From: owner-oppositeview-digest@smoe.org (oppositeview-digest) To: oppositeview-digest@smoe.org Subject: oppositeview-digest V3 #265 Reply-To: oppositeview@smoe.org Sender: owner-oppositeview-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-oppositeview-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk oppositeview-digest Friday, October 26 2001 Volume 03 : Number 265 Today's Subjects: ----------------- OV: OT -- Pete Townshend's diary entries re: NYC [Shevale@aol.com] OV: Re: OT -- Pete Townshend's diary entries re: NYC ["Jane Armstrong" >From Pete Townshend's Diary on his website www.petetownshend.com > > 18 October 2001 > > New York > It feels different here. I don't want to harp on it too much, but usually this city is a place that lavishes energy on you. Today, it feels more like the average large city in Europe. It has the same feeling as Berlin, or Munich, or London, or Paris. It is a large, thriving and busy city, but although it has not lost its soul, it is not squandering its energy the way it used to. I miss that, obviously, because when I come here I come here to work, and usually it is a very easy place to work. This time, it feels a little bit harder. > The Who rehearsed last night in New York, Roger was late flying in and missed that warm up. We have two more full run-throughs today, but are playing just four songs, around 25 minutes. we want to give our best. > There are 18 artists on the bill, and many of them will have less than 5 minutes to make their mark, and offer their energies. For The Who there is no point trying to do anything at all in five minutes, the magic takes longer than that. If it is that special magic that's needed, and not just our presence, then we will need the time. > Coming here has made me angry. Angry with those dark-hearted people who feel the need to drag down this great source of human energy and love to their mundane and dusty level. If they hate what the USA says and does, then they hate our chosen spiritual path. We are not perfect, we know that. But we know that this country, this way of life, democracy with all its faults, is the only way we can take responsibility and grow spiritually, emotionally, intelligently and as humanitarians today. We know no other way. Their way can never be our way. Let me illustrate that with one example of many. > The one fact that Fundamental Muslims carry in their extreme faith that leaves me in complete noncomprehension as to what they actually feel every day of their life, is that they have banned music. To them, as someone who literally lives for music, I do not exist. To me, they are the 'Great Satan'. Take music from life and it becomes death. Not some glorious metaphorical death that transmogrifies into some warped notion of 'the Other Side', Heaven, Hell or what have you. It is a literal death. > For when I die, if I don't hear music, I would prefer to go on living. And that, in my private spiritual process, would be hell. > > Post-show: > > 21 October 2001 > Nothing and Everything > > 2.00 am. Back at my hotel after the Madison Square Garden show. So much positive energy in one night, so little cynicism (though I tried, I really tried). I haven't felt an energy like this since we played in New York in the early days of the Fillmore East - or maybe in the first ten hours of Woodstock. A special magical buzz. And I am straight, sober, clean, alert. I can really feel the magic. And it's real. > > It was hard to look into the eyes of some of the police, firefighters, rescue workers and paramedics who have been working on the Twin Towers' site. Their eyes were shocked, often seeming on the verge of tears. But tonight we were all positive together. Some of us were cool, some of us were uncool, some of us were so tearful we worried we might be embarrassing. But we all knew we were there for one purpose and one purpose only, to honour the glorious few who ran in while the majority of us were running out. > > It was an honour to play for New York City's heroes tonight. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 19:24:40 +0100 From: "Jane Armstrong" Subject: OV: Re: OT -- Pete Townshend's diary entries re: NYC Thanks Sherry I'm on a couple of mailing lists based around Eric Clapton - and every one of them agreed that the Who were far and away the best act there. Having seen them live a few times myself I have to say that they are one of the most exciting live acts for that adreneline rush that I've ever seen - Queen were the only other band to ever come near that for me. (Though of course Del Amitri are pretty good too! :-P ) Jane ------------------------------ End of oppositeview-digest V3 #265 **********************************