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The Who US Tour 2000
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to the Who 2000 Live
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"Eerily resembling both his father Ringo Starr and the late Keith Moon, drummer Zak Starkey provided the bombast that the Who lacked in its post-Moon, Kenny Jones era." - LiveDaily.com
"Entwistle and Starkey proved imposing rhythmic ballast to Townshend's massive power chords and solos-complete with the guitarist's patented wind-ups and extended closers." - Chicago Tribune
"Zak doesn't have that insanity, out of control style driving the band that Moon had. It's more of a controlled abandonment. He coaxes, teases and pushes the rest to greater heights. It would be interesting to know what the 'the Who died with Moon' people think of his playing. He also seems to have just two expressions. One is a classic Johnny Lang 'I'm being tortured' grimace. The second one he has - makes him resemble a goldfish nibbling on food at the water surface of a fish bowl." - Tiger (Debbie) in her review to the Odds & Sods Mailing List!
"Credit Ringo's kid, Zak Starkey, with giving the geezers the kick in the pants they so desperately needed on the drums. His playing stood in raucous tribute to the havoc Moonie used to raise behind the kit, especially his fills coming out of the synthesizer break on "Won't Get Fooled Again," the part that takes you into what remains the greatest scream in rock." - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 06/30/00
Reminder: Pete had posted email comments and photos from almost every show in the news section of the former petetownshend.com
"Entwistle performed his agile and spidery bass lines, while Starkey kept the feverish demands of the Keith Moon legacy alive, even in arm-breakers like 'The Real Me'." - NY Daily News 07/03/00
"In saying that, I think (current Who drummer) Zak Starkey (son of Ringo Starr), musically, has given us back what Moon gave us in the music area. Obviously, in the personality area, no one can replace him. But I think Zak Starkey drums in very much the same style as Moon. He's always surprising. He's never dull." - Roger Daltrey, Asbury Park Press 07/02/00
" It was classic rock 'n' roll, but not calcified, not a museum piece. Townshend, looking priestly in black, played some dazzling leads with his acoustic-electric guitar; the leonine, still-strapping Daltrey sang his heart out; Entwhistle [sic] was stoic and stellar as usual on bass. Starkey was every bit the young clone of Moon, from his mod looks to his drumming style." - Boston Globe, 07/04/00
"There is no reason for the band to retire yet.
Not when Townshend's zippy fretwork lays waste to any of today's upstarts, Daltrey's admirable abs provide their own show and John Entwistle rubs his bass so precisely it speaks.
Factor in relative whippersnapper Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr's son), whose effortless drumming could make Keith Moon stand up and cheer from the grave, and the realization is complete.
This is why legends are legends. " - Richmond Times-Dispatch, July 7, 2000
Jul
7 - Sony Blockbuster E Center, Philadelphia, PA [sic] (Camden NJ)
But it was Starkey - who didn't so much duplicate the late Keith Moon's playing as seemingly channel it - who was the evening's revelation. His recreations of Moon's roiling, bashing parts guaranteed The Who would deliver exactly what the faithful expected. - CHUCK DARROW (Courier-Post) South Jersey News 07/08/00
"Starkey, the son of Ringo Starr, pummeled impressively; while he has none of the riotous charisma of The Who's original, inimitable drummer, the late Keith Moon, he kept the band at an appropriately punishing gallop." - Newsday 7/11/00
"The relatively youthful players in both bands kept the music tight, with no nonsense. Zak Starkey, the one 30-something Who member, is literally a classic-rock inheritor: he's the son of Ringo Starr, and learned to pound at the feet of the Who's own Keith Moon, who died in 1978. Mr. Starkey's style is inseparable from Mr. Moon's, and his rapport with the bassist John Entwistle was easy on the band's rapid-fire songs." - NY Times, July 12, 2000
As the 2nd leg of the tour drew closer, local and national press paraded out
interviews conducted over the past few months.
From The Orange County Register's (08/10/00) Interview with Roger Daltrey:
"OCR: And Zak Starkey, your latest drummer? How does he fit into this version?
RD: He has a lot to do with why it's working so well. He pushed to get Pete back on electric guitar, which was crucial. And let's face it, Pete never gets as much credit as he should. Hendrix may be the greatest guitarist who ever lived, but a lot of the tricks that he mastered - playing with all that feedback, using the microphone stand as a slide - those ideas were brought into rock by Pete. But Zak is much more like Keith. He was raised to play like Keith. Kenny (Jones, who replaced Moon in 1979) was wonderful, but he had a different style, and I think after a while we realized it didn't gel with us. With Zak, we're firing on all cylinders again. He hasn't half the drums that Keith had, but he gets the same feel."
The generally relaxed show encountered some static during ''Magic Bus,'' which offered ``a bit of a new groove,'' Townshend said by way of introduction. But it soon crashed to a halt with Townshend complaining that the tempo was too quick, and then taking the song into an extended jam. Touring drummer Zak Starkey apparently took offense at the complaint because Townshend later apologized to him during the encore, and hailed him as coming from the ``University of Keith Moon.'' - Dean Goodman, Reuters
[ed.- Who else but Pete Townshend can issue an apology that includes calling two of the band members the "c" word! ;-) ]
General fan reports run the full range of ratings, but many thought it was a slightly rusty return from the short hiatus.
Pete's (Aug 14) Video Diary on his (old) official site, featured clips form this show!
From Pete's Diaries:
"...Roger said in a newspaper recently that anyone who said being on stage is better than sex has never had a good woman. Hmmmm. Maybe he's never played a good groove?
How-fucking-ever! Mid-show I told Roger I like his new song, it really is a good song. John was smiling again, it's good to see him lighting up. Zak still seems road-hardened to me. The rest of us took a break between the first two legs of this tour, so we're a little soft I think, but he has been working with Johnny Marr. It means he's in very good shape, but we are still trying to settle into some kind of groove. We're getting there fast I know. In some ways it's about John and me getting up to Zak's energy level." - Pete's Diaries: Chopped - Aug 17, 2000 - petetownshend.com
Pete had also posted a Video Diary (Aug 16) on his official site, featuring clips form this show!
According to Pete's Diary:
"The show in San Diego was fantastic for me. I spoke to Zak before the show, about using the first few songs to check out the balance between us, and to establish how much need there might be for additional eye contact, and in the first moments we realised it was going to be great ..." " ... So, did John and I catch up with Zak tonight? I think we did. I felt great and played better than I have so far." - Pete's Diaries: Warp - Aug 18, 2000 - petetownshend.com
[MP3s of Relay and Anyway Anyhow Anywhere were originally available for download directly from Pete's Diary!MP3s are now at eelpie.com under the menu heading "media"]
In Pete's Diary, he talks about some UseNet reviews that someone forwarded to him. He addresses a number of issues, including:
"The same writer said that Zak parodies Keith Moon. Now that would be fair if Zak hadn't spent so much time with Keith when he was first learning the drums. Maybe what Zak does do quite a lot just at the moment is listen to those Moon riffs and try to emulate them. There is a reason for that: we are finding that the simple five-man line up does beg a more complex rhythmic background. We've asked him several times to try to solve problems we are having (John and I) with connecting. Zak is doing fantastic work in that area I can assure you. He's not indulging himself, he's working to find out how it can be done." - Pete's Diary - "Monkish Habits?" Aug 21, 2000 - petetownshend.com
Starkey was the quiet powerhouse, keeping time with awesome precision. - Gene Stout, Seattle Post Intelligencer (08/21/00)
Pete: "Magic Bus was a dog tonight. None of us can quite work out why we've lost it." - Pete's Diary - "Shoreline Waves with mp3" Aug 22, 2000 - petetownshend.com
[MP3s of John's 5:15 solo, and Rabbit's organ in My Gen were originally available for download from this diary entry.
"... Townshend's face was wreathed in smiles. He knew it was good.
One of the key reasons was drummer Starkey, whose father (Ringo Starr) played drums with the Beatles. Starkey has been traveling in Who circles since he joined Daltrey's solo tour in 1994. Unlike Kenney Jones, the personable drummer from the Small Faces who replaced Keith Moon in the early '80s, Starkey can duplicate Moon's maniacal onslaught, which was an absolutely essential ingredient to the band's incendiary sound." -Joel Selvin San Francisco Chronicle , Aug 23, 2000
"During BBE Zak pulled out a movie camera and was filming John as he made funny gestures, it was really something, Zak then continued to film the audience and Pete from his drum seat." - Posted to Odds&Sods mailing list by Dave [By the way - Check out Dave's incredible Quadrophenia.net site!]
"Another key ingredient to the Who's newfound vitality is drummer Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr's son). Starkey's shag haircut made him look slightly like deceased drummer Keith Moon in the mod days, and there were also sonic similarities. The story goes that Moon gave Starkey some of his first drum lessons, and Starkey's wily fills in "Won't Get Fooled Again" were straight from Moon's school of hard drum knocks. Starkey's thwacks were solid, though there was never a sense that his kit would crash over in a frenzy a la Moon.
Still, Starkey provided the best bang of all the Who's drummers since Moon's death in 1978. Starkey's playing is more boisterous than the straight-laced Kenney Jones and less clinical than session-man Simon Phillips." - Chris Macias - Aug. 24, 2000 The Sacramento Bee
MP3s
are now at eelpie.com
under the menu heading "media"]
"Without the horn sections, backing singers and what-not, Townshend's guitar, Entwistle's bass and Daltrey's voice had to pick up the slack. It wasn't "Live at Leeds," but it would have been a stunning set from 30-year-olds, much less guys approaching mandatory retirement age. And it's almost eerie the way the youngster of the group, drummer Zak Starkey, has captured the drum sound of his father's late best friend." - Mark Brown, Denver Rocky Mountain News, 08/25/00
"Drummer Zak Starkey - Ringo Starr's son - sounded remarkably like the late Keith Moon, thrashing out the beat with the perfect balance of mayhem and precision." - Thor Christensen, Dallas Morning News 08/28/00
MP3s
are now at eelpie.com
under the menu heading "media"]
MP3s
are now at eelpie.com
under the menu heading "media"]
"Starkey has the unenviable (or impossible) task of following the late Keith Moon, The Who's madman drummer. But Starkey has mastered Moon's daredevil rhythms: He teeters just on the edge of chaos before pulling back for shows of sheer brute force." - Curtis Ross The Tampa Tribune, Sept 27, 2000
"The final My Generation, once a counterculture anthem, turned into a sprawling, feel-good jam, bolstered by Townshend's incisive guitar solo, tasty organ work by keyboardist John "Rabbit" Bundrick, and Zak Starkey's typically propulsive, swaggering drumming" - Philip Booth, St. Petersburg Times, Sept 27, 2000
"Zak Starkey, Ringo Starr's son, commanded the drum kit as if channeling the licks of the late Keith Moon." - Phil Kloer, Atlanta Journal Constitution - Sept 29, 2000
Another killer show by all fan accounts, but seems paid the price physically again - from his diary entry:
"It's 0130. I've done something to my wrist at the show in Atlanta. I banged it on my guitar, and not entirely by accident I'm afraid to say. So there must some right-hand karma left to work off. (I've had so many accidents with my right hand.) What did I do in my last life - shoot off someone's arm?
I can hardly type. I have redamaged it where I broke it in 1991 (Friday 13th September). I think there may well be some lumpy shows ahead for me. I am going for an x-ray tomorrow. Ice. Ice Ice for now." - Pete's Diaries - Sept 29, 2000: Ouch
MP3s
are now at eelpie.com
under the menu heading "media"]
"Starkey was spectacular from start to finish, keeping time with a sense of reckless abandon that recalled the style of original Who drummer Keith Moon ..." - By John Soeder, Plain Dealer Oct 1, 2000
MP3s
are now at eelpie.com
under the menu heading "media"]
Though the NYPost writer proudly proclaims that "Teenage Wasteland" [sic] was one of the best numbers performed and that the evening was generally a waste of his time, he did manage to be impressed by Zak's contributions:
"But the only real signs of life at this flat-line concert came from Zak Starkey - Ringo Starr's son - an inspired young drummer who carried the evening for these geezers. "- By Dan Aquilante, The Kids Are Alright But The Who Ain't - NY Post - Oct 4, 2000
The surprising bit about the above article is that the writer seems to think the PNC Arts Center show was better. Most accounts of fans who saw both, disagree. The opening MSG show was full of energy and dynamic performances by all members, had few if any technical glitches, and much improved sound. I must say, as enjoyable as this show was, the following (Oct 4th) blew it away beyond compare!
Pictures taken during this show by Ross Half were posted on Pete's former official site in the News section.
MP3s
are now at eelpie.com
under the menu heading "media"]
The band exploded out of the box and never let up! Power, energy, fun, excitement - an amazing show! Naked Eye was just absolutely brilliant! My vote as favorite show of the MSG four!
MP3s
are now at eelpie.com
under the menu heading "media"]
Again, Matt Kent had provide details and photos taken by Ross Halfin on Pete's former official site's news section
This show was very streamlined - very little stage banter from Pete, and some of the extended jams were cut back - most notably on The Kids Are Alright. But they still flowed with energy and power!
An incredible ending to this tour. Another powerful show, with the band seeming to have more fun than the night before. Pete was a bit more talkative and some of the jams were back! Most notable difference tonight was no solo performance by Pete. It also seemed that every one of them at one time was experiencing technical problems, yet it all managed to hold together!
The saga of MSG:
When the first two dates were announced, they were promoted as a DOUBLE BILL with Page and The Black Crows. Tickets prices were steep: (all reserved seating): $ 54.00, $ 78.00, $ 103.00, $ 253.00. And, once again, corporate sponsorship reared it's ugly head to help shut out some fans from the "good seats". Here is the original announcement taken from the Madison Square Garden site:
Musicmaker.Com PresentsA few days after the two shows virtually sold out, the Oct 6th show was announced to be going on sale Aug 14th, this time, tickets were to be available via all payment forms and through all Ticketmaster outlets. The Oct 7th show was added quietly after the initial 9:00am sale of the 6th.
The Who
Jimmy Page/Black Crowes
Tickets for this event will go on sale August 7, 2000 at 9:00 AM: Ticketmaster phones and Internet only. These October 3 - 4 shows are American Express exclusive shows. From August 7 - August 14, 2000, tickets can be purchased with an AMEX card through TM phones and Internet. If tickets remain, they will be available for purchase via AMEX card ONLY at the MSG Box Office beginning Tuesday, August 8. 2000. If seats remain, starting on August 15, they can be purchased via all payment types.
The next interesting development came in the form of a previously unheard of move - Restricting access to a concert after it's starting time! When Launch.com announced the added dates, they included:
As with the first two New York shows, no one will be admitted to Madison Square Garden after the 7:30 p.m. ET start time of the show since both acts are viewing these once-in-a-lifetime shows as "a complete musical experience from beginning to end." Discussions about onstage collaborations are still ongoing.This "special rule" was also posted on the Tickemaster online sales pages.
Around Sept 10th, it was announced that all the remaining Jimmy Page & Black Crows shows, INCLUDING the MSG shows were canceled due to Jimmy's back problems. On the 15th, it was announced that The Wallflowers will be the opening act at MSG. This left fans wondering - What about that ridiculous "must be seated by 7:30" rule?
After numerous phone calls and emails by countless fans, comes "the rule retraction" - word finally came through from Delsner/SFX on Sept 29th - "as stated in our press release the no admittance policy is no longer in effect"
Now we only had to worry about Pete's wrist holding up until then!!! Which luckily it did!
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Related Links:
** Note that the original incarnation of
Pete's Official Website (launched Oct 1999) was shut down by Pete on Jan 28,
2002.
His
retail site - Eelpie.com
remained up and running and assumed some of the announcement duties.
www.petetownshend.co.uk (.com) was re-launched on June 10, 2002, with a WHO
section in his "projects" area of the site, and once again became
the official outlet for Who Tour and Release info, stories, pictures, sounds
and video. At this time, most all of the "Pete's official site" content referenced
on my pages for 2000 through early 2002, cannot be viewed at eelpie.com or the
new petetownshend/who
site , although an archive of former pt.com materials was said to have been
in the works.
Last Updated:
Saturday, February 4, 2006
Created: April 10, 2000
Copyright ©
Kathy VanTassell
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