The Who- Tommy- Pete Townshend pt2

“Sexual abuse, narcissism, cults and celebrity are contemplated…If anything, it’s more pertinent now than it was in 1969,” writes Rob Tannenbaum in the New York Times about The Who’s Tommy, at the time back on Broadway with Pete Townshend’s book, score, and direction once again by Des McAnuff. Since the pair won dual Tony Awards when Tommy last ran for two years straight on Broadway beginning in 1993, Tommy Walker is now old enough to have his AARP card. Pete Towshend presents the conclusion of my classic rock interview regarding the timeless story here In the Studio.

There are precious few albums made in 1969 of which you can, to this day, marvel at the sonic ear candy in the singing and playing, but it is safe to say that Tommy  by The Who has never sounded better than in its current deluxe and super deluxe collector editions. Complete with additional Pete Townshend home demos, plus a complete Tommy concert by The Who from 1969, those were  long thought by all (except The Who’s sound man Bob Priddens) to have been destroyed at the express orders of a then-manic, exhausted Townshend himself. A well-rested Pete rejoins me In the Studio for the conclusion of Tommy‘s conception and birth. – Redbeard