"Like any qualified rock ’n’ roll dork, I began consuming the lore around the music early." Same here: ~5 years old is arguably far too young to be engrossed in Brown and Gaines' infamously tawdry The Love You Make: An Insider's Story of the Beatles - but at least I was reading something!

Kleenex Girl Wonder made its triumphant return to Chicago with a storming set tonight at the Hideout. 20 overheated and verbose power pop bangers in a row from throughout their sprawling discography. Yes —boss! @0gs.bsky.social

Pleased to announce last night marked my live debut drumming for @jasonnarducy.bsky.social and @dagjuhlin.bsky.social as part of their splendid annual Pete Townshend birthday bash at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights. Here's a little scoop of Baroque Ippanese...

DALTREY: I've got to say that touring America is a damn sight easier than touring the UK because, for some reason or the other, the UK has decided to make it as difficult as possible to go from A to B…

DALTREY: I can't explain it – I wish I could, but I don't feel whole unless I'm singing. That's when I'm most comfortable in my life because I'm almost on another planet, that's what it feels like. It is strange and I can't explain it any more than that.

Q: Would you consider letting the fans choose a selection of the songs they’d like to hear?
DALTREY: No!
Pete proceeds to explain what happened the last time they tried to play The Song Is Over (while not mentioning the Zak Starkey situation)

Roger on the Odds & Sods helmet brought along, incorrectly remembering the helmets as having the band members’ initials (as opposed to spelling out ROCK)

Roger and Pete on why the setlists won’t be drastically different

Pete relates his memories of the Monterey Pop festival while Roger (over Zoom) pretends he hasn’t heard this anecdote thousands of times before

TOWNSHEND: I think probably everybody in this room knows the truth...I'm not crazy about touring. I was hypnotized once as a little boy by my dentist, whenever I walked on a stage, I would do my best. And that's what happens.
DALTREY: (breaking in, over Zoom) I don’t want to do this.

Since there doesn’t seem to be an Acyn or Aaron Rupar working the classic rock beat, it falls to me to share the highlights and notable moments from The Who’s press conference announcing their North American farewell tour.

Here’s a playlist featuring some of Joey’s finest moments, both in and out of Badfinger: open.spotify.com/playlist/3Qz...

Considering the many tragedies and injustices that befell the band, it would have been understandable if Joey had withdrawn from music entirely. But he kept this remarkable body of music alive with his own touring lineup of Badfinger. He was also always friendly and approachable to fans (like me).

RIP Joey Molland, the last surviving member of Badfinger. His gutsy guitar playing, warm Scouse vocals and melodic songwriting were the last pieces of the puzzle when the band transitioned from The Iveys.