It is being reported that Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey will be embarking on a world tour in 2011, under the name of their former band, The Who. Of course, half of the original members (Keith Moon, John Entwistle) are now dead, so it feels like a bit of a cheat. But whatever.
I’ve never seen The Who perform live, but I sometimes like their music. You know, when the mood is right. Pete Townshend is a great songwriter, and an interesting character. I have many of their albums on vinyl, but had largely lost interest by the time the compact disc era kicked-off. I think I only own Who’s Next on CD. I keep meaning to buy more, but never get around to it.
I do, however, have a longstanding fondness for the album Townshend recorded with Ronnie Lane, called Rough Mix. It’s a great one, and I’ve been living with it for years. Highly recommended.
So, you see, I’m not a Who Whater, just skeptical about yet another mega-tour, under the circumstances and at this late date. I mean, seriously. Both Townshend and Daltrey are pushing 70. Hope I die before I get old? Shit man, you’re lucky a genie wasn’t around when you first made that statement.
And all this got me to thinking… wonder what demands will appear on the contract rider for The Who World Tour 2011? Maybe you guys can help me compile a list of possibilities? I’ll get the ball rolling, with a few of my guesses, and you can take it from there.
· 12 ct box of medical drainage pouches
· 6 new girdles, in a variety of sizes
· 10 pairs of Sansabelt assless slacks, size 36, in pastels
· 2 large penis-shaped prescription pill organizers, with Velcro leg straps
· 3 Union Jack shawls
· Backstage lights wired into a Clapper, hacked to activate when somebody windmills their arm
· Candy dish filled with saw palmetto and alpha blockers
· Functioning desk telephone with simple, oversized buttons and amplified audio
· Good quality hernia truss to be available in case of emergency, following “Won’t Get Fooled Again” scream
· Terry cloth covered sun visor for Mr. Townshend
· At least 2 large (37-inch or bigger) televisions, tuned to The Weather Channel
Now it’s your turn. What do you think will be the special requests listed in the 2011 Who World Tour concert rider? Use the comments link below.
And I’ll see you guys again tomorrow.
Have a great day!
First!
A walker with a built in laser light display.
Oh shit, thats funny.
Well, Pete needs something to lean on during the guitar solos. Might as well make it dual functional.
I meant Roger. Dammit.
A lot of those British dudes are getting up that and are still at it, along with various American bands also. It’s always seemed funny to me that no one ever mentions Paul McCartney’s age very much, and he seems to tour almost every year now.
I suppose the deal of when is a band no longer the band in question also seems to change depending on who is being discussed.
Who is left now? ZZ Top. Bun no longer tours with Cheap Trick, so they are out of the running.
A friend of mine use to joke me about liking that sort of music, and how bands that he loved like The Pixies or whatever would never stoop so low as to reform and tour.
Of course, I told him they all do eventually. And the do.
It’s different for an individual, for some reason. Neil Young and Bob Dylan are older than dirt, but it’s just them, not some band that used to be about defiance and partying hard.
And I bought The Who without Keith Moon, but with Entwistle gone, it’s a lot more difficult. Of course, there are a lot of bands touring under questionable names, so it’s not exactly shocking.
Speaking of the Pixies, I, and a few of my ex-coworkers, had dinner with Frank Black once, at the Highland Tap in Atlanta. Well, actually we had dinner. He just downed a shitload of mixed drinks.
They got a lot of shit for going on with the tour when John died. But, as Roger as said, they would have been in some legal trouble due to the shows already being sold.
I have talked to Pete a few times by way of email. He had a blog and was open to some interaction several years ago.
I seem to go various ways on if a band is still a band.
I think if the lead singer is gone, then it gets funny. Of course, all of those bands like Styx, Yes, etc. are doing just that – finding dudes who sound like their former front man and carrying on.
And then there are complete shams, like Guns ‘n’ Roses.
Lynyrd Skynyrd is also a sham. The day Ronnie Van Zant died, was the day that band should’ve also died.
So is Zamphir. Since Eddy the drummer is gone it’s not the same.
Eddy was a hack. Good riddance.
Not one of the original Four Freshman tours with the band anymore. What a rip-off. Fuck ’em!
Gary Rossington is the only original dude left now, unless you count Rickey Medlocke.
My buddy…Kevin Stout…was with them for a couple years. Great band actually.
The Ink Spots are merely pretenders anymore too.
Frank Black is a legend. Best screamer in the business.
He’s penned some great stuff, but the song ‘Every time I go round’ is magical.
Large bunch of assorted blonds and a bag of viagra?
Dialysis machine
I am in some stupid training this morning, I’ll have many more later.
Four nigh severed heads.
It’s not really The Who without Keith though is it? I mean, he had serious anger management problems with that pesky drum kit
Videos of past concerts to help remind them what they do and why they’re there.
No one is ever to say the band’s name with a question mark.
Pre-chew meat pie platter.
Spandex “Depends”.
No sharp objects.
Helieum wiffies.
Ben-Gay scented aroma therapy candles.
A variety of Jitterbug cell phones with Who ringtones.
brilliant !
Metamucil.
I saw Roger open for Clapton last year and I must admit he was pretty damn good.
Good Afternoon Surf Reporters…..
more items for the tour rider…..
1case of Metamucil, assorted flavors with appropriate mixers.
2 -12 packs of Activia yogurt, chilled. 1 off stage right, 1 back stage.
Half dozen word search and crossword activity books.
Lighted shuffleboard court.
1 Cribbage board with new deck of playing cards.
Complete library of Sing Along with Mitch Miller.
Latest edition of AARP magazine.
All back stage / dressing furniture must be comfortable and covered in clear plastic.
6 dozen hot meals for crew for “early bird” load in (no later than 4 pm a MUST)
Ricola
Dressing Rooms must contain:
Wheel of Fortune Season XVII DVD playing on large format TVs
Low sodium buffet items
There are rumors that The Stones are also going to do something within the next two years. Of course, Keith may be playing that up to sell copies of his book.
Mick needs more money. I think they’ll do another tour.
Plus he is probably mad that U2 beat The Rolling Stones earnings numbers from the Bigger Bang tour.
For those that don’t know, Zak Starkey (Ringo’s son) now plays drums for The Who.
Fleet of motorized wheel chairs.
Wheel chair ramp from floor to stage.
Case of Polygrip
Case of Preparation H
Jello
Oatmeal
Extra batteries for hearing aids so they can hear what they are playing.
4 pounds sugar free M&M’s sorted by color
2 pounds of holiday ribbon candy, all stuck together
Foam circus peanuts
6 gallons of room tempurature tap water stored in milk jugs
Kiddie pool Lazarus Pit
1 box of mothballs per wardrobe trunk
Set sheets in extra large bold print
Rogaine
Electric 3-wheeled scooters
Motrin, and lots of it
“I’ve fallen and can’t get up” remote on a lanyard
Service dogs
Name change from WHO to WHAT?
OK, you ageists, life doesn’t end at 65 in the music business. Actually, it generally ends at 27, but should you slide past that age, the yard goes on forever. Here are the numbers…
Pete is 65
Roger is 66
Zak is 45
Keith is still 32
They’ll get by with a little help from their friends…
3 groupies, 2 tubes hardon cream (Zak says no thanks)
1 backup porkpie hat, size 8
1 backup hand-woven t-shirt, size too small
1 lifesize cardboard cutout of John Entwhistle, in position
1 Chicago Bears endzone fan and two jumper cables (for the WGFA finale)
4 beers
4 more beers (for the after-party)
4 noisemakers ditto
jtb
2 – NIce, comfortable chairs
A good pot of tea at the ready at all times
But seriously, I love the Who. They are my favorite band. I have every album, movie, tons of posters, books and all other kinds of shit I don’t need. With all this, I can still tell when a band needs to call it a day. Being a musician, its hard for me to say this, because I never want to quit playing. But poor Roger gives it everything he’s got usually to no avail. Example-the We Won’t Get Fooled again scream at the end. And Pete can’t hear worth a fuck anymore. His ears ring constantly. Hmm, I wonder what in the hell caused that? End transmission.
Maple ice cream sundaes with butterscotch topping (known in the restaurant I used to manage as the “Old Fart special”
Patty melts with coffee (known as the “Old Fart entree”)
Multicolored support hose
Hemorrhoid cushions in black leather
Life Alert bracelets in gold
Benson and Hedges cigarettes
That’s all I got today.
Doctors and nurses. Lots of ’em.
36 comments and not one about Viagra ?
Really?
Mark0510, on October 26th, 2010 at 1:18 pm Said:
Large bunch of assorted blonds and a bag of viagra?
…fucking tabernac….
We also know it as Vitamin V
Apparantly works a treat, even after 12 beers. Although after 12 beers I’d always rather have a kebab and fall asleep on the sofa. Perhaps it’s an age thing?
I apologize for nothing
Maybe, maybe not. Hardon cream is old school Viagra. Actually, I wasn’t familiar with the product until The Larry Sanders Show featured it several times. I just think hardon cream sounds funnier than Viagra.
jtb
I don’t want to go into Pete Townsend’s sexual preferences on this or any other site, thanks.
The entire series of Matlock on DVD
Paisley bibs.
Cue Cards
Direct access to the International Bingo channel.
doughnut pillow made of a real doughnut
that’s it – I got nuttin’
just ordered my “Government Cheese: 1985 – 1995” anthology. They’re actually going to reunite for a few shows!! eeeeee
AARP grief consulers for the new guys.
Garth Brooks videos to study for their up-coming, “Who’s Country?” tour
Buttered scones and tea.
Carpets pre-soaked with ether.
dto: edgy, but cool!
1. Package of fig newtons.
2. Carton of dental paste
3. Gold bond powder
4. Peppermints
5. Box of cigars
6. Kilo of cocaine
7. Massive quantities of marijuana and/or hash
8. Base hit bong
9. Two pairs of slippers
10. DVD of Woodstock
11. DVD of Tommy
12. Visene
13. Computer with access to the WVSR
I saw John Paul Jones playing with Them Crooked Vultures last year and he was shit hot!
He’s 65 and still going strong, writing and performing great material. He may be pushing it a bit, but he’s got more rock in his little finger than most of the ‘artists’ on MTV!
Here he is in Cologne.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5gSRkj-6Gc
Seeing The Who would be cool. Full stop..
Did anyone see them at the Super Bowl halftime show this year? They were pathetic.
Roger’s voice is gone, and Pete plays poorly, with a silly smile as if it is all a big joke, these millions they’re getting for 12 minutes doing a greatest hits medley.
I saw them live once in 1980 or so in New Haven, on a whistle-stop tour to promote Who Are You. Kenny Jones drumming (adequate, but not brilliant), and Rabbit Bundrick working keyboards and the tape machine (for the synth solos on Won’t Get Fooled Again and Baba O’Riley). Weird, slow, loud but uninspired show. They looked tired then, and that was 30 years ago.
A friend of mine once said that Keith Moon took the Who to his grave with him. Hard not to argue.
I saw them on that same tour in Raleigh, NC and I agree – the performance was pretty lethargic and substandard. It was the fourth time I’d seen them live, and definitely the weakest. I sort of “cut them loose” after that, but I’ve still enjoyed a lot of Pete ‘I was only doing research” Townshend’s solo stuff.
By the way, will this be something like their 23rd “farewell ” tour? Criminy…
Maybe it would not be so cool to see The Who after all!
-Spare set of dentures–in case they get shot out during a song.
-VIP seating for Wilford Brimley and Alex Trebek.
-Mosh pit full of folks in their Jazzy Scooters.
-Every dinner catered by MCL.
-“Murder, She Wrote” reruns playing backstage.
Life Alert bracelets
A Prune Juice Fountain
Band members will immediately start playing Magic Bus when Pete forgets what song he’s playing and goes into improvisation.
Band members will immediately start playing My Generation when Roger starts to sputter and forget the lyrics to whatever he’s trying to sing.
Show will be immediately cancelled anytime the drummer spontaneously combusts.
stripper pole
some nice comfortable shoes
bmt sandwiches… when the mutton is extra lean
The author of this article lost all credibility in paragraph two when he admits he never saw The Who in concert, ever. Anyone who criticizes The Who for touring – yet that uninformed individual hasn’t ever seen the band in concert, with Moon, Jones, Phillips or Starkey on the drum throne, has zero credibility. This ridiculous, waste-of-space article is now null and void. 🙂
Real fans will go see The Who because they know the band still can cut it on stage. Townshend is wonderfully unhinged on the guitar, Daltrey can still hit most of the notes, and Starkey is a great, very inspired drummer.
Age has nothing to do with great rock bands and performance artists. Look at B.B. King. Look at Clapton. Look at Jeff Beck. Look at The Who. They’re still great. Maybe not quite what they were in 1971, but no one (including the Stones) is quite that good. Still, The Who rock mighty hard live.