DarkDays

It Was Big new in the uk for weeks, it appalled me.

As Dee says probably better in other forums.

Dee74

Ok guys, I'm not Townshends defense attorney.

He's spoken openly and freely for many years now about his version of what happened both in the book and elsewhere.

Buy the book, or Google.

I put this quote up here for a specific recovery related reason.

As a member and the OP here, I'd ask folks to take other agendas elsewhere.

I'm not saying it's not important to discuss.

I am saying I think it's off-topic here.

Further discussion on this tangent is likely to close the thread, which I think would be a shame.

D

DarkDays

Dee your right, thanks.

Joe Nerv

That snippet creeps me out. Not sure what all the awesomeness is about, or why people are finding that inspiring. I must be missing something?

I too am a huge Who fan. Townshend was a big influence on me as a musician. I believe the Who was the first punk rock band, and they defined R&R for me when I was a teen.

Also like to mention that I only hear good things about townshend. A friend of mine is a stagehand at BAM in NY. Townshend did a show there once, and after the show when my friend my cleaning up he got a tap on his shoulder. It was Pete, and he shook the guy's hand thanking him and saying that they he wouldn't be able to do what he does without their help. I thought that was pretty dang thoughtful for a punk rocker.

LexieCat

It's inspiring because AFTER that he got sober and stayed that way.

It's just an illustration of how insidious and insane this disease is. Nevertheless, in spite of feeling THAT WAY about alcohol, it is possible to recover.

ClearLight

I really like the Who.

Here's a four song set they did at the concert for New York. This was a concert for the police, firemen and women, the transit cops - all the folks who were right there responding after 9/11. The concert took place about a month after 9/11. You'll see them in the audience in their uniforms. You'll also see family members holding up pictures their uniformed fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters that died responding to the tragedy. At one point there's a gal holding up a sign that simply says, "My dad is your hero." Damn.

There were lots of huge acts performing there but the Who brought down the house.

I really liked how you see 50 year old guys, in uniform(!), rawwwking them old bodies like they were twenty somethings.

Thanks for your excellent moderation of this forum Dee.

And now - THE WHO!

ScottFromWI

Just goes to show you that no amount of money, fame, or drive makes anyone immune to the power of addiction - even after many, many years of abstinence.

As a guitarist I always admired Pete as a MONSTER player - his sound is larger than life. I also now admire him for the ability to quit even after that. Definitely have to give the book a read.

Inspiredbypete

I grew up listening to the Who and Pete Townshend. I've got the book Who I Am but haven't started it yet. It's funny how you feel a connection to someone and their story but I've always felt that way about PT. His solo work, particularly All the best cowboys have Chinese eyes, just gets me on a gut level as I hear a fellow alcoholic pouring out his soul in these songs. I always related to his struggles and journey and where he's at today.

MemphisBlues

Thanks, Dee. As I continue to read about my favorite subject -- addiction -- it's always refreshing to see that the pop icons of our days which were so profound in our early drug and alcohol use have latched onto sobriety with a passion and continue to do what many thought was impossible without substances -- rock.

Heck, even Jerry Garcia died trying to get sober, even if it was during one of his normal "time to tour, time to detox" stints. I think for Jerry, "sober" was simply a break from slamming smack.

And it's further refreshing to continue to learn that the largest demographic of folks in recovery are like me: Old!

Who the f@$k are you?

Received

First concert I ever went to was The Who in NYC - Madison Square Garden so I've always had a soft spot for the band.

I think my friend and I were the only two people there who were stone cold sober. My crazy started a couple years after that. Sigh....

wakko

My problem is I do not know where the edge of sobriety is. So on daily basis I do what I need to do. I stay as far away from the edge as is possible by actvely working on improving my sobriety. If I'm not moving foward I am moving backward. Hopefully an accidental drink would not put me over the edge

MN81713

Oh WoW....terrible and thanks for the info, will do some research, if true then yes will not be buying a book from a child molester!!! Thanks for having the guts to speak up!!!!

Marcher13

Thanks for that Dee, the book is now on my list.

(And I loved The Who too.)

Grungehead

I saw The Who in 1980 before Townshend got sober, and long before I got sober. It's really a shame, because I saw so many great concerts in my teens and 20's but my recollection of most of them are fuzzy at best. I did see Led Zeppelin in 1977 when I was 16 but before I started drinking and drugging heavily. I also saw ZZ Top in 1991 when I was one year sober. But I was "out of it" for The Who, The Grateful Dead, The Doobie Brothers, AC/DC, Rush, and lots of others.

LillianGish

I am almost finished reading the book. It is a fascinating read about his struggles with alcohol especially.

And...this years quadrophenia tour was honestly the best concert I've ever seen!

FourSeasons

Must agree! It was a great concert! They didn't skip a beat!!

SweatyHands

I got this book for Christmas, and being a huge Who fan it was a quick read. The bits about addiction struck me as very well written from the point of view of an addict. They are very concise without belaboring the point and make up a small piece of the backdrop for most people, but to an addict, they act as a filter that colors the rest of the book. After reading that passage, I instantly thought "Oh, I totally get that." Off topic a bit, but Greg Allman's book Not My Cross To Bear is another great rock and roll bio that is very centered on addiction.

MN81713

Yeah, Ugh! he was found with several children (5 and above) willing to pay for more...all you have to do is research and I have the time until Monday, how disgusting that money equals you the luxury to write a book after being found a child molester, at minimum the money from his book should go to the victims, but alas, he did profit, disgusting, just my .02, don't know child/porno laws outside of us and only looked up 12.

MN81713

You are right Dee, as always, just that he is a child molester and being "rewarded" after looking at all the facts made me sick....I think that may be how others felt. Just a thought. Amy

Dee74

I thought there were some good recovery aspects to the book.

If your position on other aspects means the book upset you, noones forcing you to read the book, or the thread MN.

D