Another Trip Around The Sun
There are a couple of notable birthdays from today in the world of rock. The two of them were as influential in the DNA of rocks’ history as any artists.
On this date, in 1945, Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend was born in London.
He’s a legend, most notably as the lead guitarist of The Who, of course, but had a successful, and nearly as prolific, solo career. He was the brash and wild stage presence that defined the bands’ image in the days of social change and coming of age. In many ways, they spoke for the counter-culture that would eventually alter the course of societies’ evolution.
Not simply a guitarist, of great renown by the way, he mastered numerous instruments, with banjo, bass guitar, mandolin, drums, and harmonica to name a few. With, I might add, no formal training. He’s also a talented songwriter, penning more than 100 songs for The Who, and nearly that many as a soloist. He also wrote rock operas Quadrophenia and Tommy, as well as TV show theme songs and ad jingles.
But, as a guitarist is how he became Pete Friggin’ Townshend! He’s consistently chosen as a top-10 guitarist of all-time, including no. 3 in the book The New Book of Rock Lists by Dave Marsh, no. 10 on Gibson.com’s Top-50 list, and no. 10 on Rolling Stone’s Top-100 list of All-Time. He’s been inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, received The Brit Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1983, won the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001, and received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2008.
On this date, 1951, Jefferey Ross Hyman, was born in Queens, NY.
Of course, he’s better known by his stage name and persona as Joey Ramone. He passed away in April of 2001 at the age of 49, in New York. He is generally considered one of the forefather’s of Punk, and was noticed with the band Sniper, in 1972. He co-founded The Ramones in 1974. The name Ramones came from Paul McCartney’s old stage name, Paul Ramon, and was first used by Dee Dee Ramone (again, a stage name), and the other members adopted the surname as well.
Dee Dee Ramone was the original lead singer, Johnny Ramone the guitarist, and Joey Ramone the drummer. Eventually, though, Joey would become the lead vocalist. The bands’ manager, Thomas Erdelyi, took over the drumming as Tommy Ramone. There’s no denying the bands’ influence on Punk, and Rock in general, despite limited commercial success, with only one album being certified Gold in the US, Ramones Mania, a compilation album released in 1988.
However, they’ve been generally considered as one the best bands of all-time since. They may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but their impact on the world of music is unquestionable.
So, Happy Birthday to two of musics most notable figures.
Thanks for this
The Who and the Ramones! Great music.
AND
I’ve nominated you for the Respect Award…
You don’t have to do a thing…
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Thanks so much! I saw your post. Really appreciate. 🙂
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Love The Who….and who didn’t like the Ramones…LOL full moon weekend…kat
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Time to dance naked and howl! 😃
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HOWEEEEEEEEEEE RUF RUF RUF
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There ya go! Let it out!!! 😃
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oh sweetheart I have no problem with howling at the moon!!!!
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Hahaha! I knew I liked you! 😃
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😉
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http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/09/28/who-pete-townshend-says-child-porn-foray-was-research-and-insane.html
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I remember that. I recall being shocked but I don’t recall him getting in much trouble. I hope his version of the story is true. 😕
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http://ultimateclassicrock.com/pete-townshend-cleared-child-porn-charges/
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Sounds odd, to be looking at that stuff as “research”, but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
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Ah! Good detectiving.
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Sounds sketchy, but he was let off without charges, so….😏
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Don’t they all?
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That is the weirdest thing ever! Who the hell gets off on little kids?!? Bizarre.
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Tell me about it!
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I could not refrain from commenting. Very well written!
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Thanks so much! 😃
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I could not resist commenting. Very well written!
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