Pete Townshend on LZ

[hercoflex]

From a recent interview with Pete Townshend:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/whos-done-pete-townshends-ambivalent-farewell-20150507

"I spoke with Robert Plant last year. He basically suggested that Led Zeppelin was something he did when he was younger and he has no desire to go back there. Can you understand that sort of attitude?
I completely understand that, of course I do, but I don't want to say what leaps into my mind. Robert could probably do everything that he wants to do. He could do the occasional Led Zeppelin comeback and make a lot of people very happy. There's a kind of churlishness to that [opinion]. But he's his own man, and he has to make his own decisions.

The person that I've thought a lot about since John Bonham's death is John Paul Jones. He's a beautiful looking man and a beautiful musician. He's a fantastic experimenter in modern electronic music and other things, and he's sort of been sitting there. It would be interesting to see what he could bring to a new Led Zeppelin project. I think he was much more in the front line of Led Zeppelin music on keyboard work because nobody else in the band played it. It was a prog rock era in respect to him.

I get the sense that Jimmy really misses the band and is really frustrated with Robert for refusing to tour.
Well, of course Jimmy's problem is also different because he spent so much time just literally shut away. I don't know if he had come back in the earlier years if he would have survived. He did a short tour alongside the Who and eventually had to stop because he pulled his back.

It's interesting because, of course, Robert is managed by our same manager, and Jimmy used to be as well. It must be very interesting for our manager to deal with me and Roger and Robert and mirror one artist against the other. Bill [Curbishley] seems to be delighted with Roger because he knows what he wants. I don't think that I do. I grope around quite a bit. One day I'll wake up, call Bill and tell him that I want to go on tour. He'll say, "Listen, this is going to take eight months to put together." By the time it's together I call him up early in the morning and say, "I don't want to go on tour." But at least Robert knows what he's going to be doing next. He seems to be very clear.

That's true. Think of the money he's leaving on the table by refusing to do a Led Zeppelin tour.
Well, I think there are other similar parties in the industry. The thing is, when you work on your own, you have control, and that must be important to Robert. I don't want to talk too much about him — he's a good friend and I really do respect him. But I wonder whether it would be possible for Robert to carry that sense of ironic absurdity that I feel I can carry with the Who.

Led Zeppelin were kind of a sexier band than the Who. We can still do what we do as old men. Our audience is about 70 percent male. We can get away with looking ridiculous, at least I think we can.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/whos-done-pete-townshends-ambivalent-farewell-20150507#ixzz3ZYrV6QMz
Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook

Thanks,

hercoflex

[the chase]

Great article. Thanks.

It does make all of the Zeppelin vs Who debates on here look kind of stupid. The respect is great to see.

His take on JPJ is interesting. I don't agree that he's stuck sitting around these days, but I agree with PT that what Jones could bring to a realigned Zeppelin would be mind boggling.

[SteveAJones]

It's a recent interview but there's nothing new to see here. These comments could have just as easily been made 10 years ago.

In fact, Pete mentions Robert is being managed by Bill Curbishley, which I don't believe has been the case for many years now.

[Mithril46]

I really have to agree strongly with two things Townsend said. Townsend really nails my thought, that Plant could still do the Zep thing

some of the time AND do his own thing, he certainly seems to have enough energy. And when you add in JPJ, if you have heard his

solo albums and assorted projects, his experimenting will very likely keep Page from falling too far into Zep clich'es. To me this

"Damaging the Zep legacy" thing is known by most intermediate Zep fans from the 77' tours on anyway. And yes Townsend and

Dal trey have sold out but at least they still crank live. Jimmy's period of playing like shit, likely a factor for Plant, really ended in the

late 80's. He is of course not exactly in touring shape on immediate demand, but I'm sure secretly is quite embarrassed by his stints

into shambles playing and not likely to go out to be laughed at, even if mainly by critics.

[Disco Duck]

I knew Robert Plant opened for The Who many years ago, but I didn't know that Jimmy Page also toured with them. Could other posters tell me more about thnis?

From a recent interview with Pete Townshend:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/whos-done-pete-townshends-ambivalent-farewell-20150507

"I spoke with Robert Plant last year. He basically suggested that Led Zeppelin was something he did when he was younger and he has no desire to go back there. Can you understand that sort of attitude?
I completely understand that, of course I do, but I don't want to say what leaps into my mind. Robert could probably do everything that he wants to do. He could do the occasional Led Zeppelin comeback and make a lot of people very happy. There's a kind of churlishness to that [opinion]. But he's his own man, and he has to make his own decisions.

The person that I've thought a lot about since John Bonham's death is John Paul Jones. He's a beautiful looking man and a beautiful musician. He's a fantastic experimenter in modern electronic music and other things, and he's sort of been sitting there. It would be interesting to see what he could bring to a new Led Zeppelin project. I think he was much more in the front line of Led Zeppelin music on keyboard work because nobody else in the band played it. It was a prog rock era in respect to him.

I get the sense that Jimmy really misses the band and is really frustrated with Robert for refusing to tour.
Well, of course Jimmy's problem is also different because he spent so much time just literally shut away. I don't know if he had come back in the earlier years if he would have survived. He did a short tour alongside the Who and eventually had to stop because he pulled his back.

It's interesting because, of course, Robert is managed by our same manager, and Jimmy used to be as well. It must be very interesting for our manager to deal with me and Roger and Robert and mirror one artist against the other. Bill [Curbishley] seems to be delighted with Roger because he knows what he wants. I don't think that I do. I grope around quite a bit. One day I'll wake up, call Bill and tell him that I want to go on tour. He'll say, "Listen, this is going to take eight months to put together." By the time it's together I call him up early in the morning and say, "I don't want to go on tour." But at least Robert knows what he's going to be doing next. He seems to be very clear.

That's true. Think of the money he's leaving on the table by refusing to do a Led Zeppelin tour.
Well, I think there are other similar parties in the industry. The thing is, when you work on your own, you have control, and that must be important to Robert. I don't want to talk too much about him — he's a good friend and I really do respect him. But I wonder whether it would be possible for Robert to carry that sense of ironic absurdity that I feel I can carry with the Who.

Led Zeppelin were kind of a sexier band than the Who. We can still do what we do as old men. Our audience is about 70 percent male. We can get away with looking ridiculous, at least I think we can.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/whos-done-pete-townshends-ambivalent-farewell-20150507#ixzz3ZYrV6QMz
Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook

Thanks,

hercoflex

[SteveAJones]

I knew Robert Plant opened for The Who many years ago, but I didn't know that Jimmy Page also toured with them. Could other posters tell me more about this?

The Times of India (April 18, 2000)

[Mithril46]

Although this was a long time ago, I saw three of these shows total. Of course not quite Zep intensity, but it was interesting seeing

Page playing so consistently well from song to song. Even in Zep some of the best shows had Page playing somewhat unevenly.

But of course the extraordinary highs always(almost) swept any shakiness under the carpet.

[kirchzep27]

There are more zep songs than whole lotta love and black dog....pete. And, the who are great

[Disco Duck]

It sounds as if Townshend has a man crush on JPJ.

From a recent interview with Pete Townshend:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/whos-done-pete-townshends-ambivalent-farewell-20150507

"I spoke with Robert Plant last year. He basically suggested that Led Zeppelin was something he did when he was younger and he has no desire to go back there. Can you understand that sort of attitude?
I completely understand that, of course I do, but I don't want to say what leaps into my mind. Robert could probably do everything that he wants to do. He could do the occasional Led Zeppelin comeback and make a lot of people very happy. There's a kind of churlishness to that [opinion]. But he's his own man, and he has to make his own decisions.

The person that I've thought a lot about since John Bonham's death is John Paul Jones. He's a beautiful looking man and a beautiful musician. He's a fantastic experimenter in modern electronic music and other things, and he's sort of been sitting there. It would be interesting to see what he could bring to a new Led Zeppelin project. I think he was much more in the front line of Led Zeppelin music on keyboard work because nobody else in the band played it. It was a prog rock era in respect to him.

I get the sense that Jimmy really misses the band and is really frustrated with Robert for refusing to tour.
Well, of course Jimmy's problem is also different because he spent so much time just literally shut away. I don't know if he had come back in the earlier years if he would have survived. He did a short tour alongside the Who and eventually had to stop because he pulled his back.

It's interesting because, of course, Robert is managed by our same manager, and Jimmy used to be as well. It must be very interesting for our manager to deal with me and Roger and Robert and mirror one artist against the other. Bill [Curbishley] seems to be delighted with Roger because he knows what he wants. I don't think that I do. I grope around quite a bit. One day I'll wake up, call Bill and tell him that I want to go on tour. He'll say, "Listen, this is going to take eight months to put together." By the time it's together I call him up early in the morning and say, "I don't want to go on tour." But at least Robert knows what he's going to be doing next. He seems to be very clear.

That's true. Think of the money he's leaving on the table by refusing to do a Led Zeppelin tour.
Well, I think there are other similar parties in the industry. The thing is, when you work on your own, you have control, and that must be important to Robert. I don't want to talk too much about him — he's a good friend and I really do respect him. But I wonder whether it would be possible for Robert to carry that sense of ironic absurdity that I feel I can carry with the Who.

Led Zeppelin were kind of a sexier band than the Who. We can still do what we do as old men. Our audience is about 70 percent male. We can get away with looking ridiculous, at least I think we can.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/whos-done-pete-townshends-ambivalent-farewell-20150507#ixzz3ZYrV6QMz
Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook

Thanks,

hercoflex

[kirchzep27]

I probably have man crushes on led zeppelin, but it hasnt been diagnosed yet, just joking !

Led Zeppelin rule ......ya !

[Mithril46]

Obviously man crushes happen concerning full blown rock stars, of course especially if your'e a teenager. The mystical power of the

music, the instrumental ability of the band members, the ability to get women at will, etc.,. I in fact was thin as a teenager, but when later

in Zep Page became cancer patient thin, I actually wanted to look like that. Not just sheer imitation, but unless you go to a hospital

or homeless shelter , you will automatically be distinctive as it is rare to encounter 26 inch waist men walking the streets.

I haven't read Townsend's biographies but allegedly there was some gay things happening so the comment about Jones could go

either way, man crush or real attraction. I think that a man crush really could happen at any age, Also some men may appear feminine

to some, and now some would say they might be latent homosexual. This is really a very complex topic more suited to a psych forum

or something.

But Townsend is spot on with why can't Plant play with Page and do a solo thing ????

[Bong-Man]

I went to both of those shows on consecutive nights. I don't think I ever recovered.

A Pete solo tour in 5000 seat arenas is something I would have paid a lot of money to see. It should have happened in the 80's.

[jimmie ray]

Pete Townshend creeps me out more than any other famous musician. His deviances are evident in his writing and interviews, but then he'll make all sorts of excuses for it. I'm sure every caught pedophile would like to say they were just "researching". He sure does seem to get a lot of support, though.

[Stairway is NOT stolen]

Obviously man crushes happen concerning full blown rock stars, of course especially if your'e a teenager. The mystical power of the

music, the instrumental ability of the band members, the ability to get women at will, etc.,. I in fact was thin as a teenager, but when later

in Zep Page became cancer patient thin, I actually wanted to look like that. Not just sheer imitation, but unless you go to a hospital

or homeless shelter , you will automatically be distinctive as it is rare to encounter 26 inch waist men walking the streets.

I haven't read Townsend's biographies but allegedly there was some gay things happening so the comment about Jones could go

either way, man crush or real attraction. I think that a man crush really could happen at any age, Also some men may appear feminine

to some, and now some would say they might be latent homosexual. This is really a very complex topic more suited to a psych forum

or something.

But Townsend is spot on with why can't Plant play with Page and do a solo thing ????

I think it's because both Page and Plant are on different wavelengths musically. Plant wants to branch out and try different things and different music genres, whereas Page is more grounded and wants to do more Rock and blues related music, which Plant isn't really interested in doing anymore.

[Mithril46]

That is a very astute observation which actually drives me bananas. My biggest problem with Plant is that initially in his solo career

he seemed to try to get musicians at least reasonably close to his own ability. IMO, after Fate of Nations Plant's ego seemed to totally

explode and he needed to control everything. So a lot of the time he since 2000 or so has played with players nowhere near his

ability. Still some good songs ( yes, adventurous), but some guitarists who Page could outplay with one arm tied behind his back.

And Page does seem like he would be unable to de tangle himself from his basic style. But listening to JPJ's solo stuff, if he was

brought aboard, Plant would likely press matters and Jones' presence could do much to avoid falling into clich'es.

Forget Robert's lost range, he can still sound amazing and the band could work with it Pete's weird no doubt.

[SteveAJones]

Pete Townshend creeps me out more than any other famous musician. His deviances are evident in his writing and interviews, but then he'll make all sorts of excuses for it. I'm sure every caught pedophile would like to say they were just "researching". He sure does seem to get a lot of support, though.

Pete's many things but he ain't a pedophile. He was thoroughly investigated by the authorities and the evidence fully supported his claim he merely conducted a financial transaction online as part of his independent research and that he never actually accessed the site.

http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/pete-townshend-finally-speaks-about-pedophilia-scandal/10254287

[SteveAJones]

I think it's because both Page and Plant are on different wavelengths musically. Plant wants to branch out and try different things and different music genres, whereas Page is more grounded and wants to do more Rock and blues related music, which Plant isn't really interested in doing anymore.

Page is grounded alright (not taking flight).

[Mithril46]

Never would say Townsend is a pedophile or gets off on "forbidden porn", just that he does at times slip out with an odd comment here

and there(remember the Jagger thing ??). I am not anti-gay either. In fact I do think Pete is or was a mildly latent homosexual, but he is

very masculine in many ways, rather complex.

Plant has ventured around the world with his musical forays. Page, even though the new stuff in the LOUD movie sounded interesting,

still was IMO a bit Zeppish. But at this point unless you have some serious inside info, you don't know what Page is up to recording/

band/or practice wise. No details necessary, just a factual statement is enough. Of course some will still speculate. For me a simple

Page is doing NOTHING will suffice.

[Disco Duck]

... But listening to JPJ's solo stuff, if he was brought aboard, Plant would likely press matters and Jones' presence could do much to avoid falling into clich'es. Forget Robert's lost range, he can still sound amazing and the band could work with it Pete's weird no doubt...

I would pay a lot of money to see Plant and JPJ perform new music together. Given both men's musical explorations during the past 35 years, just imagine what they could come up with if they collaborated on a musical project. Unfortunately, I don't see this happening. I get the impression from some of Plant's comments over the years that his relationship with JPJ has never been an easy one. The gist of Plant's comments seems to be that he respects JPJ as a musician but, they approach music making differently and he has always found him to be a bit prickly.

[jimmie ray]

Pete's many things but he ain't a pedophile. He was thoroughly investigated by the authorities and the evidence fully supported his claim he merely conducted a financial transaction online as part of his independent research and that he never actually accessed the site.

http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/pete-townshend-finally-speaks-about-pedophilia-scandal/10254287

I know this has been covered here years ago, and realize you are a big fan if his. A bit suprising, as I recognize you as a "connect the dots" sort of thinker. But you have plenty of company, in music fans who look the other way at their hero's indiscretions and exploits...

[Justfred]

But you have plenty of company, in music fans who look the other way at their hero's indiscretions and exploits...

Well said , Well said indeed.

[jimmie ray]

But you have plenty of company, in music fans who look the other way at their hero's indiscretions and exploits...

Well said , Well said indeed.

[KcChief]

Pete's many things but he ain't a pedophile. He was thoroughly investigated by the authorities and the evidence fully supported his claim he merely conducted a financial transaction online as part of his independent research and that he never actually accessed the site.

http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/pete-townshend-finally-speaks-about-pedophilia-scandal/10254287

You live with him? No one knows what goes on behind closed doors...

[Mithril46]

Well Townsend did write some early who stuff supposedly about his own experience with wayward relatives, which at that time

particularly would be something very odd if it weren't true, hence the "research". All this is quite nebulous, really.

[redirtuo]

"In my writing in the past - especially Tommy - I have created unusually

unmerciful worlds for any infant characters. I am often disturbed by what I

see on the page when I write - never more so than when I draw on my own

childhood. Some people who were abused in their childhood have written to me

to say how much they identify with the character of Tommy. But what is

powerful in my own writing, and sometimes most difficult to control and

model, is the unconscious material I draw on. It is what is unconscious in

me that makes me scream for vengeance against my friend's abusers, rather

than an adult understanding of what went wrong.

I remember no specific sexual abuse, though when I was young I was treated in

an extremely controlling and aggressive way by my maternal grandmother. This

is not unusual. It might be described by some as insignificant. Almost

everyone I know experienced similar stuff at some time or other - many

friends experienced more extreme 'abuses' and have no obvious adult vices as

a result.

On the issue of child-abuse, the climate in the press, the police, and in

Government in the UK at the moment is one of a witch-hunt. This may well be

the natural response triggered by cases like that of my friend who committed

suicide. But I believe it is rather more a reaction to the 'freedoms' that

are now available to us all to enter into the reality of a world that most of

us would have to admit has hitherto been kept secret. The world of which I

speak is that of the abusive paedophile. The window of 'freedom' of entry to

that world is of course the internet."

http://www.igtc.com/archives/thewho/2003/Jan/msg00349.html