Legendary musician says performing live ‘doesn’t fill my soul’
While most musicians might feel fulfilled by live performances, The Who 's Pete Townshend feels differently.
The legendary guitarist said in a new interview with Spain's RockFM that performing "doesn't fill my soul."
"Most musicians are not like me. Most musicians do two things that I don't really do or don't enjoy doing," Townshend said in the interview, which was transcribed by Blabbermouth .
"One is they love performing. I don't love performing. I don't like being on a stage," he said. "I don't hate it, but it doesn't fill my soul in the way that you see some performers, [where] just their soul is filled through being on the stage. That's not me."
Townshend also said he doesn't love collaborating with other musicians.
"If I was in a studio, like with a really, really great musician, or with a group of really great musicians, I think I would find it very hard. I often do find it very hard," he said. "I find it very difficult looking in the eyes of another musician. I find myself looking to my own energy to express myself. So I'm very different to most musicians in that respect."
While its not his cup of tea, Townshend added that he does "really admire the process of collaboration."
This doesn't mean Townshend won't perform or collaborate. He's currently working on turning The Who 's "Quadrophenia" album into a ballet, and still has upcoming The Who shows scheduled with singer Roger Daltrey .
The Who is regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century. The band earned a reputation as one of the greatest live rock acts , namely because of their performances at Monterey and Woodstock. The Who has also been credited with creating the "rock opera," a collection of rock songs with lyrics that relate to a common story.
The Who has released 12 studio albums and charted more than two dozen singles on the Billboard Hot 100 , including the No. 9 hit "I Can See for Miles" in 1967.
The Who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and won the first annual Freddie Mercury Lifetime Achievement in Live Music Award in 2006. The band has also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from The British Phonographic Industry and the Grammy Foundation.
Ahead of his 80th birthday in May, Townshend told Rolling Stone in March that he's "got maybe 10 years left as a creative."
"I'm doing all kinds of interesting things, theatrical projects, art projects, book projects, working. I've done four record productions in the past couple of years," Townshend said. "I'm really active on music and doing stuff and trying to keep myself fueled up."
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