He made some great songs over the years and was part of the million dollar quartet. I liked his style. One time, years ago, I went to see him play at Wembley Arena. I think Chuck Berry was also on the bill and several other big 50s stars. I was really looking forward to it even though the entrance was really steep - something like £30. When we got in there though, it was all allocated seats and we were miles back looking at little specks on the stage way off in the distance. There were loads of guards making you sit down all the time and being oppressive. The only thing to drink was plastic bottles of half a pint of warm lager at about £9 per go. I was so fed up. We started getting into it and enjoying the show despite the distance away and then some man behind us...a sort of fat 'record collector' type with a bald head and glasses started remonstrating with us to 'be quiet' and 'sit down' over and over. Making a real nuisance of himself. On and on he went. Whining and moaning. Eventually there was no option but to give him a little bop on the nose, which shut him up for the remainder of the show. I know the killer would have thoroughly approved.
Another one of those that you think they died ages ago, great music but questionable ideas on who to marry.
Incestuous, abusive nonce. Two of his wives died in suspicious circumstances, eventually fled the country to Ireland to avoid paying millions he owed in taxes.
Marrying your 13 year old cousin was quite normal in the south back then. He was shocked at the backlash he got when he went to Britain and got booed because of it. They did lie about her age saying she was 15 but the press did some digging and found out she was 13 though. I never knew about the wives suspicious deaths or the fact he was married 7 times until today.
I thought exactly this. Mind you I also thought Ian Barclay had died and he's still going strong! I knew about the child bride but not about the deaths of two of his wives.
I like my rockstars like I like my sense of innocent wonder. In a child. Any nonce drummers out there? JLL on keys, Bill Whyman on bass, Pete Townsend on guitar…
Derek Longmuir, drummer with the Bay City Rollers. Convicted of having child porn I seem to remember.
I'm desperate to give Pete the benefit of the doubt. Didn't he claim he was looking up what had happened to him as part of his therapy as someone who was abused as a kid? It was bad enough to lose the anthems of Gary Glitter (thank heavens for Joan Jett's version of Do You Wanna Touch Me There) but I couldn't do without the Who. My wife is convinced Art Garfunkel is a nonce. Got Paedo Eyes she says. Would have been a more interesting theme song for Watership Down.
The author is Rick Bragg. A very complete biography. 600+ pages. Alternatively, invest in Live at the Star Club. Possibly the best live rock ‘n roll recording ever.
Liked because this is the first time I’ve seen Watership Down mentioned in my 10+ years on this forum. What a film. (and because I too want to give Pete that forlorn benefit of the doubt)
