Pete Townshend and Neil Young

Now here's another interesting musical intersection: Pete Townshend and Neil Young.

This is from Pete Townshend's blog Pete's Diary.

"Neil Young is in London. He is most welcome as a true ambassador of America (despite his Canadian passport). He is such an inspiration to people like me who sometimes feel I have lost my way in rock 'n' roll. He takes huge chances sometimes in his creative projects, the biggest risk probably being when he chooses to go out on tour with Crosby, Stills and Nash, bless their collected genius.

For me, to go out with Roger under the Who brand is not a risk. I find it easy. I find it natural. I don't have to think. I don't have to work at feeling good or even. I know who I am and those who buy tickets know what to expect most of the time. Lately I have begun to really enjoy it, I hope not because it such a slick gig: there are always some difficult times to savour on every tour.

I suppose what happens whenever you put creative people together in 'bands' is that you get strength at one level, weakness on another.

Neil manages the two strands of his career in a way I admire and try hard to emulate.

I don't want to be like Sting (though I do think he's a master craftsman in his work) and leave the band entirely behind as he did with Police. It was a clean divorce and he's never gone back. Neither do I want to be like AC/DC, God bless them forever and a day, who just keep working the same seam of gold and don't seem to stop for breath."

Pete's blog entry continues with some other thoughts on Pete and Neil's lives. Townshend seems to indicate that Neil has gone to Europe, but for what purpose is not known.

Maybe this is Pete's way of saying "Thanks Neil for getting me out of jam". You may recall that last summer, Neil and Pete had an interesting intersection by way of Michael Moore. More on the The Who's Pete Townshend's collaborations with Neil Young.

As if the world needed anymore examples of Neil Young's artistic integrity and influence.

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