Pete Townshend on mando

[mrmando]

Pete (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGHLlDT8V5g) very helpfully identifies the maker of his 8-string cutaway archtop as Dick Knight. Basic chords/strumming; the instrument sounds pretty good. No comment on his theology.

[jmkatcher]

Re: Dick Knight

https://www.bluebookinc.com/Downloa....&id=382 (https://www.bluebookinc.com/Download/Category.aspx?product=ACOUSTIC&id=382)

[Ted Eschliman]

Very cool instrument!

True to his years as the self-professed poetic (dare I say "prophetic?") voice of "The Who," Townsend takes himself and his personal artistic "genius" entirely too seriously. This video reminds me way too much of the SNL Dana Carvey skit Chopping Broccoli (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TnaBu9s5Ec)...

[jmkatcher]

I'm just afraid I'd damage my mandolin if I played it that hard. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I saw another video of Pete recently doing another song with Eddie Vedder singing backup (and well too). He projected this aura of what I'll call false gravitas.

[John Flynn]

And what was the deal with that gal next to him and that other person in the backgound? They came across as the stereotypical non-value-added hangers on. I liked the tune a lot, though.

[mandocrucian]

Mando on this track:
The Who - ENDLESS WIRE - "Mike Post Theme"

Need entries for Pete Townsend for the RockMando Discography......

[Gotterdamerung]

Very cool instrument!

True to his years as the self-professed poetic (dare I say "prophetic?") voice of "The Who," Townsend takes himself and his personal artistic "genius" entirely too seriously. This video reminds me way too much of the SNL Dana Carvey skit Chopping Broccoli (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TnaBu9s5Ec)...
Indeed! I had forgotten about that bit from SNL.

By the way, Pete Townsend playing the mandolin is much better news than the last thing I read about him.

Pete Townsend (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2648987.stm)

[Seth Austen]

It's actually a mandola since he said it's tuned CGDA. Sounds pretty good, and he does some trademark rhythmic strums.

Seth

[SternART]

Hey he didn't destroy the mando! I just read the Keith Moon bio.....innerestin read.
This is the Who I remember, an incredible video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYM3Hg4vMsQ

[JEStanek]

All that was missing was Andy Warhol and Nico in the background. It was hard for me to hear the mando over the giggling b/c of the two stage dressers!

Jamie

[PaulD]

By the way, Pete Townsend playing the mandolin is much better news than the last thing I read about him.

Pete Townsend (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2648987.stm)
To be fair, it should be noted that it was likely a one-time incident and he was cleared of the charges several months after the previous story: CBS Entertainment News (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/01/13/entertainment/main536249.shtml)

Thanks for the YouTube video... I've always loved The Who and Townsend's writing. Quadrophenia is an all-time favorite... I've thought for some time that a Bluegrass Opera would be a fun project! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Paul Doubek

[jmcgann]

It's tuned like a mandola, Pete, we got no low C string!

Pete could have stopped writing in 1970 and been immortal for all time (though he did great stuff like Who's Next and Quadrophenia after). One of the GREAT songwriters (whether or not you like his post- Who content...I liked "White City" in the 80's) and one of the best rock and roll bands ever.

[Ken Sager]

After his hearing issues I'm pleased to see he's still making music. Years ago reading about his chronic tinitis and hearing loss I was afraid he would slink away and give up music. I'm glad he didn't. He is still an artist, and entitled to whatever amount of ego he cares for.

As are we all.

Big love,
Ken

[David M.]

Dang, I have hearing issues after watching that Won't Get Fooled Again vid and I had it turned down... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Those boys were wild.

[delsbrother]

Someone awhile back was making mandolins that looked like miniature D'Angelicos - is this the same guy?

[GVD]

One of the GREAT songwriters (whether or not you like his post- Who content...I liked "White City" in the 80's) #and one of the best rock and roll bands ever.

Amen brother. If you were fortunate enough to attend one of their shows when they were really on it you know rock and roll doesn't get any better.

One of my all time favorite Pete projects is the album he cut with Ronnie Lane called Rough Mix. I couldn't find it on iTunes but you can listen to some samples at Amazon # Rough Mix Samples (http://www.amazon.com/Rough-Mix-Pete-Townshend/dp/B000002JK2/sr=1-3/qid=1165279346/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/104-1728697-2115154?ie=UTF8&s=music)


After his hearing issues I'm pleased to see he's still making music. Years ago reading about his chronic tinitis and hearing loss...

It's no wonder he's got hearing issues as loud as The Who used to be. Man I can still remember not being able to hear right for 2 or 3 days after one of their shows and I wasn't the one standing in front of stacks of HiWatts.

GVD

[Larry R]

I'm pretty certain there's a mandolin on "The Seeker" on the Who's BBC Sessions album. No idea who's playing it though.

[Santiago]

I think musical innovators take a lot of arrows, and Townshend has stood up to the test of time. Alot of his work has reminded guitarists that they often ignore their right hands. What he may do to strengthen his is strictly his business. His only crime here is treating a mandolin like a "little guitar."

[mandocrucian]

His only crime here is treating a mandolin like a "little guitar."

Instead of doing what? Playing amped up Monroe licks? Makes me shudder to think of that.

You know, if some long lost recording of Django playing a mandolin like a "little guitar", I doubt if there'd be any complaints - in fact it would probably be the complete opposite. Or Grapelli playing a mandolin like a "fretted violin"..... I don't hear griping about Tiny Moore playing his 5-string like a little electric jazz guitar, or about Ralph Stanley playing mando like a 5-string banjo with his RH finger rolls.

David Lindley considers guitar/banjo/mandolin/saz/bouzouki/fiddle/etc. to be "one big instrument".

NH

[Jonathan Peck]

And what was the deal with that gal next to him and that other person in the backgound? They came across as the stereotypical non-value-added hangers on. I liked the tune a lot, though.
What's the name of his band....The Ho'?? Ok couldn't resist a bad joke.

[jmcgann]

Yeah, Rough Mix is great (is that the one with "Street In The City"? A Masterpiece!)- also liked Who Came First...

Pete played (tenor) banjo before he played guitar, so switching shapes for the tuning was probably no big deal for him.


Playing amped up Monroe licks? #Makes me shudder to think of that.


Oh man, I'm shuddering too. I'd much rather hear The 'oo in their prime than certain 'contemporary bluegrass acts' who are as smooth as Velveeta (or microwave cheese-whiz)- and about as appetizing (for my taste!) Apples and oranges though it may be (is it lunch time yet!?!?!?) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[Dagger Gordon]

I think the Who are great. I've got a DVD of Pete doing a solo version of Magic Bus on 'Later with Jools Holland' (good British TV music show) about 10 years ago- just him and an electric guitar.
Terrific. He is an absolute master at what he does.
As a matter of fact, I've recently become something of a born-again Who fan, and I'm not alone. They headlined T In The Park in the summer, which was the biggest rock festival in the country as Glastonbury wasn't on this year.

[Bren]

You're not alone Dagger - my teenage son had never heard them except for My Generation before T inthe Park and came home saying they were the best thing there.