Who Am I – Pete Townshend

As a long time Who fan I've been looking forward to Pete Townsend's frank appraisal of life with the Who and beyond. I first saw them live in Auckland, New Zealand in the late sixties, and for many years kept a small piece of Keith Moon's drum kit which I souvenired after he demolished it at the concert's finale. Keith Richard's "Life" has pretty much been accepted as the bnenchmark for rock musician's memoirs in recent times. In my view Townsend at least matches it, if not eclipses it. Certainly, while there is some commonality between Keef and Pete on their substance intake, Townsend's biggest issue is more emotionally based, with self doubt and depression, prominent bed fellows until fairly recently. What also shines through though is his creative drive and constant quest to grow his musicality, and with no recognition of boundaries. So, yes I guess the moniker "troubled genius" is the dominant one. He's not always easy to like but he's definitely honest and sincere. And by the end of his story it's cool to see that he seems to have found peace in his life at last. This is a must-read for any rock fan. Bear in mind that many of the Who's hits, and masterpieces like Tommy and Quadrophenia wouldn't be with us without him.