60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
5/8/65 – Bob Dylan films a music video for his song “Subterranean Homesick Blues.” It is one of the earliest music videos ever made specifically to promote a record … and has been mimicked numerous times over the years. (This is the one where Dylan flips thru a series of flashcards)
The filming took place along side The Savoy Hotel in London. The actors shown in the background were Allen Ginsberg and Bob Neuwirth.
The original clip was actually used as the opening segment of D. A. Pennebaker's film, “Dont Look Back,” a documentary on Bob Dylan’s 1965 tour of England. In the film, Dylan, (who came up with the idea), holds up cue cards for the camera with selected words and phrases from the lyrics. The cue cards were written by Donovan, Allen Ginsberg, Bob Neuwirth and Dylan himself. While staring at the camera, he flipped through the cards as the song played.
and TODAY ...
Are The Who launching ANOTHER Farwell Tour???
(Maybe the third time will be the charm!)
After a bit of bad press lately, maybe it’s finally time for these vintage rockers to call it a career …
That seems to be the general speculation, but they’ve done this before, so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
The Who (which these days just means Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey … anybody else up there on stage with them are just hired hands, as was made very clear recently with the firing and un-firing of Drummer Zak Starkey, who has performed with the band for nearly thirty years) … are holding a press conference in London later today (5/8) to make a special announcement, which will be followed by an exclusive Q&A session. They’re calling this new project "The Song Is Over" and fans have been encouraged to send in questions for the band.
As pointed out by Rolling Stone and Ultimate Classic Rock, if the band DOES announce a farewell tour, it will not be the first time they have done so — their first “farewell trek” began in 1982, some 43 years ago!!! Daltrey also mentioned being done with touring during the band's 2017 outing … and Townshend spoke about the possibility of doing one big farewell tour last year.
Townshend told The New York Times, "It feels to me like there's one thing the Who can do, and that's a final tour where we play every territory in the world and then crawl off to die."
He went on to say, "I don't get much of a buzz from performing with the Who. If I'm really honest, I've been touring for the money. I don't want to be like one of these guys that dies on tour. Roger is of the opinion that he wants to sing until he drops. That's not my philosophy of life. There are other things that I want to do, still want to do, and will do, I hope. I hope I'll live long enough to do them."
Stay tuned for more details … with one small reminder …
A couple of weeks ago everything Roger Daltrey announced was UN-announced by Pete Townshend the very next day … and they’ve pulled the “one last blast” routine before … so please be cautioned that ANYTHING they tell us later today is subject to review and retraction at a later date! (lol) kk
UPDATE:
As expected, The Who announced their latest farewell tour earlier today in a special press conference held in London.
Calling it their “This Song Is Over” tour, there are currently sixteen dates booked for North America, running between August and September of this year.
PETE TOWNSHEND: Well, all good things must come to an end. It is a poignant time. For me, playing to American audiences and those in Canada has always been incredible ... I must say that although the road has not always been enjoyable for me, it is usually easy: the best job I could ever have had. I keep coming back. Every time I do, I meet new fans and feel new energy. Roger and I are in a good place, despite our age, eager to throw our weight behind this fond farewell to all our faithful fans, and hopefully to new ones who might jump in to see what they have been missing for the last 57 years. This tour will be about fond memories, love and laughter. Make sure you join in.
ROGER DALTREY: To me, America has always been great. The cultural differences had a huge impact on me, this was the land of the possible. It's not easy to end the big part of my life that touring with The Who has been. Thanks for being there for us and look forward to seeing you one last time.
Daltrey and Townshend are the last Who standing. (Drummer Keith Moon died in 1978 and Bass Player John Entwistle in 2002)
August 16th – Sunrise, FL – Amerant Bank Arena
August 19th – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
August 21st – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
August 23rd – Atlantic City, NJ – Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
August 26th – Boston, MA – Fenway Park
August 28th – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
August 30th – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
September 2nd – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
September 4th – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
September 7th – Chicago, IL – United Center
September 17th – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
September 19th – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
September 21st – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
September 23rd – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
September 25th – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
September 28th – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena
