John Lennon's Coolness to Pete Townshend

Because he's an ass?

 

a SMART ass

 

not to be confused with a smartass

 

Seems that Pete and Paul definitely had the common seminal ground of Eddie Cochran, if nothing else.

 

It's always interesting to go back and read these old interviews. They're like a time piece. And read today, Pete's comments just seem kinda dated, narrow, and quaint.

 

Isn't this just a guide vocal Lennon did for Ringo in 1973?
It isn't a bad vocal and it doesn't show any decline.
It's simply an innocuous recording for Ringo to use.

 

You're right. That's the demo John recorded for Ringo.

 

I'm not familiar with his fawning in '68, but I will take your word on this.

I think Pete and John have a lot in common in that it depends what day you talk to them and what kind of mood they happen to be in. As they get rolling into their conversations they will inevitably speak a 'truth' within the way they have perceived, or framed, a question.

I also recall reading Lennon once bragging that he used feedback on a recording before The Who. So he must have thought high enough of them to feel the need to be competitive that particular day.

Does anyone remember what recording Lennon was talking about? I want to say I'm Only Sleeping, but I don't hear feedback in that one.

 

Yup, I believe Paul read that in a Melody Maker interview with Pete Townshend. I am skeptical that ICSFM was the inspiration for "Helter Skelter" though. Maybe Pete was talking about the songs he was working on for the abortive 1968 album? Something like this?

 

John was competitive.

 

Because Pete is a Dick.

 

Yes: Rockestra, not "Grannyestra".

 

I believe Pete once said his aim for the Who sound was a blend of the Beatles' music and Dylan's lyrics (and whether he said it or not, I think that's a pretty good summary of their style).

As for Lennon's coolness to him, that, by most accounts, is how Lennon treated anyone he admired - he just shut down because he didn't know what to say. Carole King has a story in her autobiography about meeting him in 1965...he apparently just mumbled a barely audible hello and then slunk away. She met him one more time, about a decade later after she and Yoko happened to meet in the ladies' room at the movies, and on that occasion he apologized and explained that he'd been too awestruck to say anything. It sounds to me like it could be the same kind of situation with Pete, possibly with the added factor that they were widely seen as direct rivals.

 

Dream on. He was not awestruck by Pete.

 

I Feel Fine

 

He told you that the last time you had a beer together, did he? Okay.

 

And Mr Townsend is surprised. He ran slightly amock in the 60's, badmouthing The Beatles and suggesting they couldn't play!

A bit arrogant of him when he had a small fraction of Lennon's (and McCartney's) talent and his band were an even smaller fraction.

I like The Who, but next to The Beatles they were a garage band.

 

Don't take my word:

Pete Townshend Settles Down

 

Yea...just a guide vocal/demo. You're really going to judge him on that? At least he didn't constantly sing flat ot off-key like Roger Daltrey. What a horrible vocalist he was/is.

 

I'll take garage rock anytime

 

...and an overrated junkie, with some disturbing, unforgivable proclivities.