Pete Townshend, legendary guitarist and songwriter for The Who, discusses his innovative music, from rock operas to synthesizers. He shares his thoughts on technology, targeting a male audience, and the Grateful Dead. The podcast explores his failed project, Lifehouse, and the influence of Leslie West. Pete also talks about his radical approach to music and his relationship with the speaker's father.
Pete Townshend's ambitious project Life House was ultimately scrapped, but the songs he had written for it found their way onto subsequent releases by The Who, including the classic album Who's Next.
In a podcast interview, Pete Townsend discusses the ill-fated effects of technology that he predicted in Life House, which have come to pass in recent times.
Pete Townsend reflects on the influence of music on young men and why he targeted this demographic, believing they were lost and needed something to connect with.
Deep dives
Pete Townsend's Influence as a Guitarist and Songwriter
Pete Townsend is recognized as one of the greatest rock guitarists and top-tier songwriters in the industry. His powerful guitar style, including iconic power chords and early use of synthesizers, established him as a musical innovator. Townsend's legendary on-stage antics, such as smashing guitars and energetic performances, solidified his reputation as a consummate rock and roll showman. The success of the Who's double album Tommy marked Townsend's desire to move beyond pop hits and explore the territory of rock opera, with the album being hailed as a masterpiece by critics. While his ambitious project Life House was ultimately scrapped, the songs he had written for it found their way onto subsequent releases by the band, including the classic album Who's Next.
The Box Set Release and Pete Townsend's Reflections
Recently, the Who released an epic box set titled Who's Next Life House, which contains 155 tracks, including 89 previously unreleased songs. This extensive compilation also features a graphic novel based on Pete Townsend's original script, demos, live concerts, posters, and collectible pins. In a podcast interview, Pete Townsend discusses the ill-fated effects of technology that he predicted in Life House, which have come to pass in recent times. He reflects on his decision to target a specifically male audience with his songwriting for the Who and shares an unexpected perspective on the Grateful Dead and the San Francisco music scene of the 1960s. Townsend's conversation highlights the artistic vision and underlying themes behind Life House, including the function of rock music and the importance of dialogue and connection in the face of a polarized political climate.
Pete Townsend's Journey in Music and Thoughts on AI
Pete Townsend traces his musical influences and reflections on the role of music in society. Growing up with a father who was a part of a dance band, Townsend experienced the magic of music bringing people together for dancing, love, and creating new lives after the devastation of World Wars. He discusses his early interest in skiffle and jazz, leading him to the world of rock and roll as a means of expressing his disenfranchisement. In his exploration of synthesizers and electronic music, Townsend encountered pioneers in the field like Malcolm Cecil and companies like ARP and EMS. He shares his vision of music connected to computerized systems, tailored to individuals' temperaments and analyzing the human mind and body, revealing the experimental aspects of his Life House project. Furthermore, Townsend discusses AI's potential to bridge language barriers and promote understanding between people from different cultures, emphasizing the transformative power of music.
Influence of Music on Young Men
Pete Townsend reflects on the influence of music on young men and why he targeted this demographic. He believes that young men in his time were lost and needed something to connect with. He also discusses how American boys, who hadn't experienced the same post-war bombings as him, still identified with his music and its themes of change and rebellion.
Demos and the Recording Process
Townsend discusses the difference between his demos and the finished songs, particularly in the context of The Who's album 'Who's Next'. He mentions that while the band added their own treatment to the songs during the recording process, his demos were often praised for their sensitivity and performance. Townsend also explains how he drew inspiration from The Band's albums, and how he used studio tape machines and synthesizers to create multi-layered demos that influenced the final recordings.
Pete Townshend, the legendary guitarist and songwriter for The Who, is one of the most decorated rock stars alive. He’s been inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, received Kennedy Center Honors, and lifetime-achievement awards from both the Brit Awards and the Grammys. Pete's iconic power chord-guitar style and early use of synthesizers established him as a musical innovator in the '60s and '70s.
After a string of chart-topping singles in the early '60s, Pete set to work writing the first-ever rock opera, a project that became the double album Tommy. Tommy is widely recognized as The Who’s breakout record, and is considered a masterpiece by many critics.
Following its release, Pete started writing songs and a script for a sci-fi epic called Life House. After that project was scrapped, the songs wound up on different releases from the band over the next decade including their 1971 classic, Who’s Next.
Last month The Who released an epic box set called Who's Next/Life House that contains 155 tracks, 89 of which are unreleased. The set also includes a graphic novel, unheard demos, complete live concerts, posters and collectable pins.
On today’s episode Justin Richmond talks to Pete Townshend about how some of the ill-fated effects of technology that he predicted on Life House have come to pass. Pete also explains why he decided to target a specifically male audience when writing music for The Who. And he gives an unexpected take on the Grateful Dead and San Francisco’s music scene in the '60s.
You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Pete Townshend songs HERE.
