The Who are back on the road this fall bringing their show to audiences across North America.
The trip, which marks the band’s first dates on the continent in four years, sees the group perform their iconic 1973 double album “Quadrophenia” in its entirety, along with a selection of Who classics.
Prior to the start of the tour, Pete Townshend published his autobiography, “Who I Am.”
Long acknowledged as one of rock’s most intelligent and literary performers, Townshend has, at long last, told his dramatic story in a full and frank autobiography, as well as the inside story of the iconic band from its British art-school roots, to its ground breaking rock opera “Tommy,” to five decades of guitar-smashing tours.
On a day off from the tour, Townshend stopped by The Late Show with David Letterman on Monday to talk about his memoir and share some legendary stories – including the origin of Pete’s famous windmill.
“We were a little R n’B band… and we supported the [Rolling] Stones on two shows; they were brand new, they were young, they had one hit with Chuck Berry’s ‘Come On,’” explained Townshend. “As the curtain opened, Keith Richards is kind of doing this (demonstrates windmill move). I thought it was part of his thing.”
“Anyway, a couple of weeks later,” Pete continued, “we support them again at a little club out in south London, and I’m watching carefully – waiting – and he doesn’t do it. So, I go up to him afterwards and I said, ‘Keith, you didn’t do your arm swing thing.’ And he went, ‘What?’ I said ‘you know, that kind of windill-y thing…you know, your thing.’ I can’t tell you what he said. So, I picked it up…and I was inspired by Keith Richards in many ways.”
See also:
The Who: Pete Townshend talks new memoir on The Today Show
The Who announce opening act for first leg of North American tour