Gösta Hansson
The successful English – and very expensive – pop group the Who arrived in Sweden yesterday. Their third visit to this country was kicked-off with a press conference at park Avenue, to which the foursome arrived an hour late. (When will we experience the miracle of a pop band arriving in time for a meeting with the press?) If the Who are wild on stage, they are much more subdued off-stage.
Most of all, they wanted to talk about the panic that had occurred during their recent concert in Copenhagen.
- I hope the same uproar doesn’t happen here, said Pete Townshend. In Copenhagen, the fans broke two seats, and we had to reimburse that with 6,000 Crowns. “Good business” for the promoter!
An usher that was trodden upon was also the result of their show in Copenhagen.
The Who almost completely sold out two shows at Liseberg yesterday, but no trouble ensued. The members of the Who did not fight on stage, nor did they smash any instruments in the fashion they reportedly do. Pete Townshend courageously tackled one speaker cabinet, but the only thing that happened was that it fell down to the floor.
EAR DEAFENING
If you meet someone today that walks around with their hands behind their ears screaming “WHAT” when spoken to, it is probable that this person attended the Who-gala yesterday. The Who assaulted the Konserthallen with an almost unendurable volume, bordering on the unbearable. One is struck by the fact that the boys in the Who aren’t completely deaf. Maybe they are using earplugs?
PATCH WORK
But back to the press conference. Here, John Entwhistle (bass player), Roger Daltrey (singer), Pete Townshend (guitar player) and Keith Moon (drummer) about the following things: a) their new LP, b) clothes, c) plans for a movie and d) Swedish pop bands.
THE NEW LP will be released eventually – when it is finished. The first one was a patch work, the boys admit, and they want to spend whatever time necessary to complete their second album. All four of them will contribute with compositions of their own, including lyrics. But, a couple of current hit songs will be on the LP, for instance Barbara Ann and Heatwave. The new album will probably be named “Puzzle”, with the front image of the cover will be that of a puzzle. When the pieces are put together, you’ll get an image of the Who!
CLOTHES are a huge interest for the boys – it is said that they have a huge clothes account. By demand, Pete Townshend mentioned the prices of the clothes he was wearing: shirt 125 Crowns, socks 25 Crowns and so forth. We believe it was balderdash altogether. Pete, the splendid fellow, was rather poorly dressed.
PLANS FOR MOVIES does not form part of the immediate future, despite the fact that most English bands have been captured on celluloid. But, according to John Entwhistle, Hammer Films are showing interest. (Footnote: Hammer Films is an English company that exclusively produces horror movies – Dracula, Frankenstein, the Werewolf etc.)
SWEDISH POP BANDS aren’t especially good. They have no self confidence, no drive or power during their stage performances. Also, they are copying foreign bands far too much.
The only band that they could name was Tage’s, and they sound good.
The Who has been offered by Swedish TV to make a programme. But, this will most likely not happen.
The Who are busy making other plans.
Note
Translation by Jan Forsgren.
