9 Dec 2012
Tour Diary: 9 December 2012
The Clown who plays Ukulele
It occurs to me that Roger’s first TCA ‘ambassador’ Sarah Sterner, who tells a funny story about being entertained by a clown playing ukelele when she was recovering from cancer treatment, might not be so funny for the clown in question. She did not sneer at this clown. She used him as an example to make a distinction between what little kids enjoy in hospital, and what teenagers prefer.
I have repeated the story a few times, playing it for laughs. Then I suddenly remembered that once or twice in my life I have portrayed myself as that very clown, pounding stages.
The volunteer, dressing up and going to paediatric wards to entertain children, does so out of love and duty, and I must be careful to make very sure here that I do not sneer at what this clown, who volunteers to entertain and nurture young people in hospital, is doing. It is a high calling.
Roger’s pitch is that Sarah says she needed something different, more grown up, more TEENAGED. Sarah agrees, so we must accept their mission.
A young woman recovering from cancer might prefer the clown to go in without the costume, dressed in his street clothes, with a guitar rather than a ukulele, reveal himself as a bit of handsome dude, gaze in her eyes, and sing her some of his coolest love songsâŠâŠ..Sarah is certainly beautiful enough to merit the music.
You know what I mean. But if you’re a little kid, a clown with uke is very cool. If you’re a teenager, God only knows what you’ll think is cool.
Pete Townshend
9 December 2013
You are right, it is a challenge to figure out what a Teenager might think is cool.
But I love the cool as you describe,….in street clothes with a Guitar…….
xoLyndaGrace
Pete Townshend is cool. Cool for the ages. All of them.
They might enjoy the uke, but with Jason Mraz attached to it
Pete,
Well said!
There are probably as many types of cool as there are types of clowns.
Some will see the clown with the red nose and the uke as being cool.
Others will say the one in street clothes and the guitar is.
Yet others might consider Stephen King’s evil, imaginary clown in It or Alice Cooper, another scary yet interesting enough clown, to be cool.
We might even consider all of them are cool at different times, as it`s mainly a question of preference, mood and perspective.
Good on you to recognize it!
I probably won’t be alone in saying that I appreciate you as much for that figurative red nose you often wear, as I do for your refreshing honesty and great empathy.
Keep on clowning as long as you like.
Cheers!
Alain
David Cameron, with ukelele, singing in a cancer ward about his regimes efforts to better the Health Services.
No need for the costume.
Honestly, I think it would depend on the clown. If a fully costumed clown with a uke turns up bedside and treats a teen as a teen with candor and sincerity, not as some variety of tall child, the teen in question will probably have a good time. On the other hand, if the clown talks down to the patient, forget it! I’ve been a teacher of at risk teens for years and often they love things reminiscent of childhood because they didn’t get to be true kids when they were small. I think teenagers could potentially appreciate both clowns. Bravo, Pete and Roger for an amazing show at the Garden 12/5/12. It was the best show I’ve ever seen. I loved everything about it!
My Dearest Pete,
I have been lucky enough to have seen every Who concert in Philadelphia since 1982, including your solo tour at the Tower and Roger’s 2 solo tours.
When I’m watching you live I am the happiest I ever been. My “happy place” is a Who concert. Although I miss John+Keith, Simon and Zach have filled those voids nicely.at the Dec 8th concert in Philly, the video tributes to John+Keith brought me to tears. I. Realize you may have been pressed for time, but the only dissapointing moment was when you didn’t play See Me Feel Me as your second-to-last song. But I’m glad you did Tea and Theatre. You guys are a huge part of my life and who I am. Thank you for a lifetime of music which has become the sound tract of my life. God bless all of you. Much love, Marla LaBelle-your self-proclaimed biggest fan!
No comment about the clown, but I am a big Who fan. My 54th birthday was on 12/12/12. What a joy watching The Who perform and opening my birthday presents. My son got me Who I Am. Great book Pete really enjoyed it. Was at the Detroit show and thought it was spectacular. Have a great holiday and enjoy your time off.
I can’t wait to see you guys perform on Valentine’s Day in Tulsa, OK! My whole family are huge fans of The Who–my husband and I named our boys Townshend (14) and Daltrey (4), and they are coming with us to the show to see their namesakes perform live. It would be such a thrill for the boys to meet you, but just going to the show is going to be the highlight of their lives! Much love–Jaime Goswick, Mountainburg, Arkansas
Dear Pete,
I’m a banjo player in an acoustic rock band called Acoustic Syndicate.
I just want to tell you that “All The Best Cowboys…” is my all time favorite
Record. Im 44, and that record has brought me such joy and emotion ever since i was a teen. I still feel exactly the same when i listen today.
The band is my brother, our cousin, and two more from Ashville, NC.
We’ve been at it for app 20 years; full on for about 10 of those years doing 180 plus shows annually. I would love to share our songs with you. You could see the product of the ones you so inspire. Thank you!!! P.S the Greenville SC show was incredible. My 11 year old son Yancey is still on cloud nine!!!!!
Sincerely,
Bryon McMurry
I saw the show in Orlando and was fantastic … you did not think to include Brazil in a tour? I went to the U.S. only to assist you and see you in Brazil would be great!
Pete –
Even Clowns cry. Sometimes the painted tear hides the real one. But we all do our best… but sometimes, I don’t know why.
Pete,
You are indeed right. We all have special “gifts” we were given, as we should use them to the best of our ability. You my friend, have a gift, as the many responses say. I also know that when you get the news of being ill, you tend to have an overflow of emotions, so for some a clown will not work for others it may. For us, your music, your sense of humor..what was that line…..”now go have a *@$* beer”? Your openess with your fans (ie the book)just you my friend just you help many suffering get through the day. So God bless you, and by the way you didn’t put me in the book, and you said you loved me….once. LOL đ
Pete,
Saw both concerts in Chicago last month.
They were nothing short of amazing!!!
All I can say is please come back and
play in Chicago before your concert tour
ends.
Always luv ya Pete, enjoy your diary entries, most people in show biz get known through the media, well, one good thing about computers is that we (fans) can actually get to know the real person (like Keith Richards website), ya know lil videos w/ comments..etc. , and not through a “writer or editorialists” “filter” so to speak. I’m glad you take the time to do this. And, I think it was great that u & many musicians came together to help people, “star-power”, used the right way for a change, other than just “obnoxious” red carpet parties & back slapping. I’ve had catasrophic tragedies happen to me in the past few years, didn’t think I’d survive them, during those times I went back to Rock & Roll, The WHo, Stones, Beatles.., reconnect w/ my youth I guess, anything to take me out of the present, which was full of hate & anger, mostly unresolved, but I just gotta move on. It changed me, in some ways for the better, I’ll never take anything for granted again. So thank you
Pete,
Just finished reading your auto-b. Figured this would be the easiest way to drop you a note of well wishes. Thanks for making the effort. We now have a little idea of who you are. Was not a big fan until we came to hear you guys play Three Rivers Stadium (now gone) in Pittsburgh. Then came to the civic centre for the (new) Quadrophenia tour. Anyway, very much enjoyed the personal history and the R&R history contained in those pages. Could’ve read a thousand pages ! Glad you and Roger “survived” it all.
Best to you and yours.
P.S. Enjoyed hearing you guys play the “Sandy” show.
You can’t offend clowns. Don’t fret. Also, it is pretty much universally acknowledged that clowns are creepy. A ukulele only enhances this effect.
Ok Pete.
Long time Who fan from Philly – first time blog contributor – yo and all that. Couple notes/comments on your post if that’s who this works.
Coulrophobia, a fear of clowns, is actually a relatively common fear. Read (or re-read) Kings novel “IT” (a solid american fiction writer:) if interested in experiencing some trepidation others can have – no matter what the age. And on a more serious note -all kids deserve the best – so whatever floats their boat and keeps em smiling.
…and yes…apparently urban/suburban myth and fact..Quadrophobia is an irrational or unjustified (and often uncontrollable) fear (and sometimes terror) of things that come in fours. Now – my mates and my better half (the wife) who all still love the who might say we do not fear the Who – especially the monster daddy album of them all – but we do respect it (and know all the words:) Great show in Philly in December and looking forward to seeing the band again with my air drums and guitars in AC. Bring your A game again – I’ll be bringing mine.
Pete Townshend.. You’re an absolute legend. I’m at chapter 8 of your book and I don’t want it to end!!!
Pete I don’t know you only the music. I was born iN Massachusetts in 1958 so right there for The Who Prime time or defining our lives (Boston Garden and Keith falling off the drums antics though all was good – I must say that Who’s Next is why better than anything you guys put out (sorry it seems that Tommy is your favorite) myself and the boys dont really give a shit since its what connects which is parts of tommy amd mostly whos next the older stuff (cant explain etc sounds like old stones)is like well elvis. Anyway you guys are right there with at least tull (gasp ha) – lots of memories but dude moving on as we say in hawaii imua (forward) crank out some new material im on boARD
Hello Noodler ! Was inspired by your autobiography Pete . I was lucky eneogh to see the 1969 Who performance at the Isle of Wight . I was blown away by it all and especially the Who set . Having been championed by Keith after he had seen me perform at the Lyceum Ballroom supporting Mott the Hoople In Feb. 1971, he showed up the following month wearing a fur coat when I played at the Marquee Club supporting IF . Keith left before Dennis Elliot came on stage ! We eventually met at the old Hammy Odeon at the ‘People for Kampachea Concert ‘ in Dec 1979 . Again insired by the man that wouldn’t wear the sparkling Top Hat like all the other guest guitarists including a young James Honeyman Scott playing the encore with Wings. The song was Rockestra ! The following year my band Pretenders played a support spot in ST. Louis and Kansas City where we couldn’t sell a ticket (Thank you and bless you both – Frank Barcelona and Barbara Skydell x x ) After being warned by your lighting designer about my stick bouncing antics and the chance of them spoiling his precious WHO white light focusing I of course raised the Red Rag to my Bull . Shortly after wen I was in a huge shower room with all the showers gushing a fully dressed and ready for stage Pete came into the shower and said ” I haven’t seen anything like that since Keith ” ! Very inspiring . Still is !
Your book was the second autobiography i had read since Christmas ( I got a deal at Smiths on two books. yours and Roderick Stewart’s ) Phylis’s book made me laugh out loud but I didn’t feel sad that there was no more to read of “Big Nose” and his gallavanting .. Keep on doing it whilst you are still young .. LOVE Martin Chambers X X X X
I’m almost finished with your autobiography, Pete. You started it in 1996! I’ll have to send a full review when I get a chance, but I must say that I really enjoyed your honesty.
I have a question, though: you footnoted this site a few times. What are you and Roger (great name, that) doing about keeping the site going after you two are unable to care for it?
Part of me wants to to call ‘sexist!’ for thinking that’s what a girl would wish for. The teenage girl in me would have died and gone to heaven , had a young Pete Townshed come to serenade me đ
In 1968 my friends and I attended a who concert in Tanglewood Mass in July shortly before Woodstock. We were guests of BB King and the Jefferson Airplane also opened for the Who. We sat right behind the curtains at the side of the stage, behind the speakers. Some of this show is featured in the Kid’s are Alright video. And for a fleeting moment you can actually see us sitting on the floor.
The most incredible show I every experience, where the Who previewed Tommy. Roger was a blur of fringe, Keith a madman, John a monster and Pete, well Pete in his white jumpsuit was in his dangerous if disturbed “zone”. After all these years, Bravo!!!!
Sometime in the mid 70âs I was at a party, talking to a group of friends. A beer in my hand, innocently discussing some innocuous topic, when suddenly I became aware of the faint opening cords of Baba OâReilly emanating from some marginally functional source of music. For several seconds I attempted to maintain my focus on the conversation I was having with my friends. However by the time I heard âout here in the fieldsâŠâ I found it impossible to continue. I ungracefully excused myself and proceeded to find the nearest wall that I could lean against whilst I clenched my teeth and attempted to restrain my overwhelming desire to gyrate around the room. My group of friends seemed uncaring of my predicament. As I reeled within my uncontrollable musical fantasy, I worried that perhaps I was afflicted with some sort of horrific infection. Thankfully, as I glanced across the room, I noticed another poor bastard, similarly hunched against a wall, obviously suppressing a windmill arm swing. This gave me great comfort, knowing that there was at least one other poor sap like me around. I suspect there might be others?
This was not the first such incident, and most definitely not the last. It has been, I confess, a lifelong issue. Even since I was lucky enough to see these individuals perform in the Seattle Coliseum in December of 1971, and many times since, I have been unable to maintain any degree of rational control over my actions when hearing the music written by this fellow⊠Mr. Townshend.
This music has been exceedingly motivational and inspirational to me over the years, to a degree that I canât explain. I however can give one small example. Winter in Seattle lasts 11 months. During that time, the morning temperature is a consistent 45 degrees with incessant drizzle. I have worked in the same job for 34 years. There have been several times when I have arrived for work in the morning and been unable to bring myself to step out of my car and drag myself into my cube. Not working is a bad option when you have kids to support. It is at these times when I reflect: ââŠthe news is written in eyes of all, one is sinner, the next is a saint, most of us worry about showing up late.ââŠâI was digging in the yard today when a letter came from South Hampton wayâŠâ.
These songs contain power. They change lives. They are more that windmills. More than the sum of their parts. More than can be explained.
Now we find ourselves in 2013. How in the world that happened, I cannot imagine. But here we are. So I shall travel to Las Vegas with my wife of 27 years to see The Who play, yet again, on Feb 8th. As near as I can tell, this will be my 27th pilgrimage to the church. We booked a four night package, so of course now that a second show has been added, I shall be obliged to snag a ticket for that as well. (Blue Man Crew or the âooâŠI think I know what I will do.) My wife fails to understand any of this. She regards my problem with the same amused distain as my friends at the party that I abandoned for the comfort of the wall. She will be at the slot machine while I sit in the Joint at the Hard Rock, clench my teeth and try not to annoy my fellow inmates as I reel in the ecstatic embrace.
The Philly show was unbelievable. The crowd was loud and into it, I saw Neil Young at WFC the week before and it was no where’s near as crazy despite also being a great show. The band was tight, and Pete and Roger really seememd to be enjoying themselves. What a night, what a show, what a band. Better than 82 or 89 in my book….”Sea and Sand” just gorgeous.
YES PETE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am looking forward to the Oakland Show on Febr 1.
Looking back. I first saw the Who at the Marquee Club in London 1965.
InEngland the first time with a Choir from VÀsterÄs Sweden..
It was the first time my ears were buzzing after a show. Wow … at show at the small intimate Marquee Club on Wadour Street in London.
I grew up in Sweden. Got my first Sonor drum set about 1965 … that I still have and use. …
Anyway .. see you at the Coliseum in Oakland on Febr 1, 48 years after that first show … hope my ears will be “buzzing” again after this show.
TalkinÂŽbout my Generation … for sure !
-Svante
I hope Pete you will find satisfaction that my 16 year old daughter thinks you are the coolest guy on earth and has little use for most of the music of her own generation. Not that I talked her into it, I just played her Baba O Riley one night and next thing I knew, she was listening to all the Who and Townshend solo music she could get her hands on. I am a musician myself and I have had a very very special place in my heart for all your music throughout my life. We are planning to attend the Columbus Ohio show, flying there from Austin Texas (dont know why you guys couldnt play here, but whatever..)Looking very forward to bringing myself and my daughter to hear Quadrophenia live! We can hardly wait!
Dear Pete, I have almost finished reading your autobiography and I must say it is one of the best I have ever read, if not the best, and I am a prolific reader! It is so candid and I have had a hard time putting it down. However, I have just finished writing a book of my own so I had to put yours aside to concentrate on my own writing at times. My story is a biography of my uncle, a World War II Spitfire pilot who came to Arizona (where I now live)and trained to fly Spitfires and Typhoons. While here he met a girl and fell in love. He wrote to her throughout the war and she saved all his love letters and gave them to me. They are wonderful letters and my uncle also took many, many photographs so my book is heavily illustrated. I won’t bore you with more, suffice to say that I hope you will read it one day. Incidentally, I grew up in Wimbledon (born in 1943) so your music was, and still is, an integral part of my life. I was a rocker but don’t hold that against me!! Looking forward to the last couple of chapters of your book but will be sad to get to the end as I have enjoyed it so much. Cheers. Catherine Harris (E.C.)
Thank you Mr. Townsend for including the Glens Falls Civic Center in your memoir. The Civic Cetner is about ten minutes from my house. My sister got some boot leg pictures of Roger Daltry on her night stand. I also saw the Quadrophina show, the last a Knickerbocker Arena and a show in July 1998 in Montreal with my wife. Ironically we saw Pearl Jam a year later at the Molson Centre and sat in the same row of seats! Thank you for sharing some of your insights from your therapy; in particular delusions and negativie projections and the note to Karen about the sad face of the six or seven year old who still surfaces on a man of 67. This helped me talk to my father over our Post traumatic hic up over the holidays. We had a good heart talk about letting the past go. This is a good first step for me in letting go of some of the pain that haunts me from my past. THANKS!
Sincerly John Peter Etu
So proud to be a fan. Your upcoming show to benefit Teen Cancer care and research and Sloan Kettering Hospital which has and continues to aid so many will be a great night. My reverence for you just grows. I believe you get it, we just try to be better everyday sometimes we falter and stumble and take steps backward but more often then not we move forward sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. This upcoming concert, the teenage cancer concerts in Britain , the Sandy benefit, the 911 show, and I’m sure the many things we don’t know about that are not in the public are great moments. I can’t wait to see you on 2/28, just keep doin’ good (I can’t help my New Yorkese and vernacular), I will to. As always play what you feel.
I was wondering if you could possibly play Don’t Let go the Coat in Louisville, Ky. on 1/16. We are driving from St. Louis to Louisville to see you. Sort of bucket list request, if it is not possible I understand.
Thanks
Dear Pete,
Thank you. Thank you for an amazing evening of music. It was so much fun last night. And to see you having so much fun, all of you on stage, was a thrill and a delight, as always!! It was my one stop on this Tour, and so blessed to be there.
I hope that you will make some more Tour Diaries on this second leg.
xox Lynda Grace
Is it wrong that I’m almost 40 and the clown with the ukulele sounds pretty cool?
hello!
please welcome back in japan
waiting for your quadrophenia live!
we love the who!
My wife and I dated while listening to The Who. We saw you in Phoenix Wednesday night. Great show!!! I don’t know how you still have the guts to do those windmill moves, especially after impaling your hand. I tried it once and raked my fingers so hard – I won’t get fooled again.
My spirituality is at a low point today, and I have to play in church tonight. I keep thinking of your phrase “why should I care”? I know the reason – because God has been good to me – do it for Him – but it’s still hard to care about people who don’t care about me.
Have a great remainder of the tour. The Who has been my favorite band since Woodstock.
Hi, Pete,
Since you’ve posted no more recent comments than this one, just thought I’d try to reach out to you here. Saw you in Vegas 8 days ago, and really enjoyed the show. Finally, I can say I’ve seen The Who. Carried my ticket, so as not to have it damaged, in your book. Also, I figured there’s an outside — way outside — chance that I might meet you and ask you to sign it; hell, I met Tom Morello at one of his SSSC gigs in Santa Barbara strictly by chance a few years back, so anything’s possible.
As it was, my ticket remained unscathed, and I saw your brother Simon, milling about the lobby, taking pictures, autographing for fans/acquaintances. Not knowing him, and not having the immediate connection of a shared sport team (Chicago Cubs) rooting interest like with Morello, I was too shy to approach him to ask if he could facilitate something.
In any case, thanks for the show; I was glad to see you seemd to be enjoying yourself. I particularly enjoyed your horizontal hand swipe after you guys had done the last song, letting everyone know, “It’s over. Go home.”
Bets wishes,
rb
Pete, Roger & Crew: Fantastic show in Columbus (2-17-13). This was my first Who show – and I’m old enough to have missed a lot of tours – and we took our daughter who also really liked the show. Quadrophenia is my favorite Who album for lots of reasons. Last night’s show cemented that – and what a fantastic backing band! Thanks again for your music, your lyrics and place in my life.
Peace,
Chaz
What I thought was cool when I was a teen, when I was figuratively hospitalized, was ‘All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes’. Perhaps you have portrayed that clown more often than you realize? Thank you for your music, Mr. Townshend. It has made me extremely happy for decades. My sincere best wishes to you.
Hello Pete,
Just finished your book. My wife bought it for me for a trip I went to Haiti. Thought I was going to read just another story of a rock n roll group that I enjoy. I wasn’t expecting to do so much introspective thinking about my own sobriety, 24 years 2 months and 8 days, but who’s counting. I usually refer to my drinking as a punchline and proceed to tell tales of drunkenness as if they were the best days of my life, at the time they were. My wife just celebrated 18 months herself. The book was very therapeutic to me and reminded how special sobriety is. Thanks for opening up in the book.
My wife and I will be at the show tonight in Providence, I will be the sober one singing along with every song.
One more thing. I met a man in Haiti who was from Oregon. We were both there building housing for medical personnel who will staff the new hospital when it is completed. I had “Tommy” playing and asked him if he liked The Who. He informed me he didn’t know any Who songs. This man was 50 years old! For the rest of the week he was on a crash course of “Tommy” and “Quadrophenia”. I have no idea if he likes the Who now, but he never again can say he doesn’t know who they are.
Have a great rest of the tour.
Hey Pete,
Looking forward to see you & the boys tonight in Providence RI!
Look forward to a post letting us whoville people know what’s up!
Hope all is well and I’m so glad you are out and about! Be well & THANKS!
Ah – Now I understand what you mentioned last night at the show at the theatre at MSG about the clown.
Definitely a higher calling and done out of love, but as any teenager will probably tell you, clowns are a bit downrange for them.
Again, thanks for the show last night guys. 4th time I saw you this tour, and as I mentioned on another post, I sincerely hope I did not witness the final show of the Who in North America. Please, please come back!
Pete, Pete, Pete…
Finished reading your new book, and it was an eye opening journey. Not quite the glamorous fairytale that rock’n’roll is supposed to be, but I’m grateful for you telling it like it is.
And so I got to the end, and I’m reading the credits, and I thought I’d missed seeing your first wife’s name there. So I checked again. Nope, no credit or thanks to Karen.
Well it’s your book, and your decision, but from this fab’s perspective, it makes you look like a twat. The woman clearly loved you, and tolerated a truckload of crap from you over the years (and gave some, too, I have no doubt) but to wallpaper over her support and caring – at times when you needed it the most – just makes you look bitter and jaded.
Sorry, mate – but that’s the sort of thing a schoolboy does, not a rock icon.
Very disappointed.
I just finished the book as well, and truly enjoyed it. But I am not at all surprised by the omission of Karen in the credits. Pete has moved on.
Mr. Townshend, I greatly admire your honesty in the book. And, I hope you are not offended by this, but I pray for you a great deal, that you may be able to deal with those things that cause you great turmoil. It is often ironic how life works—I first heard “Tommy” at age 13, and it absolutely changed my world. My favorite album of all time. And then, at 33, I became a father to a deaf son. He is 23 now, a huge Who fan like myself, and has accomplished much more than anyone ever could have imagined.
I just wanted to say “thank you” for your many songs and writings that have touched my life for the past 44 years. You’ve meant a lot to me along the way.
In my copy of “Who Am I” (still haven’t read the entire book, yet, I must confess)Karen is in the second to last page of the acknowledgements, so this “mistake” is confusing to me. My old friends and co-workers: a children’s music therapist who wore only his street clothes and a guitar, mesmerized the little listeners and our boss, who was/is a ukelele playing clown, both have my deep respect for their total dedication to the well-being and future of children. My boss also bestowed to me her boundless knowledge, even though I never learned to play a musical instrument. But to Mr. Townshend, I certainly would not be alive if it weren’t for you. Yet, if anyone who is still alive has a right to be angry at you, it is me, and at the moment i feel shock! OHM
Finally wrote that review of your book, though I finished reading the book over a month ago. http://www.rogerogreen.com/2013/03/18/book-review-who-i-am-by-pete-townsend/
Pete,
Got pulled, bogus busted, cuffed & canned in front of greenville sc show.
Worse f,ing night of my life. Asshole cops looking to hassle fans…got me.
Read the book …loved it… Moving…saw u guys 3 times long ago.
Lived Quad in 1973… Fav album of all time.
My kids say at the beach…daddy why do you always sing that song…a beach is aplace where a man can feel…hes the only soul in the world thats real.
Bailed out next day but missed show…lost my scalped 300 ticket…impounded incar. 5k for lawyers
Pete. Would come to uk if you could help. My wife suffered that night more than me.
Will send you police report if you want proof.
Love you man, love the music….always will.
I dont suppose u would remember me, but I used to follow u back in “73..”
Hoping you can see the real me….i am one.
Bob
Here in Detroit is Karmanos Cancer center they have a musical therapy program. As part of this, they bring in guitarists to play for patients – me being one of them. I’ve played for children, teenagers, and older people. Guess what – they could care what style of music you play for them as long as it is upbeat – in my case jazz, classical, and Chet style guitar. I try to adjust to the age of the patient or ask what they’d like to hear. More often than not, they couldn’t care about age appropriate entertainment – they want to talk. I’ll admit, a clown is a bit cheesy for a teenager, but just having someone come in and talk, smile or laugh and take their mind off their situation is enough. You’d be surprised how many never receive visits. Hats off to this clown.
Hello, I’ve just read your book Pete. I would love to send you a note, probably by computer because I’m terrible with longhand, in that I tend to doubt my clever writing skill when doing so, I’ll only end up squashing the paper up, putting it into the trash can, and then the never-ending self-loathing begins again. Oh, I’m joking, really I am. I would join your fan site but it’s a bit dear for me at the moment. So, if you or someone could tell me where to send a letter to you that you might read that would be lovely. Cheers from an American person who lives in Ireland.
It doesn’t cost anything to access content on this site. You just need to register. You don’t need to subscribe.
I adore you Pete! I could swim all day in those baby blues…
Pete, just a ‘quite note’ on SCOOP. I’ve fallen in love with this album and find it a fountain of fresh inspiration as an artist. What a treasure.
P.S. I was the crazy bloke in Denver on your side of the stage yelling “Alan!”. Yes, I’m a Pete fanatic (and think Alan is the coolest tech/minder ever).
Thanks for the joy.
Pete,
I patiently await your words, your thoughts, your musings.
xox LyndaGrace