Looking for an info on connections between U2 and Pete Townshend

[punkiku]

Hi all!

Being a fan of both U2 and everything to do with Pete Townshend, I'm hoping to find some expert who knows something on this...

Firstly, in the Bill Flanagan book I remember Edge at some point said that Pete Townshend came to talk to them with Bruce Springsteen after some show in the very early 80's, and Pete was especially encouraging and supportive. Any knowledge if there's any more evidence of the meeting, like an early interview or something?

Thanks a lot if anyone can help me with this!

Maria

 

[J_NP]

I know once Townshend said :

"When I first heard him , I wanted to give up"

 

[martha]

"When I first heard him , I wanted to give up"

I remember reading this in Melody Maker in the basement newspaper section of the CSULB library in my first year or two of college.

 

[punkiku]

Hm, are you sure that wasn't about Jimi Hendrix? Sounds awfully familiar

 

[U2girl]

Didn't U2 induct The Who in the RNR Hall of fame?

 

[punkiku]

They did, 1988 or 1989.

 

[phillyfan26]

Bruce confirmed this in his U2 Hall Speech, he said he and Townshend went to an early U2 gig, because they were always looking to see who was going to unseat them. He made fun of Bono's hair and the name "The Edge" in said speech.

 

[Clawgrabber]

if i am not mistaken, Pete Townsend gave one of his guitars to Andy Summers telling him "You are the next big thing. Pass this along when you feel similarly"
or something like that.

after a few years when the Police were ending, Andy gave his guitar to The Edge and said the same thing. From what I understand, The Edge still has the guitar (with good cause... i don't think he can honestly say who the Next Big Thing is after U2 because they are the biggest in the world... still!)

 

[J_NP]

if i am not mistaken, Pete Townsend gave one of his guitars to Andy Summers telling him "You are the next big thing. Pass this along when you feel similarly"
or something like that.

after a few years when the Police were ending, Andy gave his guitar to The Edge and said the same thing. From what I understand, The Edge still has the guitar (with good cause... i don't think he can honestly say who the Next Big Thing is after U2 because they are the biggest in the world... still!)

Know what was the guitar ?

 

[rjhbonovox]

Hm, are you sure that wasn't about Jimi Hendrix? Sounds awfully familiar

Yes it was!

 

[rjhbonovox]

Doesn't Pete like surfing the net for dodgy porn! Oh yeah he was doing some research!

 

[susanp6]

I thought Edge said Pete was one of his biggest guitar heroes?

 

[martha]

I know Pete said something like that about Edge because I remember reading it. It stuck with me because I was a massive Who fan at the time.

 

[susanp6]

Similar idea with me really! I always remember reading that so it's one of those U2/Who facts i always recall.

 

[punkiku]

As I remember Edge said (in the Flanagan book) that he respects Pete because he has always been primarily a songwriter and so realizes that the guitar playing mus t serve the song and not the other way around.

 

[phillyfan26]

Know what was the guitar ?

Probably a Strat. Pete's all about the Strat.

 

[blueeyedgirl]

There was an interview in Hot Press in the very early 80s (in the "U2 File") where Bono said "The Who's Live in Leeds was a very important record in my life" (or words to that effect).