Pete Townshend Super Bowl Warning: NFL Asked to Ban "The Who" Halftime Show Over Sex Arrest

By: Ryan Smith
Topics: Daily Blotter

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(AP)

NEW YORK (CBS) Pete Townshend of "The Who" will not get a friendly "guitar hero" welcome from some Florida child abuse protection groups when the legendary band headlines the Super Bowl halftime show Feb. 7. They're hoping to prevent Townshend's appearance because of his arrest in a United Kingdom pedophilia sting in 2003.

Photo: "Protect Our Children" flyer warning Florida residents about Pete Townshend.

Florida-based "Protect Our Children" wants the NFL to reconsider letting "The Who" perform, and even sent 1,500 "sex offender advisory" postcards to homes and schools, warning residents to watch out for Townshend.

Townshend was a registered sex offender in the UK for five years after his arrest for using a Web site advertising child pornography. He said he was merely doing research for an upcoming book.

Photo: Pete Townshend, left, and Roger Daltrey, right, of "The Who."

He was cleared by police, but was still placed on the sex offender registry as a caution because he accessed images of child abuse.

Photo: "The Who," from left, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon.

Evin Daly, CEO of Child AbuseWatch.net, said even though he "grew up with 'The Who'," he objects to Townshend's scheduled Super Bowl appearance. "The issue is that he's a former registered sex offender"… "inviting Townsend to play is a blatant disregard to the values of American families and a slap in the face to victims of child sexual abuse," said Daly.

In a Dec. 17 letter to Daly, the NFL said the league was aware of Townshend's arrest, but also noted his charity work. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told The Associated Press there is no question Townshend and "The Who" will perform in the halftime show at Miami's Sun Life Stadium.

You can probably expect to hear "My Generation" and "Won't Get Fooled Again."

We're not so sure about "See Me, Feel Me."

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: Should Pete Townshend, former registered sex offender, be allowed to perform at the Super Bowl?

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by walkingrope February 13, 2010 9:50 AM EST: How irresponsible printing news that is blatantly untrue. How so like CBSNews to report falsehoods and to stretch the truth. What's wrong CBS? Verifying your reporters news too expensive or what????; Reply to this comment


by piltramil February 2, 2010 7:08 AM EST: Townshend is a fine Man & I expect that Evin daly knows nothing about him or his work. Evin Daly; you're just out for some publicity. Townshend is if no threat to anyone so long as they stay clear during his performance. The only person he is likely to harm is himself. I'm sure many people will be disapionted if he is not allowed to perform. God bless Pete Townshend, The world needs more like him.; Reply to this comment


by piltramil February 2, 2010 7:04 AM EST: Townshend is a fine Man & I expect that Evin daly knows nothing about him or his work. Evin Daly; you're just out for some publicity. Townshend is if no threat to anyone so long as they stay clear during his performance. The only person he is likely to harm is himself. I'm sure many people will be disapionted if he is not allowed to perform. God bless Pete Townshend, The world needs more like him.; Reply to this comment


by piltramil February 2, 2010 6:52 AM EST: Do the child protection groups from Flordia realise that Mr Townshend was not charged with any crime related to child pornography. I suspect that these people are trying to make a big issue from nothing to gain some publicity. If they really knew anything about Mr Townshend then they would realise that he has bought alot of joy and hope into peoples lives for many years. He's also exposed child abuse in the rock opera 'Tommy'. Townshend is no threat to anyone so long as they stand well clear during his performance. The only person he is likely to harm is himself. I'm quite sure that if Mr Townshend is not allowed to perform that many people will be very disapionted.; Reply to this comment


by ennius-2009 February 1, 2010 5:16 AM EST: The US is a sick society. I knew a mother from Europe. She took her 2-year-old daughter to swim at a lake in Oklahoma. The baby wore only the bottoms of a swim suit. She was told to cover her up or leave! Like you can tell a 2-year-old is a girl or not!

Careful! There are perverts under that chair!; Reply to this comment


by LISTENHERE January 31, 2010 3:23 PM EST: If there ever was a so-called "home-grown terrorist threat" in this country I would think it would be comprised of "sex offenders" who have been given a life sentence for some relatively harmless and victimless "crimes". If some of these people sought revenge against people like Evin Daly it would not surprise me in the least. The punishment does NOT fit the crime in many cases, and this country needs to wake up to the fact that they're creating a potential army of angry people who have been set up all in the name of "protecting" these 'precious children'. One of these days I bet someone will show up on Daly's doorstep with payback - none of these phony intimidators can hide, bet on it! I am fed up with these witch hunts, and I think so are many people nationwide; Reply to this comment


by jxknowles January 31, 2010 2:49 PM EST: If you know anything about The Who's music and Peter Townshend's writing, you'll understand he has been outspoken against child abuse since he was a very young man. It's an unpopular subject, but one he doesn't sweep under the rug.

On the other hand, I lose respect for people like Evin Daly, when they hide behind stories like this. Florida has one of the biggest populations of child abusers in the country. Instead of looking for answers, he's looking for publicity. He's a well-known hypocrite.; Reply to this comment


by prajaowain January 31, 2010 5:29 AM EST: Pete was cleared of the charges and is not guilty. The information is available online if anyone would wish to investigate the bogus charges filed in 2003. Pete is a fine man and would never harm a child. You stupid crusaders should get a life and leave this man alone. He has suffered enough B.S from the British police.
Don't worry about these stupid crusaders Pete! WE LOVE YOU HERE IN THE U.S.; Reply to this comment


by armyoftwelve January 30, 2010 10:46 PM EST: Half of The Who is DEAD! Time for the NFL to find more modern entertainment.; Reply to this comment


by bill0bob January 30, 2010 2:55 PM EST: Pay close attention to what Evin Daly said:

He said, "The issue is that he's a FORMER registered sex offender"

Then he said:

"inviting Townsend to play is a blatant disregard to the values of American families and a slap in the face to victims of child sexual abuse."

What "values" of American families are being disregarded? Townshend was cleared by the police. Does our "value system" promote hounding people for their entire lives, attempting to disrupt their legal activities, because they FORMERLY did something we don't like? Maybe that's Evin Daly's "value system", but it's not mine!

How is this a "slap in the face to victims of child sexual abuse"? Townshend was never even charged with sexually abusing children! Daly can't seem to keep the facts straight.

Evin Daly is a lunatic.; Reply to this comment