Eddie should learn from his idol Pete

EdsonNascimento

Pete Townshend – Tour Diary 7th November, 2012



Great to be in the USA on election day. I would have been happy for either candidate to win. There are pros and cons. The only longing I have is for the President to work more closely with the UK than he appears to have done before. As unpopular as they ended up with the deep thinkers, George W Bush and Tony Blair were friends, and that – to me – exemplified what I feel is most important about the relationship between the UK and the USA. We are above all else friends. Friendship is not ‘special’ (as in the ‘special relationship’), it is normal, and accepting…

And so the Who tour kicked off in the teeth of a hurricane, and our immediate duty to our millions of fans in the NorthEast is to promise that we will hopefully do more than just offer our prayers. While we’re here we’ll try to do something practical, as I am certain will all of our rock and pop buddies. Watch this space.


http://thewho.com/story/pete-townshend- ... mber-2012/

I don't mean his apparent support for W (quite frankly, I have no idea where he stands - and that's what I mean).

dimitrispearljam

what that "friends" means??

they sent troops together to wars??

redrock

Master/slave 'friends'.

Who Princess

Pete has always seemed apolitical. He rarely comments on any politicians or issues. I know he spoke well of Blair when he was first elected but that's all I can recall about it. I'm reading his memoir right now and I couldn't tell you how he feels about politics. I'm not very curious about his politics anyway. He's British through and through and I wouldn't expect him to have much to say about what goes on in this country. I thought his post was more about the excitement of the tour in the midst of the election.

What he goes on to say about helping the people affected by the hurricane is much more typical. The Who have been raising money for various causes since the 70s, so I fully expect them to do something to help.

Roger is the one who tends to talk occasionally about politics in interviews but I can't think of The Who ever talking about a political issue from the stage.

Disclaimer: I ain't even getting into the debate of how Ed and PJ handle their political views. You're talking about different individuals and different bands.

Cosmo

Question: The U.S. working more closely with the U.K. in...
... what capacity?
...
I thought the U.S. and the U.K. WERE friends. Did I miss something?

Jason78

Politics have no place in rock and rock has no place in politics. :idea:

Who Princess

Cosmo wrote:

Question: The U.S. working more closely with the U.K. in...
... what capacity?
...
I thought the U.S. and the U.K. WERE friends. Did I miss something?

With Pete, who knows? :roll:
Honestly, I wouldn't read too much into this. It's probably something mundane, like he wishes Obama would visit England a few times.

I really am much more interested in what the band may do to benefit people affected by Sandy. I'm thinking they'll be adding some shows.

Thoughts_Arrive

Jason78 wrote:

Politics have no place in rock and rock has no place in politics. :idea:

I agree.
Kind of uncomfortable with artists (including Eddie) pushing their views onto concert goers.
Just play the music I say.
I listen to music for therapeutic reasons, not political reasons.
That is why I kind of cannot listen to RATM thesedays.
Back when I was in my teens I loved this band, I wasn't mature enough to pay attention to the music back then, it was all about those killer riffs. Now that I understand the message it doesn't sit well with me.

brianlux

The way I look at it, I also am apt to say all sorts of weird stuff when my tinnitus is off the charts.

Who Princess

brianlux wrote:

The way I look at it, I also am apt to say all sorts of weird stuff when my tinnitus is off the charts.

Cosmo

Who Princess wrote:

Cosmo wrote:

Question: The U.S. working more closely with the U.K. in...
... what capacity?
...
I thought the U.S. and the U.K. WERE friends. Did I miss something?

With Pete, who knows? :roll:
Honestly, I wouldn't read too much into this. It's probably something mundane, like he wishes Obama would visit England a few times.

I really am much more interested in what the band may do to benefit people affected by Sandy. I'm thinking they'll be adding some shows.

...
Whew! For a second there... I thought the U.S. all of a sudden hated the U.K.
Not me... I love England and Wales and Scotland and Northern Ireland (although, I believe that Northern Ireland should be a part of Ireland). I love eating in the British pubs (mmmm... Shepperds Pie and Bangers and Mash with an Imperial Pint of a stout Ale... who doesn't (except pansies)). And most of all... I LOVE the English and Scots and Welsh and even if Obama hates Cameron (which, I'm not sure he does)... I would still love y'all.

PJ_Soul

I like EV just the way he is. If he didn't get into the political stuff like he does because that's what he believes in, he wouldn't be EV. Pete can stick to his thing, and EV can stick to his! Ed recognized his place on the stage as an opportunity to spread the word on things he feels strongly about, and I only admire and respect that. It clearly feels right to him to do so. To stop doing it just because some people might disagree with him or don't feel like hearing his message would be the totally WRONG thing to do.

Who Princess

Cosmo wrote:

...
Whew! For a second there... I thought the U.S. all of a sudden hated the U.K.
Not me... I love England and Wales and Scotland and Northern Ireland (although, I believe that Northern Ireland should be a part of Ireland). I love eating in the British pubs (mmmm... Shepperds Pie and Bangers and Mash with an Imperial Pint of a stout Ale... who doesn't (except pansies)). And most of all... I LOVE the English and Scots and Welsh and even if Obama hates Cameron (which, I'm not sure he does)... I would still love y'all.

Pete's always said off the wall things and frequently contradicts himself. He's also very good at winding people up. That's why I don't pay much attention to statements like this one.

All is still well between the U.S. and U.K.

lukin2006

Jason78 wrote:

Politics have no place in rock and rock has no place in politics. :idea:

^this^

PJ_Soul

lukin2006 wrote:

Jason78 wrote:

Politics have no place in rock and rock has no place in politics. :idea:

^this^

I can't even believe anyone thinks that!! :fp: :fp: Given ALL the clear evidence to the contrary! Music, including rock, has always had ties to politics and social movements, because music has the power to move people and send messages at the same time, and that is exactly what so many (and often some of the greatest) musicians have done with it forever. it's a bit disturbing that people are trying to ignore that fact.

Cosmo

PJ_Soul wrote:

I can't even believe anyone thinks that!! :fp: :fp: Given ALL the clear evidence to the contrary! Music, including rock, has always had ties to politics and social movements, because music has the power to move people and send messages at the same time, and that is exactly what so many (and often some of the greatest) musicians have done with it forever. it's a bit disturbing that people are trying to ignore that fact.

..
No... I think John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Neil Young, Joe Strummer, Eddie Vedder, Pete Seeger, Tom Morello, Bruce Sprinsteen, Ted Nugent andToby Keith should just shut the fuck up and write and sing Taylor Swift songs. You know, happy shit.

dimitrispearljam

Cosmo wrote:

PJ_Soul wrote:

I can't even believe anyone thinks that!! :fp: :fp: Given ALL the clear evidence to the contrary! Music, including rock, has always had ties to politics and social movements, because music has the power to move people and send messages at the same time, and that is exactly what so many (and often some of the greatest) musicians have done with it forever. it's a bit disturbing that people are trying to ignore that fact.

..
No... I think John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Neil Young, Joe Strummer, Eddie Vedder, Pete Seeger, Tom Morello, Bruce Sprinsteen, Ted Nugent andToby Keith should just shut the fuck up and write and sing Taylor Swift songs. You know, happy shit.

haha..;i prefer this way of thinking too...

helplessdancer

PJ_Soul wrote:

lukin2006 wrote:

Jason78 wrote:

Politics have no place in rock and rock has no place in politics. :idea:

^this^

I can't even believe anyone thinks that!! :fp: :fp: Given ALL the clear evidence to the contrary! Music, including rock, has always had ties to politics and social movements, because music has the power to move people and send messages at the same time, and that is exactly what so many (and often some of the greatest) musicians have done with it forever. it's a bit disturbing that people are trying to ignore that fact.

+1 PJ_SOUL
this is not my quote but read it this week and thought it would work perfect here

"There has been some fairly aggressive criticism from some who hold the
belief that artists shouldn't be political. Well it's a little late for
that. Art was political the second we started scribbling on cave walls.
Politics in art doesn't just predate rock n roll, it predates music as we
know it. Michelangelo was political. Mozart was political. The
Expressionists were political. Those beautiful, pastel waterlilies painted
by Monet? They were a political statement against the art establishment of
Paris at the time. Talented, creative types, such as Patterson have been
political forever, so there isn't much point in railing against their
voices now. Art is meant to be a reaction to society (other than when it's
a reaction to a broken heart)."

Byrnzie

Jason78 wrote:

Politics have no place in rock and rock has no place in politics. :idea:

With all due respect, this is....*Bullshit*

Smellyman

Cosmo wrote:

PJ_Soul wrote:

I can't even believe anyone thinks that!! :fp: :fp: Given ALL the clear evidence to the contrary! Music, including rock, has always had ties to politics and social movements, because music has the power to move people and send messages at the same time, and that is exactly what so many (and often some of the greatest) musicians have done with it forever. it's a bit disturbing that people are trying to ignore that fact.

..
No... I think John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Neil Young, Joe Strummer, Eddie Vedder, Pete Seeger, Tom Morello, Bruce Sprinsteen, Ted Nugent andToby Keith should just shut the fuck up and write and sing Taylor Swift songs. You know, happy shit.

that would rule! we could get more Gems like this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShKM0ZVM9hI

dimitrispearljam

Smellyman wrote:

Cosmo wrote:

PJ_Soul wrote:

I can't even believe anyone thinks that!! :fp: :fp: Given ALL the clear evidence to the contrary! Music, including rock, has always had ties to politics and social movements, because music has the power to move people and send messages at the same time, and that is exactly what so many (and often some of the greatest) musicians have done with it forever. it's a bit disturbing that people are trying to ignore that fact.

..
No... I think John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Neil Young, Joe Strummer, Eddie Vedder, Pete Seeger, Tom Morello, Bruce Sprinsteen, Ted Nugent andToby Keith should just shut the fuck up and write and sing Taylor Swift songs. You know, happy shit.

that would rule! we could get more Gems like this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShKM0ZVM9hI

EdsonNascimento

Who Princess wrote:

Cosmo wrote:

Question: The U.S. working more closely with the U.K. in...
... what capacity?
...
I thought the U.S. and the U.K. WERE friends. Did I miss something?

With Pete, who knows? :roll:
Honestly, I wouldn't read too much into this. It's probably something mundane, like he wishes Obama would visit England a few times.

I really am much more interested in what the band may do to benefit people affected by Sandy. I'm thinking they'll be adding some shows.

MSG 12-12-12 benefit? It fits right after the first leg....

Cliffy6745

I find this amusing in so many ways.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/ju ... s-uk-visit

RFTC

PJ_Soul wrote:

I like EV just the way he is. If he didn't get into the political stuff like he does because that's what he believes in, he wouldn't be EV. Pete can stick to his thing, and EV can stick to his! Ed recognized his place on the stage as an opportunity to spread the word on things he feels strongly about, and I only admire and respect that. It clearly feels right to him to do so. To stop doing it just because some people might disagree with him or don't feel like hearing his message would be the totally WRONG thing to do.

thanks for taking the words out of my mouth. if you disagree w/his pov, ok, really he spends all of what 45 seconds talking about it, get over yourself or take a piss break.

comebackgirl

PJ_Soul wrote:

I like EV just the way he is. If he didn't get into the political stuff like he does because that's what he believes in, he wouldn't be EV. Pete can stick to his thing, and EV can stick to his! Ed recognized his place on the stage as an opportunity to spread the word on things he feels strongly about, and I only admire and respect that. It clearly feels right to him to do so. To stop doing it just because some people might disagree with him or don't feel like hearing his message would be the totally WRONG thing to do.

I agree. The fact that Eddie has always been so outspoken about his political views is part of why I connected to PJ so strongly in the first place. I remember being in college and seeing this guy...in his 20s...lead singer for a hugely popular band...and he cared about the same issues that mattered to me. That...coupled with his lyrics just spoke to me in a way that no music ever has. I hope Ed stays Ed

Kathi

As mentioned by others in here, music and politics are strongly connected, and if someone wants to use their popularity as a platform to talk about things important to them, I personally think that's great. I like artists who are aware of the world around them, and care what's happening to others. And as Ed said during the election night show, he's been pretty open about his political views, so everybody knows what they're getting themselves into.

Who Princess

Kathi wrote:

As mentioned by others in here, music and politics are strongly connected, and if someone wants to use their popularity as a platform to talk about things important to them, I personally think that's great. I like artists who are aware of the world around them, and care what's happening to others. And as Ed said during the election night show, he's been pretty open about his political views, so everybody knows what they're getting themselves into.

Yes, and what I was trying to say was that Ed may admire and be influenced by Pete musically but they are two DIFFERENT people. Pete's never been one to use the musical stage as a platform for making commentary except in his song lyrics. Which people don't always get anyway, myself included.

After Pete got sober many years ago, a lot of fans used to complain that he should use the stage to speak against drugs and alcohol, the way Stevie Ray Vaughn often did. I'd never expect to see that. Just not his style.

Pete was certainly influenced by many songwriters who wrote topical songs, including Dylan. But he also grew up in a family of professional musicians and I think he had a definite picture from an early age of a performer's role. The Who were one of the first bands to volunteer to play at the Concert for NYC for the 9/11 first responders. Pete said that a factor for him was that his dad was in the RAF as a musician and entertained the troops during WWII. I think that's about as openly political as you'll see Pete get.

Ed, well, he's Ed. I don't expect to see him change either.

cincybearcat

Who Princess wrote:

Ed, well, he's Ed. I don't expect to see him change either.

Except he has. We all do.

even flow - question mark

Jason78 wrote:

Politics have no place in rock and rock has no place in politics. :idea:

True to a point.....but it was great to hear Ed go off on Bush in Montreal. And in Toronto when he did his survey, that was pretty good. I don't really want to hear who he is voting for and why, but when he is ripping an asshole, a new asshole on stage it kind of makes my night.

pandora

Pete has a special place in my heart, I'm not a Who fan, I'm a Pete fan.

Politics in music has never bothered me...
I just listen and respect. I've always admired passion.

SPEEDY MCCREADY

pandora wrote:

Pete has a special place in my heart, I'm not a Who fan, I'm a Pete fan.

Politics in music has never bothered me...
I just listen and respect. I've always admired passion.

Peter Townshend

Heroin addict
Registered Sex Offender

That guy has a special place in your heart?