Yoko Ono anyone?
Umm Yoko played a small part in breaking up the Beatles, although she
got too much shit. Pressure and the media broke the Beatles more than
anything, and drugs didn't help. Although psychedelics also helped
contribute to the best albums ever. Those "records" after 65 were
basically dosed :<). Still she should not have been in the recording
sessions with the band. That was way too much IMHO. The shots with the
3 Beatles, and then John and Yoko were just weird. Even John seems a
bit awkward with it. The story of Paul glaring at her during the line
"Get Back to where you once belonged" in the studio is classic. That
said, the big 3 were too brilliant not too split, and go their different
directions for a while. If that freak hadn't junked Lennon, they would
have played again to a million people at some festival for a billion
dollars. Heck, the remaining 3 did get together for Real love and those
other recordings at whosoever house it was (George's?). I have the DVD,
funny shit. George is a mellow cat, and Ringo is very mellow and laid
back. What a good guy he seems to be.
As for Rachel, we are damn lucky she is Pete's girl. Because of her he
is playing more IMHO. She has helped inspire Pete to carry on The Who,
and she hasn't even pressured him to marry her. She's any man's dream,
low maintenance, she just loves Pete, but she's hardly in the way. Sans
the other 2 lads, Roger has obviously been the key with his Who
enthusiasm, and willingness to defer partly to Pete, but she has played
a part. Who cares if she has a tune. Moon and John are gone, this is
Pete and Roger and friends now. And because of those two, it's still
the best around. Pete's guitar playing is so good for a man his age,
it's scary. I'm so psyched for Liverpool.
ps Remember how important she was in 2003, where she saved him until he
could be proven innocent, and then of course the great 2004 Roger and
Pete London shows where even though Roger lost his voice for a bit 3rd
night, they sounded incredible, as Pete was undoubtedly touched by the
fan support. The second night at that club is as good as any show I
have seen in the last 5 years, and better that Phish post hiatus,
Claypool, Oysterhead, Govt. Mule with Woody, Sanatana, Maceo, and on
par with Phish 97-98, Page/Plant/Crowes, Pearl Jam, The Stones, and pre
95 Dead, not quite 88-90 Dead, 2002 English Who shows ending at RAH,
Watford, or 98 Stones.
I remember looking into his eyes during the Birdman during Sparks at
that second night, and their was joy and relief in those eyes. It still
gives me a chill to know he was happy. Yes I am a late Who fan having
been just a kid in the 70's, but I've seen two Albert Hall years,
including John's last shows, and I've been to 15 total. I've seen not
many, but Electric Who is rare, unless you toured in the mid 70's.
Shoreline 2004 was boring though.
Lets hope tix are easy as 2004, and not over $200 for the best (1st 5
rows, meaning you can actually get them without scalper getting
everything). 2003 could have been the end, as the poor guy was accused
of the worst thing possible, but to his credit, they found nothing,
NOTHING on billions of MB's on ALL his computers. Hell, The Bomb letter
had already sold me, as did the fact he had contacted those assholes at
The Watch who initially denied talking to him. What idiots they were,
as they could of ended it all instantly. But it has been over with,
unless jerks like me bring it up, sorry Pete. I did buy a Pete's
innocent t-shirt. :<)
There's Jimmy Page (insanely fast, heavy, sick). There's Sanatana
(Latin crystal clear notes). There's Hendrix (Hendrix). There's Duane
Allman (Blues). There's Van Halen (metal, speed). There's Garcia
(soul, picker). There's Pete (rhythm, power chords). Those 7 define
the spectrum of Rock N Roll playing, and each one is the master of his
style. I guess Keith (Riff genius) needs to be in there as a wild card.
Zappa as a technical genius. Clapton bores me, as every time I've
seen him, it's a sit down crowd, no energy. Yes the Rainbow concert
with Pete is amazing, as is his acoustic blues, but I still think overrated.
As for my generation, Warren, Trey, McCready, Ford from the Crowes,
Larry lalaonde-primus, Cobain was good, but more so for the songs. Oh
yah, Rage dude Tom Morello (spelling?) is ridiculous. Sorry, Oasis and
Radiohead don't do it for me. Just my opinion. Oasis is good, but
compared to say a Phish 95 NYE Madison Square Garden throw down, The
Weekapague, Sea and Sand out of New Years is as good as musicians get.
Remember this is my generation so save the Phish sucks comments, cause
you have not seen them in their prime at MSG, Gorge, Red Rocks, The
Front at UVM. I have. I've also seen hundreds of classic Dead, Stones,
Page, Who, as well as the younger Pearl Jam, Primus, Rage. Only missed
Nirvana. More than any clown from Rolling Stone.
ps The webcast stuff for Roger and Pete and friends is AWESOME. 99
cents. Jagger would charge $100.