London, Wednesday

Pete Townshend of The Who told a High Court judge yesterday of the exceptional style and virtuosity of a saxophonist whose career was destroyed by the Marchioness disaster.

Jo Wells was rescued after spending three minutes under water when the River Thames pleasure cruiser collided with the sand dredger, Bowbelle, in August 1989, killing 51 people including five Australians.

She escaped with minor injuries, but her glittering life performing "at the high level" with top rock acts including Tears for Fears and The Communards ended, the court was told.

Post-traumatic stress left her unable to play her soprano saxophone and she now lived on income support at her flat in Manchester, virtually isolated from the glamorous world she once inhabited, Justice Kay was told.

The owners of the Bowbelle and Marchioness have accepted liability for the tragedy, but are contesting the amount of compensation, claiming that Wells was burnt out before the accident and had not played professionally for 18 months.

Townshend, who employed her as a session musician in 1986, told the judge today that Wells could have looked forward to a career at the top of her profession earning up to 3000 ($A6040) a week.

He was accused by Mr Graham Aldous, for the ship-owners, of gilding the lily over her abilities to help out a friend in the industry who had fallen on hard times. He was known as a man whose statements were "not always tied to reality".

Townshend replied: "I may have had something of a reputation in the past but I am making this statement under oath.

"I am a mature individual. I am 53 years old. I am aware of what I am telling you.

"I didn't contribute to my biography under oath and I don’t spend my life under oath."

He said he had written 20 hit records with The Who in a career that began in 1963, and had become a good judge of musicianship, employing the best musicians in their field for his albums.

"Jo really stuck in my mind. She was absolutely exceptional, both technically and imaginatively. She was the best soprano saxophone player I have ever heard in pop, an unassuming figure who burst into life when she was playing.

"I was quite intimidated by her, how good she was."

The hearing was adjourned until Thursday.