Pete Townshend defends Michael Jackson

The Who leader, Pete Townshend, is no stranger to charges of illicit behavior regarding children, so it shouldn't surprise you that he backed Michael Jackson during the singer's recent trial. Townshend wrote in the diary section of his official petetownshend.co.uk website that he's always known Jackson to be loving and supportive of children, especially those in need. Townshend said, "[Jackson] has unselfishly helped every cause, and individual child, I have sent his way. In one case he hired a circus for the Down's Syndrome children of a special school of the daughter of a friend of mine, and showed up to happily, and - yes - in childlike enthusiasm - watch the show with them. This little girl believed she was Michael's future wife, and he so kindly allowed her to sit next to him, as his future bride. His feathers may be badly burned, and he may be damaged in other ways too, but he is something of an angel."

Townshend and lead singer Roger Daltrey are getting ready for The Who's appearance at the upcoming Live 8 show in Hyde Park in London on July 2, 2005. It will be their second and last show of this year, following their charity performance in New York City earlier this month.