The Who Close TCT Shows With Performance Of Quadrophenia

The Who closed this year’s series of benefit concerts for the UK charity Teenage Cancer Trust at London’s Royal Albert Hall last night (Tuesday, March 30th) with a full-length performance of their 1973 rock opera Quadrophenia. The Who’s usual touring band of Roger Daltrey (lead vocals), Pete Townshend (vocals and guitar), Zak Starkey (drums), Pino Palladino (bass), John “Rabbit” Bundrick (keyboards), and Simon Townshend (guitar and backing vocals) was augmented for the show by horn and string sections. They were also joined by special guests Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam and Tom Meighan of Kasabian. Vedder sang “The Punk and the Godfather” while Meighan sang Keith Moon’s part in “Bell Boy” and began the song seated on a scooter. 

There was no encore after the performance of Quadrophenia. Daltrey is the patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust, and is believed to have attended all of the shows this year. He may have been too tired to do an encore last night. 

There have been rumors that last night’s show might have been the last gig ever by The Who. Pete Townshend’s tinnitus has been bothering him lately, and some scheduled shows by The Who in North America have already been cancelled. The reviews for last night’s show were positive. If last night’s performance of their best album was the last show that The Who perform, then they went out on a high note. 

For more about The Who ‘s Quadrophenia show last night, see the reviews from XFM London, NME.com, RollingStone.com, and the UK newspapers The Times of London, The Sun, and the Evening Standard. 

Matt Kent of TheWho.com took a bunch of great photos at the show, one of which is above. To view the photos, go to TheWho.com.

Liam Gallagher Gives In-Depth Interview To New York’s WRXP-FM

Former Oasis lead vocalist Liam Gallagher recently sat down for a lengthy, in-depth interview with Matt Pinfield and Leslie Fram of New York City rock radio station WRXP-FM. In the interview, Gallagher spoke about his upcoming album, his rift with brother Noel, his Pretty Green clothing line, and the lack of style displayed by Coldplay and U2. The interview is both funny and interesting. 

To watch the interview, go to the WXRP-FM Web site or watch it in three parts from You Tube below. 

Part 1: 

 

Part 2: 

 

Part 3: 

 

For more on Gallagher’s interview with WRXP-FM, see the article about it from NME.com.

Rock Photographer Jim Marshall Leaves Behind Great Portfolio Of Rock Photos

Legendary rock photographer Jim Marshall (pictured above) died at age 74 this past Wednesday, March 24th, in New York City. Marshall photographed many of rock’s legendary performers, including The Who, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and the Rolling Stones. A photo of The Who taken by Marshall for Teen Set magazine in 1967 is below. 

One of Marshall’s most famous photos is of Jimi Hendrix setting fire to his guitar at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. The photo is pictured below. 

To view a gallery of Marshall’s photos, see NME.com. 

For more on Jim Marshall and his photography, go to his official Web site at http://www.marshallphoto.com/. 

Jim Marshall 1936-2010 R.I.P.

Stone Temple Pilot’s Scott Weiland falls off stage in Iowa

Unlike Steven Tyler, Scott did not break his hip. Scott is younger and capable of landing on his feet. No lifeline needed.

Rush’s Neil Peart claims it doesn’t matter to him if he gets inducted into Rock Hall

Peart tells The Canadian Press:

“No … you know who it matters to, is the fans. It would matter a lot to our fans for us to have that validation. It doesn’t matter to me. I’ve got the success and respect that we’ve had, and the opportunity to do exactly what we wanted for 35 years, do we need them to make us feel better? No, not at all. Being in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame, that’s 10 times — 100 times — more (important) than being in some critics’ list.”

You bet it matters to the fans. Rush belongs in there, and they will get there eventually. It’s a nice humble gesture by Peart that Canadian Halls are more important to him, but, let’s face it, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is the ultimate honor.

Absolute Radio Web Site Features Live Tracks From Them Crooked Vultures’ TCT Concert

Three songs from Them Crooked Vultures’ show for the benefit of the UK charity Teenage Cancer Trust this past Monday, March 22nd, at London’s Royal Albert Hall are now featured on the Web site of UK radio station Absolute Radio. (Absolute Radio is one of the sponsors of the concert series, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.) The songs that can be heard on the Absolute Radio Web site are “New Fang,” “Dead End Friends,” and “Gunman.” They sound fantastic. It’s too bad that they didn’t make more of the concert available for listening. 

To hear the live tracks from Them Crooked Vultures, go to the Absolute Radio Web site.

Florence And The Machine Perform “Dog Days Are Over” On UK Breakfast Show GMTV

Florence and the Machine appeared on the UK breakfast program GMTV earlier this week and performed their latest single “Dog Days Are Over.” Florence Welch was also interviewed by GMTV presenter Lorraine Kelly and she talked about the upcoming American tour. 

To watch Florence and the Machine on GMTV, click below: 

 

For more on Florence and the Machine, go to:
http://www.florenceandthemachine.net
http://www.myspace.com/florenceandthemachine

Them Crooked Vultures Do Interview With Absolute Radio Before TCT Gig In London

Last night at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Them Crooked Vultures opened the 10th anniversary of the series of benefit concerts for the UK charity Teenage Cancer Trust. Prior to the concert, the members of Them Crooked Vultures—John Paul Jones, Dave Grohl, and Josh Homme—sat for an interview with Ben Jones of the UK radio station Absolute Radio. In the interview, the band discussed how Roger Daltrey, the Teenage Cancer Trust’s patron, got them to do the gig. To watch the interview, click below: 

BBC 6 Music’s Web site has a review of Them Crooked Vultures’ Teenage Cancer Trust show. It seems like it was a pretty impressive show.

Bret Michaels shows his feisty side on The Apprentice

Bret Michaels had proven last night why he’s a frontman and not in, say, the rhythm section of a rock band. The fact that he was idle and not given a task on the Apprentice drove him nuts. The guy likes action (no pun intended) and when things are idle he likes to put things into action. When he was not given a task by project leader, Sinbad, Bret lost his composure, and it almost got him fired. He went from adored project leader to doghouse in Trump’s boardroom within two episodes.

But he survives, to lead another day.

God, what a lame show.

Rock idol Patti Smith more fashion-conscious than some may think

The New York Times had a good article in their Fashion & Style section in this Sunday’s paper on Patti Smith (above) and her fashion eye. Seemingly grungy and rebellious, some fans may be surprised by her strategic fashion sense. What she wears every day is thought out. During this interview with The Times, her pants were Ralph Lauren, her jacket was a Ann Demeulemeester, and her boots were straight from the Alice in Wonderland’s Mad Hatter (aka Johnny Depp). But at the same time her attitude keeps the punk aesthetic:

“My style says ‘Look at me, don’t look at me,’ ” she said, a hint of testiness ruffling her easy composure. “It’s, ‘I don’t care what you think.’ ”