04-09-2007, 12:40 PM
A friend of mine, Larry Smith, wrote a book on him several years ago called "The Minstrel's Dilemma"
http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/C6472.aspx
I drank copious amounts of vodka that summer while reading chapter drafts and later the galleys
of my friend Larry's book, and had discussions with him of his interviews with Pete.
The premise of the book is that Townsend struggle with what he called "the minstrel's dilemma"
which is the struggle between art and commerce. Much of Townsends work was written as
part of a bigger "art" but regulated "commerce" i.e. - material originally intended for his "Lifehouse" project
that ended up scattered across several other Who albums to pay the bills
From what I read and understood Townsend fully understood the struggle and I'm sure he
was paid very well for the use of his songs that have been used commercially
very very well .....
It's a good read - not a "fan book" but a critical analysis Townsend famously does not grant interviews
but Larry kept after him and sent chapters for him to read giving him the chance to comment
and the book was nearly finished when Townsend sent word that he would sit down
and talk with Larry - pretty cool.
http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/C6472.aspx
I drank copious amounts of vodka that summer while reading chapter drafts and later the galleys
of my friend Larry's book, and had discussions with him of his interviews with Pete.
The premise of the book is that Townsend struggle with what he called "the minstrel's dilemma"
which is the struggle between art and commerce. Much of Townsends work was written as
part of a bigger "art" but regulated "commerce" i.e. - material originally intended for his "Lifehouse" project
that ended up scattered across several other Who albums to pay the bills
From what I read and understood Townsend fully understood the struggle and I'm sure he
was paid very well for the use of his songs that have been used commercially
very very well .....
It's a good read - not a "fan book" but a critical analysis Townsend famously does not grant interviews
but Larry kept after him and sent chapters for him to read giving him the chance to comment
and the book was nearly finished when Townsend sent word that he would sit down
and talk with Larry - pretty cool.