The band Pete Townshend called “a very American phenomenon”
The Who guitarist and creative mastermind Pete Townshend has always been one of the most outspoken men in rock. This ability to share his thoughts with a simple snarl has run concurrently with his musical achievements and made him a fascinating and even slightly controversial figure.
Never afraid to discuss the work of some of his most prominent peers, the ‘Baba O’Riley’ songwriter has provided a slew of hot takes in his time. From revealing his problem with the game-changing efforts of Jimi Hendrix to declaring he was “incredibly disappointed” by his teenage hero Bob Dylan as he said that was “nothing” to his personality, it should be no surprise that a man who had such a significant hand in changing culture should be unafraid to veer off the beaten path.
Of course, Townshend has saved energy for criticising himself as well. Still, his comments on the efforts of others stand out the most, as they offer insight into how he consumes music and what he looks for when listening, therefore painting a picture of how he established his artistry. Something of a purist when it comes to rock music, this perspective has seen him tear into a host of prominent acts and offer well-considered accounts, even if they’re not always the most agreeable.
One band that Townshend has outlined his disdain for is New York glam metallers Kiss. When speaking to Hazy Rock in 2014, The Who guitarist called the quartet “a very American phenomenon” and proudly maintained that a band like theirs could not have happened in the United Kingdom.
He explained: “One thing that Kiss are absolutely, unquestionably not — in any sense, whatsoever — is European or English. They are straight out of Creem magazine meets Las Vegas. Or New Orleans, even. There is a bit of New Orleans in it, a very American kind of Mardi Gras thing.”
“They couldn’t have happened here,” Townshend noted. “They could maybe have happened in Berlin — in which case their music wouldn’t have been like their music. They would have looked like they looked. But they would have made a different kind of music. They’re a very American phenomenon.”
Not finished with his account, Townshend called the early years of Kiss particularly “difficult” because he thought it was a clear “parody”, before questioning why they wore disguises. In true form, he concluded that Paul Stanley and his band weren’t sincere rock ‘n’ roll in the same spiritual sense as the artists he covets.
Watch Kiss live below.
