Pete Townshend latest comments on the Beatles

[committed hero]

I think it's a fair statement, given that the Beatles were together for 10 years and all 4 became prominent musicians in their own rights afterward. McCartney & Starr have been solo artists for almost 4x longer than the Beatles were together!

Comparing the two bands is hard and probably unfair. The Beatles were first, so they get the benefits and detriments of that. The Who lasted longer, so they get the benefits and detriments of that.

For me there is no contest - I rate Townshend as the greatest songwriter bar none, but like he says in the quote, he took a while to mature. Hell, even Lennon made fun of McCartney's songs.

[mazeltomtom19]

Based on what exactly?

His incredible social-concious?
His incredibly mature themes and lyrics?

Tell me how exactly he is immature

I went to one of his concerts and he left mid-song. Halfway through the concert. Mature enough for you? And he's sort of a jerk in general. I'm not saying that he isn't a talented musician and I'm not debating whether the Who is more mature music than the Beatles. I mean, they defined the rock opera and the concept album, and the Beatles sort of failed at the first one ever... I'm just questioning his maturity. Musicality has nothing to do with it. And just because he writes mature lyrics and is socially-conscious doesn't mean he is actually mature himself.

[vcalzone]

I mean, they defined the rock opera and the concept album

And to answer the above poster, this is why I don't consider The Who to be as great as others. Rock Operas.... NOT my thing. But then, I'm not a fan of musicals as a general rule.

I never said Pete Townshend was slagging off The Beatles in that quote. He wasn't. But calling The Beatles better songwriters than The Who is like calling Billy Wilder a better director than Woody Allen. He just was.