It would be very easy to go on and on about the 60s but he tends to avoid going on a nostalgia trip.
I saw Cream in 1967. Eric played his psychedelic SG, the Fool. Sunshine of Your Love ruled the airwaves (along with Sgt. Pepper's) and I knew that night what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I had no money. I was 13 and I could not steal a guitar like Pete. Meanwhile the Who are smashing beautiful guitars and drums and it took me 2 years to borrow an old Harmony (Chicago) archtop f-hole acoustic guitar. I'm still here, Pete, and my guitar playing is better than ever. My main guitar is a 200 dollar Epiphone SG, the guitar I wanted since 1967. It plays like a dream. It took me 50 years to obtain the guitar. Don't smash that guitar, Mister Townshend, I'll gladly receive it. Poor people exist, as you well know. The most amazing guitar player I ever met was a homeless guy, in the late nineties. He played with no restraint, he played like himself and no one else. I adopted his methods, pushing my skills beyond what I could imagine. He carried an old battered classical (nylon-string) guitar and would sit in a pew in a classic old spiral church at Highland and Franklin in Hollywood. He played for hours and the church employees allowed it. I'm in L.A., Pete, let's jam.
What's so amazing is how much Pete has mellowed in his attitude towards some of his contemporaries over the years. He has said some scathing things about The Beatles in the 60s and probably other acts. I know he has professed a jealousy towards Led Zeppelin who became even more successful than The Who and actually outsold The Rolling Stones also.
The thing about that is he has said himself he got on well with the members of Zep... I think Bonham was in the control room cheering them on as they were recording won't get fooled again
I know what you mean. On the other hand, I was listening to this like on the radio. I was in bed, but I had to keep turning my eyes to the screen in order to read the questions. Also, it would help vision-impaired listeners to be able to hear the questions.
Pete fluctuates between periods of brutually blunt, honesty and vulnterability... andconfusion and unjustified egomania. This isn't my opinion - he himself says as much in his biography. Apparenly the abuse he suffered as a child created permanent confusion. Even in the same biography he fluctuates between these two poles. He's either incredibly blunt and straightforward or aggrandizing and arrogant. Several of his earliest commercial successes in his songwriting, deal with this confusion and it can be scary stuff. This is really one of his last great interviews when he hadn't flipped almost 80-20 into the confused egoism state. Great interview.
Super interesting interview, thanks for posting! What was the background on this interview? I see the Royal Albert Hall image, was the interview for an event there?
Petes the best interview in the business barr none, especially when he's content to be interviewed and seems to be in a generally good mood, like he seems to be here.
This is the first interview I’ve ever heard Townshend do, after all these years, and I can’t say I’m blown away by his incredible insights because I’ve listened to his f*cking songs! But I’m so glad I can keep admiring him! I’ve always so admired him that I avoided listening to or reading his interviews, because _I did not want to be disappointed!!!_ I didn’t have an image of his personality or anything, just a huge amount of respect for a driven poet and artist who was always putting everything he had into his music. His honesty and focus was so total that, if he head any addictions, they surely didn’t show. John Lennon was the hugest influence on my developing intellect from a very young age, not just because he was a genius who was so brutally honest-this is really important to me-but Townshend’s abilities made me massively respect him. I also really admired Roger Daltrey, but that’s something else!
Awesome early Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis and Tina was good before exploitation and too much media. But a few years after at the Commonder in Vancouver very surprising bored the New York Dolls all dressed up as girls but did they bring the house down silly as all get out but wow could play rock and roll. Thanks for sharing 🙏👍🇨🇦🇹🇭
He's so right about Ray Davies. You either love it or you don't get it. I'm in the love it camp. There isn't an Kinks era of that I don't like. There are preferable eras but none that I dislike.
A friend of mine lived next-door to the Davies family in Muswell Hill. She says Ray Davies can take an event as mundane as eating your breakfast and come up with a great song about it.
The Animals and the Kinks were more important groups than the Beatles and the Stones?? Hard to believe he really believes a lot of the stuff he spouts.
To me, hands down the best interview in rock. Pete never disappoints. Legend.
Jim Morrison has a great one from 1970, should check it out!
I agree !
Hi Melvin Bragg interview in 1974 is better IMO.
One of my favourite guitarists of all time. A genius.
He’s not given enough credit as a visionary with music technology and ‘sound sculpting’. He embraced electronics so far beyond distortion pedals… beyond the organ in rock music into synthesizers, but in a fresh way that wasn’t pretentious. And somehow it seemed completely natural with the rest of his music. Brilliant music mind.
The most intelligent interview with a musician I have ever seen.
The Who, and especially Pete, were probably the best live band ever, in there prime. Just think, a young man, writing Tommy, and Quadrafinia. Two unbelievable albums, every freaking song, great. What a fucking genius.
Pete Townshend is very articulate and intelligent to express his views and what he experienced. Always a pleasure to watch his interviews.
Ray & Dave Davies of the Kinks acknowledged by a legend.
Kinks, amazing & lovely of Pete to mention them.
Poets, abundant in the 1960’s.
Disguised as pop musicians, guitarists.
Incredible, competent musical people.
Great to hear Jimi ripping the world apart.
Best most compelling interview in music= Peter T.
So grateful to Pete Townshend for doing these interviews. He is so inspiring.... Full of creative energy and an amazing attitude on life and music.
This interview is excellent ! 😊
I still can't believe an album such as _Who's Next_ actually exists. Sometimes it sounds too good for reality.
i prayed for years for QE II to expire because of how she denied pete of his "SIR" status mind.
@@dedicated2WHOiLove Wow, that's a lot of hatred you have over nothing.
Quadrophenia was better.
Getting in tune
@@brianjacob8728 Nah. All the songs sound the same on it.
The energy from a 1970's Who concert was indescribable. Probably the best live rock and roll band. Long Live Rock!
Love the Hiwatt and Rick in the background, I wonder how many artefacts he's kept from the Who's golden age...
quite a bit
Pete thinks before he speaks. I love listening to Pete.
One of the joys of a Townshend interview is his knowledge and insight. It would be very easy to go on and on about the 60s but he tends to avoid going on a nostalgia trip.
That shout out to James (Jimmy) Burton was welcome. He STILL is out there. I saw him back Jerry Lee Lewis and he was spectacular.
I saw Cream in 1967. Eric played his psychedelic SG, the Fool. Sunshine of Your Love ruled the airwaves (along with Sgt. Pepper's) and I knew that night what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I had no money. I was 13 and I could not steal a guitar like Pete. Meanwhile the Who are smashing beautiful guitars and drums and it took me 2 years to borrow an old Harmony (Chicago) archtop f-hole acoustic guitar. I'm still here, Pete, and my guitar playing is better than ever. My main guitar is a 200 dollar Epiphone SG, the guitar I wanted since 1967. It plays like a dream. It took me 50 years to obtain the guitar. Don't smash that guitar, Mister Townshend, I'll gladly receive it. Poor people exist, as you well know. The most amazing guitar player I ever met was a homeless guy, in the late nineties. He played with no restraint, he played like himself and no one else. I adopted his methods, pushing my skills beyond what I could imagine. He carried an old battered classical (nylon-string) guitar and would sit in a pew in a classic old spiral church at Highland and Franklin in Hollywood. He played for hours and the church employees allowed it. I'm in L.A., Pete, let's jam.
He comes a cross as a very intense man, the type you wouldn't want to cross😶
😆you bet
He’s the GOAT for rock. One of the best guitarist and song writers of his time
Hahaha, no, Pete is not dangerous, Roger is 😂 Pete is chaotic, but a pretty gentle person
He has an interest in little boys.
Watch the operation ore documentary.
Great interview
Pete you are my favourite person
Great and broad-ranging interview.
Pete he is a really good guitar player
Not a bad songwriter either! In a recent interview Roger Daltrey commented that Pete's always writing.
What's so amazing is how much Pete has mellowed in his attitude towards some of his contemporaries over the years. He has said some scathing things about The Beatles in the 60s and probably other acts. I know he has professed a jealousy towards Led Zeppelin who became even more successful than The Who and actually outsold The Rolling Stones also.
The thing about that is he has said himself he got on well with the members of Zep... I think Bonham was in the control room cheering them on as they were recording won't get fooled again
Love him ❤
Interesting that he mentions Peggy Lee.
And I like the fact that we don’t hear the questions being asked during the interview.
I know what you mean. On the other hand, I was listening to this like on the radio. I was in bed, but I had to keep turning my eyes to the screen in order to read the questions. Also, it would help vision-impaired listeners to be able to hear the questions.
Rock's greatest philosopher.
Pete fluctuates between periods of brutually blunt, honesty and vulnterability... andconfusion and unjustified egomania. This isn't my opinion - he himself says as much in his biography. Apparenly the abuse he suffered as a child created permanent confusion. Even in the same biography he fluctuates between these two poles. He's either incredibly blunt and straightforward or aggrandizing and arrogant. Several of his earliest commercial successes in his songwriting, deal with this confusion and it can be scary stuff.
This is really one of his last great interviews when he hadn't flipped almost 80-20 into the confused egoism state. Great interview.
Rock Gods!
amazing interview, very objective it seems and egoless
Pete Townshend is one of the original rock gods imho, anyway.
Super interesting interview, thanks for posting!
What was the background on this interview? I see the Royal Albert Hall image, was the interview for an event there?
Petes the best interview in the business barr none, especially when he's content to be interviewed and seems to be in a generally good mood, like he seems to be here.
This is the first interview I’ve ever heard Townshend do, after all these years, and I can’t say I’m blown away by his incredible insights because I’ve listened to his f*cking songs! But I’m so glad I can keep admiring him! I’ve always so admired him that I avoided listening to or reading his interviews, because _I did not want to be disappointed!!!_ I didn’t have an image of his personality or anything, just a huge amount of respect for a driven poet and artist who was always putting everything he had into his music. His honesty and focus was so total that, if he head any addictions, they surely didn’t show. John Lennon was the hugest influence on my developing intellect from a very young age, not just because he was a genius who was so brutally honest-this is really important to me-but Townshend’s abilities made me massively respect him. I also really admired Roger Daltrey, but that’s something else!
Pete loves The Kinks about as much as I do.
Was this made for the Time Life history of rock and roll series?
😊
Awesome early Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis and Tina was good before exploitation and too much media. But a few years after at the Commonder in Vancouver very surprising bored the New York Dolls all dressed up as girls but did they bring the house down silly as all get out but wow could play rock and roll. Thanks for sharing 🙏👍🇨🇦🇹🇭
Do you mean the Commodore with the sprung timber dance floor, on Granville Street downtown?
He's so right about Ray Davies. You either love it or you don't get it. I'm in the love it camp. There isn't an Kinks era of that I don't like. There are preferable eras but none that I dislike.
A friend of mine lived next-door to the Davies family in Muswell Hill. She says Ray Davies can take an event as mundane as eating your breakfast and come up with a great song about it.
The Grateful Dead played between The Who and Hendrix.
A very unenviable position.
The Animals and the Kinks were more important groups than the Beatles and the Stones?? Hard to believe he really believes a lot of the stuff he spouts.