Pete Townshend is writing new Who songs while social distancing at his studio
Also working on a musical adaptation of his novel, The Age Of Anxiety.
Photo: Kevin Mazur / Getty Images
Pete Townshend says he’s been writing new music for The Who while self-isolating in his studio. In a recent interview with BBC, Townshend admits, “I feel really lucky because what I do mainly is spend a lot of time on my own in the studio”.
Grounded from touring, and gifted with sudden free time, Townshend says he’s starting early on writing a new Who record.
“I was going to do this next year — but starting work early on writing new songs for another Who album, as the last one did so well. So, I’m knocking ideas around.”
Apart from writing new Who songs, Townshend is also working on a musical adaptation of his 2019 novel, The Age of Anxiety. “It’s time-consuming, but it’s really pleasurable. I’m working with orchestrations, drum boxes, old vintage synthesizers and, of course, the usual guitars and piano”.
The Who, like many artists, have cancelled or postponed shows in 2020 due to COVID-19. They recently announced the postponement of their US tour. Before that, their UK and Ireland trek, and two headlining spots at the Royal Albert Hall’s Teenage Cancer Trust benefit, and the New Orleans Jazz Festival, respectively.
Despite this, Townshend reveals that he’s “never really enjoyed [touring that] much,” admitting that “the joy of what I do has been in the composing, the writing, the playing around with studio gear”.
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