hunnychile

Pete Townshend Blows Off Howard SternThursday, October 26, 2006 5:39 PM EDT
The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Howard Stern's radio guests expect him to air their dirty laundry and play along. Pete Townshend isn't one of them.

The legendary Who guitarist-songwriter ducked out of his scheduled interview on Stern's Sirius Satellite Radio show on Wednesday upon hearing Stern talk about a touchy subject for him — his 2003 arrest in London on suspicion of possessing child pornography. Townshend was cleared of the charges.

Townshend, along with girlfriend Rachel Fuller and Who bandmate Roger Daltrey, was listening to Stern's New York-based broadcast as he waited in a London studio for his interview to begin. Co-host Robin Quivers brought up the "child pornography stuff" and Townshend's claims that he was abused as a child. "Oh yeah, we could ask him about that," Stern said. Townshend stormed out, leaving Daltrey and Fuller to talk to Stern.

During that conversation, Quivers said that Townshend would have walked out of the interview even "if we didn't bring that up. He's a real testy guy."

Daltrey weighed in on Townshend's behalf, accusing Stern of "sniffing dirty underpants."

"Can you imagine you're accused of this stuff and then you're found not guilty? If you had to defend yourself through this stuff? The wounds are so deep on the man, and it's just tragic because he's got so much to offer," he said.

Stern, who jokingly referred to Fuller as "Yoko" after it was mentioned that Fuller had co-written a song on the new Who album, wound up apologizing to Townshend.

"Tell Pete I am very sorry," he said. "We would have had a great interview with him. I really wish he'd reconsider this. We adore him."

The Who is in the midst of a 15-month concert tour all around the world, its largest ever. The band's first album in 24 years, "Endless Wire," is set for release at the end of this month.

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I don't blame Pete at all. Howard Stern is such a wang.

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NCB

This is the problem with with homosexuality: the rampant expansion of oral sex. Oh wait, wrong thread

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Halx

The interviewer's job is not to ego-stroke his subject. They have every reason to want to bring up the interesting subject matter in the interview, whether the subject wants to talk about it or not. If you have shit you dont want to be asked about, don't offer yourself up to an interview.

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cyrnel

From everything I've seen of PT he takes himself way too seriously. Granted, he doesn't need much from anyone, but then that's a classic test of the person inside.

And hell, if he was treating Stern as easy PR he must not be current on radio personalities.

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eribrav

I was listening when that happened. Howard and the gang were just mentioning things they were going to ask about. Nothing was said in a pejorative way. Pete came across as a total douche. If you're a celeb and you've got that in your past, of course you should know people are going to ask you about it. That's part of your life as a celebrity.

highthief

Meh, I have no time for Stern, so anyone who blows him off is alright.

Actually, I quite I like the Who and Townshend's music.

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Charlatan

This would be true is Stern was a journalist but he's just a goof with a radio show. People go on his show to promote something. They expect him to be crass and maybe talk about his penis or something... He's no Dan Rather.

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thingstodo

If someone has been accused of something and then found to be not guilty, I think we should honor that legal decision or go appeal it in court.

We spend far too much time trashing people for things they didn't do (in this case, the courts decided he didn't do anything). Everyone deserves at least a little respect as a human being, even if they are a celebrity. When they actually do something stupid, trash them for that and I'll be right there with you, but until then, be nice!!

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Val_1

Stern is made his career out of being a jerk. So, why anyone expects him to be anything short of a jerk is beyond me. Going on his radio "show" to promote your product is a huge mistake as far as I'm concerned. Maybe someone that hears you getting torn to pieces will buy your product, buy I'm guessing it can only have a negative effect.

I saw a clip of Stern really attempting to get Donny Osmond riled up. He was asking him about performing oral sex on his wife (while Osmond was attempting to promote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - real fitting, huh). I'm not a Donny Osmond fan, but I was impressed at how he didn't let Stern get the better of him. But the big question is, "Who the hell booked Donny Osmond on the Howard Stern show?" Not exactly the same audience.

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Mrs Master

Ahh you beat me to it NCB

thingstodo

And an even better question: why would Donnie Osmond agree to go on Howard?

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izzzzy

Is Donnys wife hot?

Gilda

Good for Townsend. Grilling someone about painful personal stuff while on a talk show to promote their new album isn't very classy, which I guess describes Stern perfectly.

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blahblah454

I agree that if he was found Not Guilty than it should be left. Something of that matter is pretty serious and hurtful, and if he didn't do it then why bring it up?

"Remember that time you had all that child porn? Oh wait sorry, that never happened. My bad."

I wouldn't be impressed.

streak_56

I am a huge Who fan and I really didlike Stern... so I could give two shits about the interview... Townshend did the right thing in my mind.

beavstrokinoff

I've been a who fan since I was a kid and my dad brought home Who's Next. I think Pete did the right thing. Stern is a media whore who will spew forth whatever he feel will get ratings.

World's King

The only thing that angers me about this is that Daltry went on the show even after Townsend left.


If he was a true friend and wanted to stand up to him he should have left as well.




Oh and FUCK Stern...

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Psycho Dad

Townshend didn't want to bear the heat so he left the kitchen. No big deal. It really isn't a testament to how big a person Townshend is or little of one Stern is. This is Stern, it is how he is and one shouldn't agree to an interview without expecting to get the same crap as anyone else. BTW, Townshend's publicist was probably more likely than Stern's producers responsible for booking the appearance.

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Xera

Even if Stern were a "real" journalist, he would have to understand that celebs don't HAVE to talk to him. He can print and say whatever he likes as long as it's not slander/libel, but he can't force people to speak with him.

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