Melody Maker carries an article entitled “Doctor Who” about Keith sneaking into a hospital after hours to visit Who publicist Brian Sommerville. The issue also contains the 2nd “The Pete Townshend Page” called “Another fight in the playground.” Pete discusses the negative coverage of the 1970 Isle of Wight festival and also the idea of… Read More »1970-09-19
Cash Box in the U.S. carries an ad from Decca Records offering a free Who poster to record dealers to encourage them to stock The Who’s back catalog.
“Summertime Blues” reaches #19 in the German charts
U.S. Vice-President Spiro Agnew gives a speech to fellow Republicans at a fundraising dinner at The Sahara in Las Vegas. He denounces rock music for promoting drug use, singling out “With a Little Help From My Friends” and “The Acid Queen”.
The Who stay in a hotel in Frankfurt where Pete picks up hotel stationary on which he writes the original draft of the song “Love Ain’t For Keeping.” He also writes “Pure and Easy” around this time, called “The Note” at this early stage.
Record Mirror reports that 1.3 million copies of Tommy have been sold in 8-track format.
“Summertime Blues” peaks at #25 in the Netherland’s Hilversum charts.
Another single from the Pete-produced Thunderclap Newman is released. “The Reason,” with Pete on bass, is backed with a live recording “Stormy Petrol.” It fails to chart. You can listen to it on YouTube here
Melody Maker inaugurates “The Pete Townshend Page.” The first column written by Pete is called “Don’t hold me responsible for what I do or say!” and concerns rock music’s relation to social action. Transcription: I’m beginning my first page of this bulky Journal in particularly strange surroundings. On holiday I am, far away from… Read More »1970-08-22
Melody Maker says “Make way for the Townshend brothers!” in an article about Pete recording his brothers Simon and Paul.