WFJA Classic Hits: Pete Townshend Talks Memoir, Serenades Crowd at New York Public Library Appearance

Over the years, millions of fans have gathered to hear Pete Townshend play music, but Monday night in New York City, a crowd gathered to see the legendary Who mastermind talk…for two hours.

Like Keith Richards before him, Townshend appeared at the New York Public Library for a question-and-answer session about his memoir, the newly published Who I Am.  In front of a rapt crowd, Townshend and the library’s Paul Holdengräber had a far-reaching conversation that covered a wide variety of topics, including his childhood growing up in post-World War II Great Britain; his musical, literary and artistic influences; his songwriting process; the other members of The Who and why his guitar-smashing antics weren’t just a gimmick.  Most of what he touched on is contained in his book, the writing of which, he said, was a real departure for him.