Pete Townshend Clarifies His Recent Comments on Keith Moon, John Entwistle
Pete Townshend has received a ton of attention after saying in a new interview with Rolling Stone about Keith Moon and John Entwistle, “It’s not going to make Who fans very happy, but thank God they’re gone…Because they were f-cking difficult to play with.” Now, the guitarist has taken to Facebook to clarify his comments.
“PETE! FOR F-CK’S SAKE PUT A LID ON IT!” Townshend writes. “No one can ever know how much I miss Keith and John, as people, as friends and as musicians. The alchemy we used to share in the studio is missing from the new album, and it always feels wrong to try to summon it up without them, but I suppose we will always be tempted to try. To this day I am angry at Keith and John for dying. Sometimes it shows. It’s selfish, but it’s how I feel.”
Townshend continued, “But I am sincerely grateful to have had these second and third incarnations as a member of what we still dare to call The Who – once after Keith passed, then again after John passed. I do thank God for this, but I was being ironic in my own English way by suggesting it is something I am glad about. I can be grateful to be free as a player and writer, but sad about losing old friends. It does feel ironic, and it also makes me angry. Towards the end of my mother Betty’s life she drove me barmy, and there was a huge sense of relief when she finally passed, but I miss her very much. Love has so many facets.”
Townshend would later add in the lengthy post, “To those family members of Keith and John, especially Chris Entwistle and Mandy Moon, I apologize for the headlines – and for carelessly providing the words that were used – but in the past three months I have done so many interviews I am losing focus and patience. I forgive myself. I hope they can forgive me too. I loved their dads and still do.”
Townshend full statement can be read here.
The Who at Madison Square Garden – 9/1/2019
