Pete Townshend 1979 interview talking about Punk rock & Sex Pistols | The Who

This interview was taken from the bootleg STAMPEDE. I believe this was recorded before the tragic concert that night but I'm not positive. In it, Pete discusses punk rock including the Sex Pistols, The Clash, etc.
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#petetownshend #thewho #punk

[@reverberate7518]

I love Pete. The Who are one of my favorite bands. I love that he loves the Sex Pistols. I disagree with his comment on Punk not having any roots. You can trace Punk to Glam and Pub Rock, Glam and Pub Rock to 60s Garage and Psychedelic Rock, Garage and Psychedelic Rock to early 60s rock, early 60s rock to rockabilly, and rockabilly to jazz and blues.

[@josephbuckley5961]

I think he meant before that. I don't think meant to be popular or anthing. Didn't mean to be root to anything just a statement

[@surfguitarfuzz]

Exactly, I also found out about The Stooges, Small Faces, and Eddie Cochran through the Pistols!

[@hammersmith275]

This interview was taken from a December 23rd, 1979 King Biscuit Flower Hour radio broadcast called ‘A Conversation With Pete Townshend’ (I have the 3 lp transcription set). The interview was actually conducted on September 11, 1979 in New York City.

[@STEVEHEROLD]

makes sense considering it's on my bootleg. bootlegs were known to grab things like this and tack them onto LPs.

[@louisrelf5903]

Very interesting snippet. I’d like to hear the full broadcast at some point.

[@CalifornianRailfan]

Great interview. Disagree with Pete a few points. 1) Punk was established in the US, then popularised in the UK. MC5/VU/Stooges/New York Dolls/Ramones preceded the UK movement. (Also look up the Afro Punk band Death - pure punk ca 1970. Possibly the first). Second: Punk IS rooted in R&B. Punk’s style can definitely be traced back through the Who and the Kinks (and the later Beatles) as well as the lesser known 60s garage bands.

[@STEVEHEROLD]

that doc about Death was great.

[@MultiPetercool]

I can’t believe how deferential Pete can be. I’m sure John Lydon would acknowledge The Who and The Stones as an influence. The Who were Proto-Punk. Velvet Underground and Modern Lovers be damned!

[@darshanrivera3622]

Gee, thats around the same time The Limps' "Someone I Can Talk To" came out.

[@deeg8849]

The interviewer has no clue. Taking about why punk never happened in America like it did in the UK. What crap. Guess he missed the who MC5, Stooges, Dolls, Ramones, Johnny Thinders, etc vibe in Detroit and NYC well before UK punk

[@oxsila]

Is it just me or is it not quite interesting, that Pete Townshends speaking voice is almost like a slightly more put together John Lydon? Both from London sure, but the similarity is a bit uncanny

[@bikerguy5829]

"They don't give a crap Keith Moon is dead"

[@STEVEHEROLD]

love that song

[@ZoomZoom-ng6sn]

Interesting interview. No roots on Punk Rock. Anarchy and such. ----- I'm into Metal, but Metal is just good behavior, nothing wild or crazy. Metal is just posing and fake here and there.

[@crixxxxxxxxx]

Punk concerts in the early 60s? What?

[@MultiPetercool]

Yup.

[@crixxxxxxxxx]

@@MultiPetercool Punk didn’t exist until the ‘70s.

[@MultiPetercool]

@@crixxxxxxxxx Perhaps not under that name. Punk dismisses the concept of names and labels.

[@crixxxxxxxxx]

@@MultiPetercool The genre of music didn’t exist until the ‘70s.

[@MultiPetercool]

@@crixxxxxxxxx How old are you?