One month after suggesting that AI could be used to create new music for nostalgic Who fans longing to relive the band’s heyday, Pete Townshend has revealed that he doesn’t actually enjoy being onstage.
His comments come as he continues to promote the forthcoming Quadrophenia ballet. Townshend says he far prefers working behind the scenes rather than performing in front of a crowd.
“Most musicians are not like me,” he told Spanish radio station RockFM (via Blabbermouth). “Most musicians do two things that I don’t really do, or don’t enjoy doing. One is they love performing. I don’t love performing. I don’t like being on a stage.
“I don’t hate it, but it doesn’t fill my soul in the way that you see some performers — just their soul is filled through being on the stage. That’s not me.
“The other thing,” he continues, “is they love to collaborate with other musicians. I think that, for me, collaboration is something that I find very difficult. If I was in a studio with a really great musician, or with a group of really great musicians, I think I would find it very hard.
“I find it difficult to collaborate. I find it very difficult looking in the eyes of another musician. I find myself looking to my own energy to express myself.”
The new ballet, which is set to be staged in Plymouth, Edinburgh, Southampton, London, and Salford in the U.K. this summer, is an exception to the rule. The project, he says, isn’t collaborative in the traditional sense.
“On the other hand, of course, I really admire the process of collaboration. I admire the process of dance and music. Quadrophenia is currently being turned into a ballet. We had our first rehearsal on Monday. It’s gonna be fantastic.
“But I think one of the things about that is that that kind of collaboration is an exploration of the human body, of dancing. With music, I find myself wanting to stay in my box for a while.”
It’s a mindset that stands in stark contrast to the wild young guitarist who once fought loudness wars with the Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood and regularly smashed guitars with freewheeling abandon. But it reflects how Townshend’s relationship with music — and performance — has evolved over time.
Last year, he opened the Townshend Studio, a new teaching and creative center at the University of West London in Ealing. While his solo career continues, live shows have become increasingly rare.
Pressed by RockFM to name other notable collaborations, Townshend highlighted two legendary players.
“I loved working with David Gilmour on my White City album, and we co-wrote some songs, but that was an uneasy collaboration,” he says. “I actually made it clear I’m not a natural collaborator.
I was more open to it. I could have fun with some of the greatest musicians in the world
Pete Townshend
“And I really enjoyed working with Eric Clapton back in 1973 when we did the Rainbow Concert together,” he concludes. “I think it’s interesting, ‘cause so many new musicians that I really respect want to work with me, and I wish I was more open to it. I could have fun with some of the greatest musicians in the world.”
In related news, Townshend recently spoke about the one part of his guitar playing he believes no one can best — and discussed how Jimi Hendrix, who he controversially claimed “wasn’t creative,” inspired the creation of "Tommy".
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