Pete Townsend curses out fan at concert

lukin2006

Thirty Bills Unpaid wrote:

Oh. He was trying to show how easy it was to log in to those site's with credit cards and by showing the financial link. Sounds kooky but whatever. He said it so its probably legit... that explains the child pornography then- case closed.

Faithful fans from multiple decades show up to a concert including a younger generation that will support the band through another decade or two... and instead of relishing the moment for what it is... their guitar player gets huffy because he's annoyed by a kid with a sign.

It would be different if he was an insolent, naive, and newly spoiled rock star... but this is a guy who should probably have a better perspective.

After all the police are always so credible . And he wasn't annoyed with 7 old, he was annoyed by father using his kid as a prop.

Apparently you haven't been to a pearl jam concert or choose to ignore the adult language that eddie vedder chooses to use ... oh by the way thats also a rock concert ... so what if someone cusses ... and so what that Pete told this dude to fuck off ... big deal ... his skin needs to thicken up.

Jeanwah

Thirty Bills Unpaid wrote:

Oh. He was trying to show how easy it was to log in to those site's with credit cards and by showing the financial link. Sounds kooky but whatever. He said it so its probably legit... that explains the child pornography then- case closed.

Faithful fans from multiple decades show up to a concert including a younger generation that will support the band through another decade or two... and instead of relishing the moment for what it is... their guitar player gets huffy because he's annoyed by a kid with a sign.

It would be different if he was an insolent, naive, and newly spoiled rock star... but this is a guy who should probably have a better perspective.

Ya know, everyone knows that a rock show is fair game for inappropriate behavior, it goes with the territory. So when people are upset that the performer isn't displaying G-rated behavior? Well, it just sounds absurd. Pete Townsend owes nothing to the audience, just like any other performer owes nothing to theirs. It's their stage, it's their moment. It's when we place expectations that we get let down, so let go of the god-like, perfect expectations of a gentlemanly, perfectly family-friendly concert, no matter how aged and experienced the band is. Expecting god-like behavior from human beings who are worshipped like gods brings nothing but disappointment.

And besides, the guy used his kid for attention. I may have called him out if I was on stage too.

Thirty Bills Unpaid

lukin2006 wrote:

Thirty Bills Unpaid wrote:

Oh. He was trying to show how easy it was to log in to those site's with credit cards and by showing the financial link. Sounds kooky but whatever. He said it so its probably legit... that explains the child pornography then- case closed.

Faithful fans from multiple decades show up to a concert including a younger generation that will support the band through another decade or two... and instead of relishing the moment for what it is... their guitar player gets huffy because he's annoyed by a kid with a sign.

It would be different if he was an insolent, naive, and newly spoiled rock star... but this is a guy who should probably have a better perspective.

After all the police are always so credible . And he wasn't annoyed with 7 old, he was annoyed by father using his kid as a prop.

Apparently you haven't been to a pearl jam concert or choose to ignore the adult language that eddie vedder chooses to use ... oh by the way thats also a rock concert ... so what if someone cusses ... and so what that Pete told this dude to fuck off ... big deal ... his skin needs to thicken up.

Celebrities' lame stories as they try to dig themselves out of hot water are definitely more credible than the police . :roll: Believe what you want. For another plausible story... there's an active thread right now in this very forum about an athlete and a strange concoction attempting to explain murder.

Language is something one would certainly expect at a concert. This guy never had his daughter hold up a sign asking for nice words only. What one doesn't expect at a concert is to be targeted by the performer for holding up a pretty benign sign.

I'm not a big fan of signs. I've never had one or will ever bring one. I'm also not much of a singer- only select tunes will have me belt out the chorus. But if someone beside me has a sign and holds it up without restricting my vision... I couldn't give a shit. If someone beside me is singing off-key without drowning out the act... I couldn't give a shit. Each to their own.

The sign was a minor offence. And the fact that Pete expressed his disdain for these two for a sign pretty much reflects his level of appreciation for the fans. At face value (no pun intended), it sounds as if he'd prefer people pay the price of admission and not show up so that he doesn't have to view the foul masses he shows little patience for or else abhors.

Lastly... I don't think this dad was very responsible: I am not excusing his actions and as a dad, when I brought my kid to shows as a 12, 13, 14 and now 15 year old... we are as unobtrusive as possible- but this is just me though. Pete's actions were far worse in my mind. If you wish to excuse Pete entirely by suggesting the parent and his 7 year old daughter were fully to blame... well... I'm not too sure what else to say?

Thirty Bills Unpaid

Jeanwah wrote:

Thirty Bills Unpaid wrote:

Oh. He was trying to show how easy it was to log in to those site's with credit cards and by showing the financial link. Sounds kooky but whatever. He said it so its probably legit... that explains the child pornography then- case closed.

Faithful fans from multiple decades show up to a concert including a younger generation that will support the band through another decade or two... and instead of relishing the moment for what it is... their guitar player gets huffy because he's annoyed by a kid with a sign.

It would be different if he was an insolent, naive, and newly spoiled rock star... but this is a guy who should probably have a better perspective.

Ya know, everyone knows that a rock show is fair game for inappropriate behavior, it goes with the territory. So when people are upset that the performer isn't displaying G-rated behavior? Well, it just sounds absurd. Pete Townsend owes nothing to the audience, just like any other performer owes nothing to theirs. It's their stage, it's their moment. It's when we place expectations that we get let down, so let go of the god-like, perfect expectations of a gentlemanly, perfectly family-friendly concert, no matter how aged and experienced the band is. Expecting god-like behavior from human beings who are worshipped like gods brings nothing but disappointment.

And besides, the guy used his kid for attention. I may have called him out if I was on stage too.

This is extreme and almost not worthy of responding to.

I don't think anyone is expecting Peter to display G-Rated behaviour and god-like behaviour... get serious. I think what people are expecting Peter to display though is at least a remote level of respect for the support they have been given. Most performers express at least some gratitude for their fans and some gush for their fans: thanking them for affording them the lifestyle they live!

I guess I have a different perspective for how I feel I should be treated at a concert. I'm not paying to get cussed out or spit on or pissed on. I'm paying to show up, enjoy, pay tribute and have a great time. If I was acting like an ass... then I could expect to be addressed. This goofy situation hardly qualifies for a verbal assault in front of 1000s of people.

Jeanwah

Thirty Bills Unpaid wrote:

Jeanwah wrote:

Thirty Bills Unpaid wrote:

Oh. He was trying to show how easy it was to log in to those site's with credit cards and by showing the financial link. Sounds kooky but whatever. He said it so its probably legit... that explains the child pornography then- case closed.

Faithful fans from multiple decades show up to a concert including a younger generation that will support the band through another decade or two... and instead of relishing the moment for what it is... their guitar player gets huffy because he's annoyed by a kid with a sign.

It would be different if he was an insolent, naive, and newly spoiled rock star... but this is a guy who should probably have a better perspective.

Ya know, everyone knows that a rock show is fair game for inappropriate behavior, it goes with the territory. So when people are upset that the performer isn't displaying G-rated behavior? Well, it just sounds absurd. Pete Townsend owes nothing to the audience, just like any other performer owes nothing to theirs. It's their stage, it's their moment. It's when we place expectations that we get let down, so let go of the god-like, perfect expectations of a gentlemanly, perfectly family-friendly concert, no matter how aged and experienced the band is. Expecting god-like behavior from human beings who are worshipped like gods brings nothing but disappointment.

And besides, the guy used his kid for attention. I may have called him out if I was on stage too.

This is extreme and almost not worthy of responding to.

I don't think anyone is expecting Peter to display G-Rated behaviour and god-like behaviour... get serious. I think what people are expecting Peter to display though is at least a remote level of respect for the support they have been given. Most performers express at least some gratitude for their fans and some gush for their fans: thanking them for affording them the lifestyle they live!

I guess I have a different perspective for how I feel I should be treated at a concert. I'm not paying to get cussed out or spit on or pissed on. I'm paying to show up, enjoy, pay tribute and have a great time. If I was acting like an ass... then I could expect to be addressed. This goofy situation hardly qualifies for a verbal assault in front of 1000s of people.

How YOU should be treated at a concert? Like any performer owes you anything. Good god... It all goes right back to having expectations... And what he did is nothing compared to say a punk concert where the band throws nothing but insults into the crowd. (Yet the crowd loves this and begs for more, because it IS a punk rock show...)

Speaking of which, here's some of the Jeff Ament interview which I posted some of in the PJ and politics thread, which reminds me of this topic now.

(Interviewer): Just because you’re a musician or you stand in front of a camera, it doesn’t mean you give up your citizenship. So, you still should be allowed to have a voice.

JA: It’s crazy. The people that are yelling the loudest are the Rush Limbaughs and guys like that who are… They’re doing that in the worst way. Rush Limbaugh’s a weather man. He has one of the biggest pulpits in the land.

(Interviewer): On the artistic side of it, I remember watching the Pearl Jam Twenty documentary and it showed the reaction to a performance of “Bushleaguer.” Afterwards, some of the band members were against playing it again because they didn’t want to go through that uncomfortable situation where a portion of the crowd turned on you. But, you were defiant and wanted to play it again because you felt that art should be confrontational and you shouldn’t cower, even if everyone isn’t cheering. I just thought that was such a great statement at the time.

JA: I’ve always felt like music can be good in that confrontational way. It goes back to what I was saying earlier about it starting a conversation. I feel like I’ve always been in bands that have been a little bit controversial at different times. And some of the early punk bands, in particular, when I was in Green River and we opened up for the Dead Kennedys and Black Flag, those crowds hated us. They would throw shit at us and I kind of ate it up. I was into it. I was like, “Good. There’s something we’re doing up here that is causing a reaction.” Reaction is great. If it makes you feel anything and that to me is better than just numbing people out and being a pure entertainer where you just try to make people happy. Ultimately, I never really cared what people thought. It’s always been about, “Do the guys in the band, the people I’m playing with, are we getting off? Are we creating something that we love? That we totally believe in?” We’ve been lucky in that people have reacted to that and bought our records and they come to our shows. That’s an awesome fringe benefit of being in a creative unit. For me it’s always been more about making great art than it has been about being entertainers.

Thirty Bills Unpaid

Jeanwah wrote:

Thirty Bills Unpaid wrote:

I don't think anyone is expecting Peter to display G-Rated behaviour and god-like behaviour... get serious. I think what people are expecting Peter to display though is at least a remote level of respect for the support they have been given. Most performers express at least some gratitude for their fans and some gush for their fans: thanking them for affording them the lifestyle they live!

I guess I have a different perspective for how I feel I should be treated at a concert. I'm not paying to get cussed out or spit on or pissed on. I'm paying to show up, enjoy, pay tribute and have a great time. If I was acting like an ass... then I could expect to be addressed. This goofy situation hardly qualifies for a verbal assault in front of 1000s of people.

How YOU should be treated at a concert? Like any performer owes you anything. Good god... It all goes right back to having expectations... And what he did is nothing compared to say a punk concert where the band throws nothing but insults into the crowd. (Yet the crowd loves this and begs for more, because it IS a punk rock show...)

I never said anything at all about performers owing me anything. I mentioned that many performers respect and appreciate their fan base. They don't view them as simple-minded minions there for their abuse if the mood strikes them. Are you saying that a paying fan can have no baseline expectations? That they are owed nothing?
"Gee. I sure hope they play more than one song!"
"Yeah. And we're in the front row. I sure hope they don't throw their feces at us!"
"Yeah. Remember the last time we were in the front row? Remember when Pete took one of those big boogers from his big nose and flicked it on Johnny?"

If it goes back to expectations... then why compare a Who concert in 2013, when they are 100 years old, to a punk rock show filled with raving lunatics with spiked faces thrashing about madly? This comparison is ridiculous. The dad never took his daughter to a punk rock show. He took her to a show where the average age of the audience was 40+ and the performers are considered legends.

Bottom line:
1. The dad took his daughter to a rock concert and, admittedly it's a little early in her life, is trying to introduce her to one of life's greatest gifts- music. Good move.
2. The dad should have explained to his daughter that the sign was inappropriate because... oh... say... when you hold it up at the concert- it interferes with people's view. Not doing so= poor move.
3. Peter is unable to get past some benign sign that hardly signifies offensiveness. He chooses to berate the father and daughter. What if the father had a terminal illness and was spending the last moments of his life in every capacity he might before he exited the earth? He can hardly be expected to know the circumstances of the two at the show, yet you think he's within his right to shit all over them because he feels like doing so? This was a really really poor move.

You seem to want to give him full marks for being a performer. Fair enough. But being a performer or artist doesn't remove you from acting like a decent human being. In my books... attempting to access child pornography and berating a fan at a concert because his daughter is holding a sign up qualifies you as an asshole.

You think he was justified in attacking the two. I don't. Fair enough. We can agree to disagree on this one.

chadwick

on pete freakin out about the little girl with the sign... pete is a fucking asshole to get bent out of shape about such a innocent act. be a god damn professional & be fucking greatful people are still coming to see your old ass. $300 for the 2 tickets is that what i read?

many years ago i watch a interview w/ roger daltrey & i believe it may have been howard stern although it's not clear. roger was asked about pete & kids. roger was god damn uncomfortable, embarest, & really had not a lot to say. one thing was 100% fact though... roger could not say pete was innocent or guilty all he could say is he hopes its cleared up so they can get back to work...something like this.

bullshit.

your fucking friend & band mates & family members & best fucking life long friends know for a fact if one of their own is a child molester.

i believe fully in my heart that pete townsend is very guilty of some things. white knight saving the children my frickin ass. that is a bullshit fucking fabricated load of horseshit

hedonist

Bit of a laundry list of my thoughts -

1. Pete overreacted; then again, who hasn't?
2. Not sure why Pedo-Pete was even introduced here
3. I'm also tired of the whole "using children" thing - whether in this instance, or the occupy movement, or anti-abortion protests, or those fucking Subaru commercials, etc. Let children fucking BE children, and not have them be their parents' (or corporations') mouthpieces for purposes of pulling at heartstrings
4. Smashing guitars always seemed to me like wasting a perfectly good instrument
5. I go to a show and am respectful. I wouldn't want the person(s) on stage thinking it's ok to treat me like shit in exchange for my payment. The sign in question didn't strike me as offensive.

chadwick

in my opinion i believe wholeheartedly that pete does not carry himself well at all.

rollings

Now that Pete knows the whole story (if he read the aricle ) he could apologize to the little girl whose feelings he hurt.

He misunderstood, and understandably so, and thought that the adult put the child up to making the sign.

Furthermore, a "smash your guitar, Pete" sign isn't exactly a request for your favorite song either.

The headline is also misleading. He didn't curse the fans out. The article said he said "I'd curse you out if you weren't holding a child" and then MOUTHED "F -off".

yeah, Pete's a little grumpy. yeah, it was probably poor taste for the father.
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

rollings

hedonist wrote:

3. I'm also tired of the whole "using children" thing - whether in this instance, or the occupy movement, or anti-abortion protests, or those fucking Subaru commercials, etc. Let children fucking BE children, and not have them be their parents' (or corporations') mouthpieces for purposes of pulling at heartstrings

But the article says it was the little girl's idea to make & take & hold the sign & for it to say what it did despite the dad telling her that guitar smashing is a thing of the past. I mean, in my opinion, the dad could have put his foot down more if he wanted to, but I don't think that this is an adult "using children for their own pursposes" instance, ya know?

hedonist

rollings wrote:

hedonist wrote:

3. I'm also tired of the whole "using children" thing - whether in this instance, or the occupy movement, or anti-abortion protests, or those fucking Subaru commercials, etc. Let children fucking BE children, and not have them be their parents' (or corporations') mouthpieces for purposes of pulling at heartstrings

But the article says it was the little girl's idea to make & take & hold the sign & for it to say what it did despite the dad telling her that guitar smashing is a thing of the past. I mean, in my opinion, the dad could have put his foot down more if he wanted to, but I don't think that this is an adult "using children for their own pursposes" instance, ya know?

You may be right. All I'm going by is how I (think I) was at seven years old...and how my parents, well, parented me. Children at that age require/demand guidance by those supposedly wiser. My remark is also prompted by seeing children regularly used as accessories, much like lapdogs.

(I also have come to distrust what articles - and their authors - offer up as truth)

Who Princess

g under p wrote:

I liked to hear what The Who Princess has to say on this matter. Now this kind of stuff would never happen at a RUSH concert. In fact of the 46 times I've seen the band I've never ever heard Geddy Lee curse. It's always safe to take daughter who first saw them at 7, all she needs are ear plugs.

Peace

Thanks for asking. I made several comments about it in the Who Tour thread: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=192869&start=345

Beyond what I've said there, this seems to have turned into a why-Pete-Townsend-is-an-asshole-and-I-always-knew-he-was-guilty rant and I've had more than enough of those conversations.

Jeanwah

Thirty Bills Unpaid wrote:

Jeanwah wrote:

Thirty Bills Unpaid wrote:

I don't think anyone is expecting Peter to display G-Rated behaviour and god-like behaviour... get serious. I think what people are expecting Peter to display though is at least a remote level of respect for the support they have been given. Most performers express at least some gratitude for their fans and some gush for their fans: thanking them for affording them the lifestyle they live!

I guess I have a different perspective for how I feel I should be treated at a concert. I'm not paying to get cussed out or spit on or pissed on. I'm paying to show up, enjoy, pay tribute and have a great time. If I was acting like an ass... then I could expect to be addressed. This goofy situation hardly qualifies for a verbal assault in front of 1000s of people.

How YOU should be treated at a concert? Like any performer owes you anything. Good god... It all goes right back to having expectations... And what he did is nothing compared to say a punk concert where the band throws nothing but insults into the crowd. (Yet the crowd loves this and begs for more, because it IS a punk rock show...)

I never said anything at all about performers owing me anything. I mentioned that many performers respect and appreciate their fan base. They don't view them as simple-minded minions there for their abuse if the mood strikes them. Are you saying that a paying fan can have no baseline expectations? That they are owed nothing?
"Gee. I sure hope they play more than one song!"
"Yeah. And we're in the front row. I sure hope they don't throw their feces at us!"
"Yeah. Remember the last time we were in the front row? Remember when Pete took one of those big boogers from his big nose and flicked it on Johnny?"

If it goes back to expectations... then why compare a Who concert in 2013, when they are 100 years old, to a punk rock show filled with raving lunatics with spiked faces thrashing about madly? This comparison is ridiculous. The dad never took his daughter to a punk rock show. He took her to a show where the average age of the audience was 40+ and the performers are considered legends.

Bottom line:
1. The dad took his daughter to a rock concert and, admittedly it's a little early in her life, is trying to introduce her to one of life's greatest gifts- music. Good move.
2. The dad should have explained to his daughter that the sign was inappropriate because... oh... say... when you hold it up at the concert- it interferes with people's view. Not doing so= poor move.
3. Peter is unable to get past some benign sign that hardly signifies offensiveness. He chooses to berate the father and daughter. What if the father had a terminal illness and was spending the last moments of his life in every capacity he might before he exited the earth? He can hardly be expected to know the circumstances of the two at the show, yet you think he's within his right to shit all over them because he feels like doing so? This was a really really poor move.

You seem to want to give him full marks for being a performer. Fair enough. But being a performer or artist doesn't remove you from acting like a decent human being. In my books... attempting to access child pornography and berating a fan at a concert because his daughter is holding a sign up qualifies you as an asshole.

You think he was justified in attacking the two. I don't. Fair enough. We can agree to disagree on this one.

Thirty Bills Unpaid wrote:

I guess I have a different perspective for how I feel I should be treated at a concert.

We'll agree to disagree on this, but you do tend to focus on Pete singling out the kid when in reality, he was focusing on the father.

There are no rules at concerts, and we are all at the mercy of the ones on stage. When they're in a shitty mood, it's the audience who hears about it, it's just the way it goes. Yes, he didn't have to be a dick, but the father could certainly have known better as well.

brianlux

Who Princess wrote:

g under p wrote:

I liked to hear what The Who Princess has to say on this matter. Now this kind of stuff would never happen at a RUSH concert. In fact of the 46 times I've seen the band I've never ever heard Geddy Lee curse. It's always safe to take daughter who first saw them at 7, all she needs are ear plugs.

Peace

Thanks for asking. I made several comments about it in the Who Tour thread: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=192869&start=345

Beyond what I've said there, this seems to have turned into a why-Pete-Townsend-is-an-asshole-and-I-always-knew-he-was-guilty rant and I've had more than enough of those conversations.

Well said posts, Who Princess.
It really is amazing what fans expect out of their favorite musicians. I say, get a baby sitter, go to the show, hope it's a good one, feel lucky you got to be there in the first place, respect the act and those around you and if you can't do any of that, stay home and listen to the records.

Jeanwah

brianlux wrote:

Who Princess wrote:

g under p wrote:

I liked to hear what The Who Princess has to say on this matter. Now this kind of stuff would never happen at a RUSH concert. In fact of the 46 times I've seen the band I've never ever heard Geddy Lee curse. It's always safe to take daughter who first saw them at 7, all she needs are ear plugs.

Peace

Thanks for asking. I made several comments about it in the Who Tour thread: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=192869&start=345

Beyond what I've said there, this seems to have turned into a why-Pete-Townsend-is-an-asshole-and-I-always-knew-he-was-guilty rant and I've had more than enough of those conversations.

Well said posts, Who Princess.
It really is amazing what fans expect out of their favorite musicians. I say, get a baby sitter, go to the show, hope it's a good one, feel lucky you got to be there in the first place, respect the act and those around you and if you can't do any of that, stay home and listen to the records.

Good advice Brian. Perhaps we should stop expecting anything from those we admire and look up to, because that expectation, if not carried through, always brings disappointment.

brianlux

Jeanwah wrote:

Good advice Brian. Perhaps we should stop expecting anything from those we admire and look up to, because that expectation, if not carried through, always brings disappointment.

So true, Jeanwah. I saw Dizzy Gilliespie once a year or two before he died. Someone nearby commented on how he "just didn't have it anymore". I wanted to tell them they should just be thankful he's still around and feel lucky to get to see him at all. Actually I wanted to say more than that but realized it might be better if I keep those thoughts to myself!

rearviewross

Fucking relax Pete. Jesus... :roll:

helplessdancer

i was there 2 rows directly in front of this clown/dad
leave your 7 year old at home is all i have to say about it

Laugh and say I'm green
I've seen things you'll never see.
Talk behind my back
But I'm off the beaten track.
I'll take on anyone
Ain't scared of a bloody nose,
Drink till I drop down
With one eye on my clothes.

What is it? I'll take it.
Who is she? I'll rape it.
Got a bet there? I'll meet it.
Getting High? You can't beat it.

Doctor Jimmy and mister Jim
When I'm pilled you don't notice him,
He only comes out when I drink my gin.

You say she's a virgin.
I'm gonna be the first in.
Her fellah's gonna kill me?
Oh fucking will he.
I'm seeing double
But don't miss me if you can.
There's gonna be trouble
When she choses her man.

What is it? [etc.]

Doctor Jimmy and mister Jim etc.
Is it me? For a moment
The stars are falling.
The heat is rising
The past is calling.

I'm going back soon
Home to get the baboon.
Who cut up my eye,
Messed up my Levis.
I'm feeling restless
Bring another score around
Maybe something stronger
Could really hold me down.

helplessdancer

SPEEDY MCCREADY wrote:

Using your child as a prop.
Where have I heard of this behavior before?

oh i get this totally, and bravo speedy!!

after it went down in hamilton the dad and daughter went back to their seats they sat down for the rest of the show sulking like their lives were over and someone kicked their puppy...then they left 2 songs before the end of the show...

and i'm bringing my 6 year old, cute as a button, niece, to the next PJ show cause i want a tambourine