October 31
Digital Vampires
Pete delivered the inaugural John Peel Lecture tonight. The BBC has a report here
Pete and Roger announce new UCLA Cancer initiative.
Pete and Roger will be on hand, together with Robert Plant, to announce the 'UCLA Daltrey/Townshend Teen & Young Adult Cancer Program', an off shoot of the work of the TCT in Britain. A press conference will be held on Friday Nov 4th in LA to launch the
initiative. The press release states: "The vision of the UCLA Daltrey/Townshend Teen & Young Adult Cancer Program is to ensure that every young person receives the best possible care and professional support to help meet the unique physical and emotional challenges resulting from a cancer diagnosis. The belief is that teenagers and young adults shouldn't stop enjoying their youth just because they have cancer."
Advance copies of 'Quadrophenia' released
Apparently advanced copies of the 'Quadrophenia'
box set were sent out last week. If anyone has one and fancies sending in a review I'll happily print them on the site. Send to info@mattkent.co.uk.
October 27
Pete to play to the press
Pete will play
an intimate show for invited guests on November 9. The venue, one which plays quite a part in Who folklore, is in London and Pete will also take part in a Q & A and discuss the project.
October 26
MOJO looks at Quadrophenia
The December issue of MOJO has an in depth look at Quadrophenia and includes new interviews with both Pete and Roger. Also included is a CD 'The Route to Quadrophenia' which includes Pete's demos for 'Cut My Hair' and 'Joker
James'. In the shops now.
Full line up for 'Later' announced
The BBC have announced the full line up for 'Later with Jools Holland' which will be recorded on November 1st. As well as Pete, who will be performing a couple of tracks from 'Quadrophenia', the impressive line up includes; Florence and the Machine, Brett Anderson, My Morning Jacket, Bombino and Cold Specks. The show goes out live on November 1st and a later, extended edition is broadcast on november 4th , both on BBC2.
Quadrophenia exhibition 'invite only' launch tonight
The Quadrophenia exhibition at the Pretty Green clothes shop in Carnaby Street opens tonight
with an invite only affair. On show are some of Pete's own archival material, a new clothing range and a replica Vespa scooter from the project . Opens to the general public tomorrow and runs until January 2012
October 25
Roger speaks to 93.3 WMMR
Roger has given an interview to 93.3 WMMR, and, although it is short, it contains some interesting content. Have a read here.
Black Friday Record Store Day
Waiting for official news on this but it seems that this years Record Store day on Nov 25th will feature an exclusive release from Quadrophenia. A little bird tells me: 'The Quadrophenia Demos, Vol 1 - The first of two 10" EP's featuring six demos from the Directors Cut, produced, authorised, overseen by Pete Townshend and individually numbered'. Not sure what the pressing number will be but, like all Record Day releases it's likely to be small.
'Tommy' at the Schools Proms
The Royal Albert Hall is the home to this years Schools Proms event, taking place between Nov 7-9th. On the 7th one of the schools taking part, The Rainbow Connection Youth Choir from Doncaster, will be performing 'Suite From Tommy'.
October 24
Pete to appear on 'Later'.
Pete is set to appear on BBC 2's 'Later with Jools Holland' show on November 1st. He will be performing numbers from Quadrophenia.
Pete nominated for Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Pete has been nominated for the 2012 Songwriters Hall of Fame.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame is an organisation " which is dedicated to recognizing the work and lives of those composers and lyricists who create popular music around the world, holds annual elections to determine those who will make up the roster of inductees for the following year. Eligible voting members will have until December 12th, 2011 to turn in ballots with their choices of two nominees from a non-performer and two from a performer category".
The 2012 Annual Awards Gala will take place at the New York Marriott Marquis on Thursday, June 14, as part of the “Songwriters Hall of Fame Week.”
2012 Songwriters Hall Of Fame nominees
Performer/Songwriters
Elvis Costello
Dion DiMucci
Deborah Harry/Chris Stein (Blondie)
Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens)
Annie Lennox/Dave Stewart
Gordon Lightfoot
George Michael
Steve Miller
Lou Reed
Bob Seger
Pete Townshend
Tom Waits
The Independent on Quadrophenia
The Independent newspaper looks forward to the upcoming Quadrophenia release and includes a stream of Joker James. Access it here.
October 17
Pete's 'Live Aid' Schecter up for auction
Pete has donated the black Schecter guitar he used at the Live Aid concert in 1985 to an upcoming auction at Christies in London. The guitar is expected to fetch in the region of £30,000 - 50,000. The auction takes place on November 15th 2011
October 11
The Sun streams 'Cut My Hair' demo.
image taken from Quadrophenia box set
British newspaper The Sun has an article on the Quadrophenia release and, as well as quotes by Pete, is streaming his original 'Cut My Hair' demo. There is also a slideshow of four of Pete's original lyrics for the album. Click to go to The Sun
October 9th
I Can't Explain book and DVD
For those who must have everything there's a new unauthorised book and DVD set out now. Judging by the reviews it's not worth the money but for those who must have everything you can buy it on Amazon here
October 8th
For John
I've just uploaded an essay about the 2002
tour in time for John's birthday tomorrow. It can be accessed via the Access All Areas link on the left.
October 5th
Roger bemoans lack of real singers.
Roger has spoken to the Press Association about his worries that there are no real lead singers being produced anymore. Read it here.
RIP Bert Jansch
Sad to hear of the passing of Bert Jansch today, one of the world's most influential guitarists. Bert lost his fight against cancer but his legacy will live on.
"He completely re-invented guitar playing and set a standard that is still unequalled today...without Bert Jansch, rock music as it developed in the ‘60s and ‘70s would have been very different. You hear him in Nick Drake, Pete Townshend, Donovan, The Beatles, Jimmy Page and Neil Young. There are people playing guitar who don’t even realise they’ve been influenced by him one step removed” – Johnny Marr
October 3rd
Pete to launch inaugural John Peel lecture
Pete will talk about music in the internet age at The Lowry Theatre in Salford on October 31st. This will be the inaugural lecture of the (to be) annual John Peel Lecture
and will be broadcast on Radio 6. The theme of Pete's lecture will be: "Can John Peelism survive the internet?". A BBC statement said his lecture would ask: "In an age of free downloads and a disposable attitude to music, can creative people earn a living, and without radio, how can the 'unpolished' music that John Peel championed find an audience?"More details here. To apply for tickets click here.
October 2nd
Pete talks about the UFO Club and IT
A few weeks ago Pete sent me a copy of an interview he had done about the UFO Club and International Times for an article in Uncut magazine. The interview has been printed online by journalist Peter Watts. You can read this fascinating interview here.
October 1st
Rare photos from the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival go on display
A new exhibition of rare photos, including The Who, taken at the 1970 Isle of Wight
Festival are to go on display at Swansea Museum. The photographer, Charles Everest, had unrestricted access at the Festival and was able to catch some great moments. Click here for more info (a collage of Who shots are in photo 5 of 6).
To see more of Charle's images, including some great Who shots and to buy some prints visit his website here.
