Musicians

"I'm a boy, I'm a boy but my ma won't admit..."  Maybe he never admited it either - who knows.  I used to get upset about the idea of Pete Townshend being gay.  Something about the overt maleness and rebeliousness of The Who created a mental disconnect when I discovered the truth. I guess it was some vestigial homophobia left over from a fairly typical, suburban, white, middle class upbringing.    It doesn't bother me anymore - he's a man in my eyes.  It has nothing to do with who or what you like to bang behind closed doors. It has to do with standing up, taking a risk, being fucking awesome at what you do, not shitting on others, remembering who your friends are and where you came from, writing incredibly great and honest songs, being humble, and a whole host of other things that Mr. Townshend has in spades.        

To date, The Beatles are undoubtedly the most popular British invasion band in the public conscience but the The Who were arguable much more influential on the the course of rock history.  Every garage band that has ever been since the sixties (and there's been lots - The Sex Pistols and Green Day just to name two who made it big) counts at least one Who song in their repertoire - and it's not only due to the time-defying, enduring nature of the songs - the sound and the live performances (and Roger, John, and Keith) had a lot to do with it as well - but it's Pete Townshend's writing that underlies it all! International treasure this man.