Pete Townshend Awed by First Super Bowl
Pete Townshend is used to playing in front of stadiums filled with rabid fans who know every note of The Who's songs. He didn't get that at the band's Super Bowl halftime performance, but he's OK with that too.
Townshend and bandmate Roger Daltrey performed a medley of some of their most famous songs on entertainment's biggest stage Sunday, including "Won't Get Fooled Again" during a 12-minute set that included a laser-lit stage and plenty of fireworks.
While the crowd was involved, and some held up their cell phones to illuminate the night as instructed by the stadium announcers, they were somewhat subdued, and was clear it was not a Who event.
Backstage after their show, Townshend laughed and said: "You know, you could kind of tell from the stage the crowd is really here for the game."
"It was nice for that reason. It was nice to feel a part of something and not having it all to be about us," he added. When it was mentioned that most rock stars want everything to revolve around them, he joked and said: "We're too far gone to care I think."
It was the first football game Townshend and Daltrey, both Brits, ever saw (Daltrey went after his performance to watch the game, which the New Orleans Saints won over the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17). Townshend said he was awed by the spectacle, and the sheer work of putting together the event.
"It's extraordinary," said Townshend. "You forget how big sport is and how every week it happens ... I'm not trying to be humble but we felt like a very small piece of a huge team."
The Super Bowl also saw the debut of a new remix of "My Generation" by will.i.am and Slash. It is available for sale on Amazon.com, will.i.am's dipdive.com and the Who's Web site, and proceeds will go to aid Haiti after the earthquake there.
Townshend said he was impressed with the remix: "It's actually very elegant, it's not gangsta," he said of will.i.am's rap on the song.
Townshend called his entire Super Bowl experience a success, despite protests by some children's rights advocates about his presence in the Super Bowl.
Townshend was arrested in 2003 in Britain as part of a child pornography sting but later cleared. He accessed a Web site containing child pornography but said it was for research for his own campaign against child porn. He was required to register as a sex offender, despite being cleared. Townshend said he has been a children's advocate for years and was abused himself as a child.
He had to address the controversy at the Who's Super Bowl news conference, and though he feels like the protests were "a bit of a cheap shot," he said it was "dealt with fairly elegantly in the press conference."
"I think if people don't believe, they fall on that side of the line, there's little I can do, but most people have been very kind, very understanding, and I know I did nothing wrong," he said.
© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Townshend and bandmate Roger Daltrey performed a medley of some of their most famous songs on entertainment's biggest stage Sunday, including "Won't Get Fooled Again" during a 12-minute set that included a laser-lit stage and plenty of fireworks.
While the crowd was involved, and some held up their cell phones to illuminate the night as instructed by the stadium announcers, they were somewhat subdued, and was clear it was not a Who event.
Backstage after their show, Townshend laughed and said: "You know, you could kind of tell from the stage the crowd is really here for the game."
"It was nice for that reason. It was nice to feel a part of something and not having it all to be about us," he added. When it was mentioned that most rock stars want everything to revolve around them, he joked and said: "We're too far gone to care I think."
It was the first football game Townshend and Daltrey, both Brits, ever saw (Daltrey went after his performance to watch the game, which the New Orleans Saints won over the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17). Townshend said he was awed by the spectacle, and the sheer work of putting together the event.
"It's extraordinary," said Townshend. "You forget how big sport is and how every week it happens ... I'm not trying to be humble but we felt like a very small piece of a huge team."
The Super Bowl also saw the debut of a new remix of "My Generation" by will.i.am and Slash. It is available for sale on Amazon.com, will.i.am's dipdive.com and the Who's Web site, and proceeds will go to aid Haiti after the earthquake there.
Townshend said he was impressed with the remix: "It's actually very elegant, it's not gangsta," he said of will.i.am's rap on the song.
Townshend called his entire Super Bowl experience a success, despite protests by some children's rights advocates about his presence in the Super Bowl.
Townshend was arrested in 2003 in Britain as part of a child pornography sting but later cleared. He accessed a Web site containing child pornography but said it was for research for his own campaign against child porn. He was required to register as a sex offender, despite being cleared. Townshend said he has been a children's advocate for years and was abused himself as a child.
He had to address the controversy at the Who's Super Bowl news conference, and though he feels like the protests were "a bit of a cheap shot," he said it was "dealt with fairly elegantly in the press conference."
"I think if people don't believe, they fall on that side of the line, there's little I can do, but most people have been very kind, very understanding, and I know I did nothing wrong," he said.
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6 Comments Add a Comment
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- Who in there right mind could not enjoy a live performance by The Who? If you are lucky The Who will Tour once again and if you truly appreciate rock music you don't want to miss it. The only thing wrong with Pete and Roger is someday they will stop playing and that will be a sad day for music. As for the 22 to 27 year old people that haven't heard of The Who, they need to get out of the caves -- who hasn't heard of The Who, and shame on them if they can't enjoy Truly Good Music -- instead of the steady mesh of the same sounding crap that kids put out today. Long Live Rock -- and Long Live The Who!!!!!
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- I think Roger Daltry got off to a shaky start but then they all rocked it. For an event like the Super Bowl, only music legends will do and there are few legends who have influenced rock music like The Who. Long live rock! I loved the show. It was the best half time show I've seen in a WHILE!!!
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- I think Roger Daltry got off to a shaky start but then they all rocked it. For an event like the Super Bowl, only music legends will do and there are few legends who have influenced rock music like The Who. Long live rock! I loved the show. It was the best half time show I've seen in a WHILE!!!
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- I totally agree with brad. Worst halftime show ever! I liked the Who, oh about 36 years ago! They are old, out of date and looked ridiculous trying to put on an "exciting" show. So stupid. Like a couple of 60 year olds trying to dress and act like 25 year olds for a night at the bar. The 22-27 year olds in the room I was in either didn't even know who they were or were just floored that the NFL would consider them for halftime when there are such AMAZING current musicians. The Who were GREAT back in their day, but it's OVER now. WHO CARES?????
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- This was a really lousy halftime show...the worst at any Super Bowl that I have ever seen.
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- Bradk11 is obviously a gay man. I mean we are talking about the God Fathers of punk I would give my left nut to meet them! Ask any musician worth listening to how they were inflouenced by The Who! If you don't have a good word for the band your not a Who Fan and we dont need you anyhow. Lontg Live Rock!
