Pete Townshend: Keith Moon's death prevented Who renaissance

Pete Townshend says that unlike the Who's 1979 documentary The Kids Are Alright, the band's new film Amazing Journey: The Story Of The Who isn't intended to serve as a memorial, but rather a celebration.

Townshend told Uncut, "Remember The Kids Are Alright was made when the Who, Keith (Moon) mainly, felt as though we were finished. He couldn't play. If he had survived his rehab he would have bounced back -- then we would have had a genuine renaissance. As it stands, Kids is his testament."

Townshend went on to say that Moon was an extremely complex character to live and work with and that he's curious how Roger Daltrey will be able to capture Moon's essence in the upcoming Moon biopic set to star Mike Myers: "We loved (Keith) most of the time, but he was infuriating. God only knows how Roger as a producer is going to steer a movie about Keith Moon without softening the truth. It certainly wasn't all comedy, but when it was comedy, it was the highest quality. This wasn't Spinal Tap, this was Monty Python."

The upcoming Moon biopic called See Me Feel Me: Keith Moon Naked For Your Pleasure, is expected to begin shooting early next year.

Townshend spoke about the new Amazing Journey documentary, and has said that for once he's glad that filmmakers haven't focused squarely on his talent and Moon's antics to tell the Who's story: "This is Roger's story of the Who, and I believe for the first time he is able to tell it in his own way, and it seems the directors have properly favored him, at last, with plenty of air time."

Townshend has never felt the personal need for a filmmaker to chronicle his life and career, feeling that that his unique relationship with the rock press over the years has allowed him to talk about and discuss his music in an immediate fashion: [ Click to listen if you have a backstage pass] "I saw journalists as my friends, artists, as creatives, and researchers -- and fellows on the creative pathway. Partly because I know that every writer is a writer. Every writer with a small 'w' is a writer with a big 'w' and I'm a writer."

The two disc Amazing Journey: The Story Of The Who DVD is available now. An additional bonus disc, featuring 90 minutes from the Who's December 8th, 1979 concert at Chicago's International Amphitheater, will be available exclusively through Best Buy stores.

In addition to the new documentary, the Who have also launched their first multimedia website, thewho.com.
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