the only negative about this period for pete was that bizarre mid life crises "new wave" hairstyle he was sporting. balding and trendy hairstyles don't mix. great album, despite the hair
i so understand the meaning behind this song~~it comes from a very long term relationship when someone /or the other stops trying to keep the "romance" alive.We have to be so drunk to try a new dance"Why can't we drink it up true hard romance...:)married 28 yrs here...
Pete Townshend is like old world cool. He doesn't try and make nice, he doesn't sell out and he's super talented. I loved The Who when I 16 and still lsten to them 25 years later.
Too bad we don't hear this brilliant solo work - Slit Skirts, Give Blood, Rough Boys, etc. more often on the airwaves... as well as a broader repertoire of material from The Who for that matter!
Rough Boys is a great song. I recently bought the album Pete townshend's ' Chines Eyes ' album. I heard most of the songs anyway prior, but hearing it all together, i have to say it must easily be one of the best albums of the 80's in my view. ' Stardom In Acton ' is a crackin song as well as ' Stop Hurting People ' Its a shame this kind of stuff has become more obscure as the years have gone by, yet people still talk about ' Agadoo ' It is a crying shame. Anyway ' Slit skirts ', Great song :D
"And girls who lost their children cursed the men who fit the coil
And men not fit for marriage took their refuge in the oil" this is referring to the coil(DNA) that men "fit", they are fathers to the children. They took "refuge in the oil", they terminated the pregnancies.
Wrong!! Take your ultra right-wing crap somewhere else. Leave the music to people who like music. Oil, coil. You are wrong. Period. Take it somewhere else.
You are correct! That is Jodi Lindscott, who played percussion in Pete's Deep End band in 86, as well as The Who's 89 tour, and the mid 90's Quadrophenia tour. She also played percussion on David Gilmour's 84 tour, and has played with other people. I remember seeing her in Don Henley's All She Wants To Do Is Dance video.
As for the harmonica solo, I always thought the album version sounded weird WITHOUT the solo.
I'd never heard the harmonica solo either, but I'd agree, it definitely does not fit. This is a great song! I never understood why this was not a hit (in the U.S.). For that matter, Pete had a lot of great stuff from his solo albums that (mostly) got overlooked. Except for Let My Love Open the Door & Face the Face, the rest of his singles tanked.
I probably heard the song 4-5 times at rock radio (Los Angeles) when this album came out, then it disappeared. Today, NONE of his music is played at rock radio, although I've heard Let My Love Open the Door once or twice at the new Adult Alternative station here (called, "The Sound").
Yeah, Pete always felt that THEWHO took his best material. This was a major factor in the band dissolving. Now, apparently he's written more new material that will be played in THEWHO's fall '08 US Tour.
According to Wikipedia, he has a daughter named Amanda. (Ringo Starr's son, Zak Starkey, now plays drums for The Who. . . maybe that's what you're thinking of?)
I don't want to ruin the meaning of this song in anyway for it's amazing BUT Roger Daltrey still wore an open shirt for quite some time after this and he's a year older than Pete! lol - just an observation no harm intended (and it's not like this was a Who song)
Pete Townshend may be the single most important writer in rock history. Every song never fails to amaze me with how deep and captivating every lyric is paired with an exquiste rythm and guitar!
'Can't pretend that growing older never hurts' . . . how is that the same guy that chronicled my youth is now singing about the next mountain I'm about to climb? Pete Townshend . . . nothing less than a giant!!!
I agree...this may be his best song. How many rock songs, or any kind of music, for that matter, deal with aging and domesticity in a serious manner? And I turn 34 this year.That sucks!
The drummer on this video and this track is Mark Brzezicki from Big Country and Procol Harum. Though Simon Phillips did played on the album this song is on (All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes). Simon and Mark shared drums duties.
where i grow up nobody liked this but i thought it was awesome.glad to see it on youtube in fact everything is on youtube.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
This is from "All the best cowboys have Chinese eyes" a really solid album. There's a fantastic song on that album called North Country Girl......magic.
It's the shame the video is so dark, though. Pete should put together a collection of the promo videos he's done for all his albums and restore them for a DVD release.
He obviously has a large collection in that vault of his.
Most Who promos have already been released on the various documentaries over the years.
Music as art, not the hip hop/rap crap being shoved down our youths throats disguised as music! All the people in this song come together to make MUSIC!
The best 2nd vocalist/guitarist in a top 10 rock band of all time that was fronted by a legendary vocalist. BTW, the bassist was definitely in Big Country. Was the drummer, too? Audio kinda sucks , but infinite thx for posting, anyway.
I believe both the drummer AND the bass player were from Big Country -- before Big Country officially released their first album! (I think that's right, anyway. I vaguely remember hearing that they met during these sessions.)
This was the video that was released when the song was. You can buy the song on itunes...loved it then, love it now, and can relate to the topic, age and getting older..."can't pretend that growing older never hurts."
Roger put out a live album called (if I recall) the genius of Peter Townshend and took a stab at
some of Pete's solo stuff but not this one. The one I remember from Chinese Eyes is "somebody saved me", which worked for him...the rest was hit and miss.
I've been looking for this video since the first time I saw it on MTV. Eel Pie was not helpful in pointing me to it, but YouTube came through! Beautiful!
Tinny sound, but cool to see Pete doing my favorite Who song they never recorded. Cool to see the bass player form Big Country, I think Butler was his last name...playing w/ Pete.
Yeah, you're right. His name is Tony Butler. He's currently a teacher of music technology in Devon, South West England and is Touring with the surviving members of Big Country.
He isn't, at all. According to the man himself, he is heterosexual. Though, come to think of it, I did not hear that directly from his mouth, so I suppose I can't trust that.
This Video was included on the VHS "Pete Townshend" ( it is very rare, in a pink box with PT on the front ) . It is like a mini documentary, Pete talks about getting clean and sober and as a result, he was able to get back with his wife and kids, who he had alienated and moved out on.
Chinese Eyes album is dedicated to Karen and to other teenagers in love ( it shows a pic of Pete and Karen Townshend when they were first dating) .
oh i wasnt criticizing his sexuality at all...i just never knew he was married at one point..i know that empty glass is basically a coming out album and that during the tommy tour he mentioned on stage that he knew how elton john felt as woman kinda thing...
Whatever "rumors" there are about Pete Townshend, one can say this...Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle and Keith Moon are all three as much heterosexual studs as there ever was. Pete being gay, is in a word ludicrous! He was married in 1968 and divorced in 1996, has three children. Emma, Minta and Joseph.
He as been with his "steady" girlfriend/artist Rachel Fuller now since 1999. The man is a total stud!
I don't care, one way or the other. I love this song - memories of jeannie....... THNAK YOU FOR POSTING from "All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes" Jeannie, I miss your eyes - and dancing.
I agree it has to be at the TOP of the Pete solo album list..."Empty Glass" is overated because many think it was P.T.'s 1st(SOLO LP)THE SEA REFUSES NO RIVER is PRICELESS!!TOP 5 SOLO LPs??#1 Who Came First#2PSYCHODERELICT(Music Only Version)#3Empty Glass#4 All The Best Cowboys...#5Rough Mix(with E.Clapton&the late Ronnie Lane)Ask me next week I'm sure I'll have a different list all together!!CHEERS PT ROCKS!!
The ever wordy song from All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes. Great song and the bass work is very good. I have always been a little impartial to this whole album and I am not sure why. It's very edgy and the lyrics have a lot of thought. Reflects Pete's life a the time.
Poor audio, and that harmonica player was god awful. That said, that was a great song that didn't get radio play only because of the sexual content of the lyrics. Too bad Pete can't come up with anything decent nowadays. I bought the latest "Who" CD. What shit.
_White City_ was a great album, and "Slit Skirts" is a fabulous song about coming to terms with getting older. And it's made more wonderful by Pete's soaring, ripping guitar riff at the end. Great stuff!
I remember watching this from the early 8's but I don't remember the harmonica. Were there 2 videos? I didn't like the harmonica at first but it grew on me. Does anybody know if this version of the song is available on CD?
I agree, this must be an alternate take from in the studio. LOTS of things are different about this cut vs. the album cut... vcals, arrangments and so on. Excellent clip!
According to Wikipedia, this was a version specifically recorded for one of Sony's Video45's from the early 80's. Townshend released the clips on his own website, and they made their way to sites like this.
I hate fade outs at the end of a tune...Pete starts wailing and then it fades...wtf? This must be an alternate take from the studio w/ Peter Hope Evans on mouth harp.
I used to play this album over and over and over again...it's great seeing the vids again. Like someone else said, from a time when you could watch MTV and see great video after great video and really get into the music.
WOW! I havn't seen this in 20+ years. Reminds me of when MTV actually played rock videos. Keep expecting Thomas Dolby, Human League or Madness to come on next. Thanks for the post!!!
I always took the line about "men who took refuge in the oil" to be about burning the midnight oil, so to speak, by working late hours, and ignoring their families. It could also have sexual connotations, of course, as the same men often go elsewhere for sex.
Excellent song! I was recently reintroduced to this song about 3 years ago when I was 34! Mtv used to play this video a lot in the early 80s! At least 3 great hooks in the song, I especially remember the female bongo player!
I love this song,it's one of my favorites from my favorite townshend solo album
It rocks and is super melodic,smart and emotional
In that sense it reminds me a lot of one of my other heroes,Todd Rundgren.It's really a shame that he didn't do more touring as a solo artist in the 80's,he's such a fabulous live performer
Drug addiction and treatment for his addictions cut his solo touring and performing career. Townshend was bledding money by the early 1980's; Hence, back with The Who where the real money was and still is, minus two former members of The Who that are sadly missed and will never be replaced.
Slit Skirts reveal Townshend's genuis for melodic and changing tempo which flows naturally, and of course his gift as a lyricist.
the drummer and bassist both seem to be wearing the same logo shirt -- anybody know what logo that is?
Also, the copyright says 2002, but this looks like the original video version that aired on MTV in the 80s (different from the album)
sharksnut 1 month ago
the only negative about this period for pete was that bizarre mid life crises "new wave" hairstyle he was sporting. balding and trendy hairstyles don't mix. great album, despite the hair
ritter89 2 months ago
what an interersting vers of 1 of my fav songs. luv th harmonica
batfrend 1 year ago
The greatest group of musicians ever assembled in one room!
jjp009 1 year ago 4
i so understand the meaning behind this song~~it comes from a very long term relationship when someone /or the other stops trying to keep the "romance" alive.We have to be so drunk to try a new dance"Why can't we drink it up true hard romance...:)married 28 yrs here...
JennaP46 2 years ago 27
Pete is the greatest composer of ALL time. Sorry about your luck.
dersh65 2 years ago 6
I have to agree with cosmicwarrior: I'd also like that guitar outro to go on longer.
jimbailey69 2 years ago 7
Had to come here to hear the harmonica embellishments - lovely. Would love a less-crispy version ..oh well, thanks! P.S. I heart Mark Brzezicki :D
zornfizza2 2 years ago 7
the piano is earcatcher.always found it a pity that the outro was too short,because the guitar part is awesome.
cosmicwarrior287 2 years ago 10
Pete Townshend is like old world cool. He doesn't try and make nice, he doesn't sell out and he's super talented. I loved The Who when I 16 and still lsten to them 25 years later.
deepn2night 2 years ago 43
concur, neat guy.
but that video fiasco hurt...
mloaks 2 years ago
great song
russell111 2 years ago 2
Too bad we don't hear this brilliant solo work - Slit Skirts, Give Blood, Rough Boys, etc. more often on the airwaves... as well as a broader repertoire of material from The Who for that matter!
mwp62 2 years ago 6
Rough Boys is a great song. I recently bought the album Pete townshend's ' Chines Eyes ' album. I heard most of the songs anyway prior, but hearing it all together, i have to say it must easily be one of the best albums of the 80's in my view. ' Stardom In Acton ' is a crackin song as well as ' Stop Hurting People ' Its a shame this kind of stuff has become more obscure as the years have gone by, yet people still talk about ' Agadoo ' It is a crying shame. Anyway ' Slit skirts ', Great song :D
russell111 2 years ago 4
I agree, and, Thanks, I'll check out "Stardom In Action" and "Stop Hurting People"
mwp62 2 years ago
Thats ' Stardom in ACTON ' ;)
Its a place in London as far as im aware
russell111 2 years ago 3
oops, Thanks.
mwp62 2 years ago
Agreed, Rusdsell....Agreed
dcastle515 2 years ago
one of the best songs ever written....
mymrmojo 2 years ago 3
Another underrated Townshend classic.
ArmsDealer06 2 years ago 6
Pete is simply brilliant on this song and Mark on drums and Tony on bass adds such a tasty groove to the tune. I love Pete's solo at the end.
davehdw 2 years ago 3
This sucks. Pete sounds like his balls are being crushed by Roger.
TruthAxe 2 years ago
Love this Damn Song and the mouth harp adds so much. Question: Does anyone have a studio version or the TV video of Rough Boys?
lastchip 2 years ago
A good melody from the 80s.Always a favorite.
craigstaraegis 2 years ago
victor wooten on bass wtf?
lowfreq65 2 years ago
Tony Butler on bass.
luongosucks 2 years ago
pete has written so many classic songs.
Whether is was for the Who or his solo work. This song is one of his best!
1960jack 2 years ago
An Mark Brzezicki on Drums! He's from Big Country, too! :)
Brzezickigirl 3 years ago
"And girls who lost their children cursed the men who fit the coil
And men not fit for marriage took their refuge in the oil" this is referring to the coil(DNA) that men "fit", they are fathers to the children. They took "refuge in the oil", they terminated the pregnancies.
110thelma 3 years ago
"The coil" in the IUD
Men taking their refuge in the oil refers to guys who work the north sea platforms
CarterSix 3 years ago
Wrong!! Take your ultra right-wing crap somewhere else. Leave the music to people who like music. Oil, coil. You are wrong. Period. Take it somewhere else.
luongosucks 2 years ago
there is no wrong! Leave him to his opinion and take your ultra left wing bleeding heart crap somewhere else!
110thelma 2 years ago
That's Tony Butler from Big Country on bass.
RDG484 3 years ago
This version sounds even more "poppy" than the original...must be the harmonica. I like it.
ajohnst1 3 years ago
The video version was different from the album version. I wonder why. Great song, nevertheless.
Teflon65 3 years ago
KCVROCK...do the lyrics sound all too familiar? I love the lyrics as well~~~
JennaP46 3 years ago
i love the lyrics to this song.
KCVROCKS2008 3 years ago
Recriminations fester and the past can never change....
linco515 3 years ago 2
The bongo player always has tripped me out. She has a very peculiar quality to her.
cvjucla3 3 years ago 2
You mean conga player. That's Jodi Lindscott. She's played percussion with lots of people, including David Gilmour, and Don Henley.
Kohntarkosz 3 years ago
Absolute brilliance!!!! Pete has had awesome solo songs.This is my fave...MTV heavy rotation back in the day...memories...
BIGROCKER620 3 years ago 2
The Drummer & and the Bass Player or from the band Big Country.
Love this song. !!
rapdavis1 3 years ago
I think I recognize the female percussionist as the gal that was in The Who's band on their '89 tour.
Personally, I think the harmonica solo sounds really out of place. Should've been left out. But I LOVE Pete's solo at the end of the song!!
bigal838 3 years ago
You are correct! That is Jodi Lindscott, who played percussion in Pete's Deep End band in 86, as well as The Who's 89 tour, and the mid 90's Quadrophenia tour. She also played percussion on David Gilmour's 84 tour, and has played with other people. I remember seeing her in Don Henley's All She Wants To Do Is Dance video.
As for the harmonica solo, I always thought the album version sounded weird WITHOUT the solo.
Kohntarkosz 3 years ago
I'd never heard the harmonica solo either, but I'd agree, it definitely does not fit. This is a great song! I never understood why this was not a hit (in the U.S.). For that matter, Pete had a lot of great stuff from his solo albums that (mostly) got overlooked. Except for Let My Love Open the Door & Face the Face, the rest of his singles tanked.
screwyootube 3 years ago
err...it was a hit here. not top 40 "pop" hit, but the local rock stations wore this gem of a song out in the states. 95 rock in Tampa.
MylesStandish1656 3 years ago
I probably heard the song 4-5 times at rock radio (Los Angeles) when this album came out, then it disappeared. Today, NONE of his music is played at rock radio, although I've heard Let My Love Open the Door once or twice at the new Adult Alternative station here (called, "The Sound").
screwyootube 3 years ago
Yes, his name is Tony Butler.
cilla16 3 years ago
I heard it was Peter Hope Evans. Can't bet the rent, though.. :)
coloradowinter53 3 years ago 2
At 1:28, 3:01 and 4:04, the bassist is JAMMING OUT, eighties style!
steveprutz 3 years ago 2
a great rock star and a great thinker Lobelia Sound
manaledo 3 years ago
I've been looking for this harmonic version of slit skirts forever.
Jenne61265 3 years ago 2
Gotta love Pete's "Flying V" guitar, what a classic!
skifan07 3 years ago 3
When Pete started saving his best writing for his solo records, as he clearly did here, The Who was officially toast..
roswell1965 3 years ago 11
Yeah, Pete always felt that THEWHO took his best material. This was a major factor in the band dissolving. Now, apparently he's written more new material that will be played in THEWHO's fall '08 US Tour.
LONG LIVE ROCK!
TrickyTolles64 3 years ago
Keith never had a son, just a daughter, Mandy.
bill3979 3 years ago 2
What's Keith Moon's son's name?
OxPerfectAimxO 3 years ago
Half-moon? Crescent-moon? Mannon D. Moon?
stratman123 3 years ago
According to Wikipedia, he has a daughter named Amanda. (Ringo Starr's son, Zak Starkey, now plays drums for The Who. . . maybe that's what you're thinking of?)
handlewithcare2 3 years ago
the piano player is virginia astley, pete's sister in law and a rather obscure alternative musician on the 80's, in her own right
crowamonghens 3 years ago
I love this song!
ELPostal 3 years ago
I see that Mark and Tony from "Big Country" is in here playing with him....niccceee
kenshin015 3 years ago
"Its sympathy not tears people need
When they're on the front page sad news..."
Nicely said Pete! Gotta love Pete!
JohnnyDepp5115 3 years ago
No one respects the flame quite like the fool who's badly burned. From this you'd imagine that there must be something learned.
rawoodruff 3 years ago
You would think so.
laspulgasgunners 3 years ago
I don't want to ruin the meaning of this song in anyway for it's amazing BUT Roger Daltrey still wore an open shirt for quite some time after this and he's a year older than Pete! lol - just an observation no harm intended (and it's not like this was a Who song)
ZosoTownshend07 3 years ago
Pete Townshend may be the single most important writer in rock history. Every song never fails to amaze me with how deep and captivating every lyric is paired with an exquiste rythm and guitar!
ZosoTownshend07 3 years ago 4
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!!!
minuteman3 3 years ago 2
'Can't pretend that growing older never hurts' . . . how is that the same guy that chronicled my youth is now singing about the next mountain I'm about to climb? Pete Townshend . . . nothing less than a giant!!!
Lifeislikeabeanstalk 3 years ago 3
I agree...this may be his best song. How many rock songs, or any kind of music, for that matter, deal with aging and domesticity in a serious manner? And I turn 34 this year.That sucks!
serpikris 3 years ago 5
Lol. 5 years ago, I could relate to this song as well. I would play it and sing it all the time. I was 34 then as well.
cvjucla3 3 years ago
Yes I agree. One of his best songs.
WH61193 3 years ago
Might be the best song Pete ever wrote.
frederickus 3 years ago 8
he wrote a few good songs for a little band called the who y'know.... ;-)
VivianSmythe 3 years ago 3
I might have heard of them once before...
Eirikr430428 3 years ago
ahhh! from better days indeed!
finefilth 3 years ago 8
rain stick, man..rain stick...
BSwift505 3 years ago
I got a FEVER and the only prescription is more rainstick! Gotta have it baby!
:)
mrcali68 3 years ago
hahahahaalol
crowamonghens 3 years ago
The drummer is Simon Phillips, the guy is awesome!
Roger11733 3 years ago
The drummer on this video and this track is Mark Brzezicki from Big Country and Procol Harum. Though Simon Phillips did played on the album this song is on (All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes). Simon and Mark shared drums duties.
Topia888 3 years ago 3
Is the bass player the same guy that played with Sting?
Roger11733 3 years ago
Bass player is Tony Butler, also from Big Country. Clem Burke from Blondie also played drums on this album if I remember correctly.
pantsmart 3 years ago
Procol Harum? How late were they around that he was a drummer for them?
howelldrake 3 years ago
Does anyone know who the drummer is? I think his name is Stuart "something" the guy is great.
Roger11733 4 years ago
where i grow up nobody liked this but i thought it was awesome.glad to see it on youtube in fact everything is on youtube.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
NonRider 4 years ago
this song is amazing, and may be my favorite all-time tune, right next to Billy Joel's Big Shot.
foppa123 4 years ago
no one respects the flame like the fool whos badly burned
rip richard pryor
frododarg 4 years ago 3
stupid harmonica:(
foppa123 4 years ago
I repeat, piss on the harmonica.
foppa123 3 years ago
This is from "All the best cowboys have Chinese eyes" a really solid album. There's a fantastic song on that album called North Country Girl......magic.
Sircornflakes 4 years ago
God I do love this song so!
It's the shame the video is so dark, though. Pete should put together a collection of the promo videos he's done for all his albums and restore them for a DVD release.
He obviously has a large collection in that vault of his.
Most Who promos have already been released on the various documentaries over the years.
EuchridEucrow1 4 years ago
Music as art, not the hip hop/rap crap being shoved down our youths throats disguised as music! All the people in this song come together to make MUSIC!
1977fbird 4 years ago 2
And I'll add...you never see a guitarist play an electric in a pure rhythm manner anymore...never mind a V...it's great.
howelldrake 4 years ago
The best 2nd vocalist/guitarist in a top 10 rock band of all time that was fronted by a legendary vocalist. BTW, the bassist was definitely in Big Country. Was the drummer, too? Audio kinda sucks , but infinite thx for posting, anyway.
howelldrake 4 years ago
I believe both the drummer AND the bass player were from Big Country -- before Big Country officially released their first album! (I think that's right, anyway. I vaguely remember hearing that they met during these sessions.)
PencilNeckedGeek 4 years ago 2
Thanks! Interesting...Big Country were such a great band...so sad the lead guy killed himself. Guess he couldn't get beyond MTV's fickle interest...
howelldrake 4 years ago 2
Big country drummer? I swear that looks like Stewart Copeland of the Police...?
Antipostmodern 4 years ago
Not Stewart Copeland -- it was "Mark Brzezicki" the drummer of "Big Country"
gtorreon 4 years ago
Pete is genius.
Antipostmodern 4 years ago 3
best version!! anybody know where i can get this version???/
trelane8 4 years ago
This was the video that was released when the song was. You can buy the song on itunes...loved it then, love it now, and can relate to the topic, age and getting older..."can't pretend that growing older never hurts."
bnewcol 4 years ago
all the great memories.takes me back to unbelievable strenth and energythat i had as ayoung man
NonRider 4 years ago
especially in the 80's!!!!
itzjoeymac 4 years ago
He always had trouble figuring out what to do with his hair...
AlfieBing 4 years ago
Gorgeous song(as are almost ALL of Pete's songs)! I recognise the drummer from Big Country here, a really wonderful drummer Mark is!
Babyhowdy233 4 years ago
that harmonica player is the one that bust out the jam on Face the Face. Great player....
geridg 4 years ago
Whateven
61B41 4 years ago
i still say this would be better with daltrey on vocals... great tune!
itzjoeymac 4 years ago
Roger put out a live album called (if I recall) the genius of Peter Townshend and took a stab at
some of Pete's solo stuff but not this one. The one I remember from Chinese Eyes is "somebody saved me", which worked for him...the rest was hit and miss.
sauciest1 4 years ago
pete is a legend he's the best ever, he can play guitar, piano, syntesyser and certainly his voice!!
who904 4 years ago
The audio sucks on this video.
asphaltturns 4 years ago 3
This is a great song, but one of the most depressing ever! Thanks for posting the video, never saw it before.
culwin 4 years ago
I've been looking for this video since the first time I saw it on MTV. Eel Pie was not helpful in pointing me to it, but YouTube came through! Beautiful!
joncolinleonard 4 years ago
this guy is a genius
trejul 4 years ago 5
Tinny sound, but cool to see Pete doing my favorite Who song they never recorded. Cool to see the bass player form Big Country, I think Butler was his last name...playing w/ Pete.
illiniwolfman 4 years ago
And the drummer was in Big Country too.
millsall 4 years ago
Yeah, you're right. His name is Tony Butler. He's currently a teacher of music technology in Devon, South West England and is Touring with the surviving members of Big Country.
skifan07 4 years ago
Pete is the greatest. We're so lucky to still have him with us.
All detracters can sod off.
hottemperwind 4 years ago 2
Love this song but on the album I miss the harmonica solo that you can hear in the video. I wish I could get a copy of that somewhere? Any ideas?
saathi88 4 years ago
He isn't, at all. According to the man himself, he is heterosexual. Though, come to think of it, I did not hear that directly from his mouth, so I suppose I can't trust that.
Velead 4 years ago
One of his best if not the best Townshend ever wrote. I have his "Let My Love Open the Door" uploaded, but this is fantastic too.
Thank you!
AmoredPanther 4 years ago
This Video was included on the VHS "Pete Townshend" ( it is very rare, in a pink box with PT on the front ) . It is like a mini documentary, Pete talks about getting clean and sober and as a result, he was able to get back with his wife and kids, who he had alienated and moved out on.
Chinese Eyes album is dedicated to Karen and to other teenagers in love ( it shows a pic of Pete and Karen Townshend when they were first dating) .
HickoryRose 4 years ago 2
ummm i thought he came out like ten years ago...interesting
darksouldealer 4 years ago
pete can afford to do wwhichever with his cock that he wants, he probably make more at 1 show then everybody on this bord in 4 years
plantbiochemist 4 years ago
oh i wasnt criticizing his sexuality at all...i just never knew he was married at one point..i know that empty glass is basically a coming out album and that during the tommy tour he mentioned on stage that he knew how elton john felt as woman kinda thing...
darksouldealer 4 years ago
Whatever "rumors" there are about Pete Townshend, one can say this...Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle and Keith Moon are all three as much heterosexual studs as there ever was. Pete being gay, is in a word ludicrous! He was married in 1968 and divorced in 1996, has three children. Emma, Minta and Joseph.
He as been with his "steady" girlfriend/artist Rachel Fuller now since 1999. The man is a total stud!
THEWHO
MAXIMUM R&B
TrickyTolles64 4 years ago
I don't care, one way or the other. I love this song - memories of jeannie....... THNAK YOU FOR POSTING from "All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes" Jeannie, I miss your eyes - and dancing.
murphicus 4 years ago 3
My favorite PT song ever !!!
ydor 4 years ago
I agree it has to be at the TOP of the Pete solo album list..."Empty Glass" is overated because many think it was P.T.'s 1st(SOLO LP)THE SEA REFUSES NO RIVER is PRICELESS!!TOP 5 SOLO LPs??#1 Who Came First#2PSYCHODERELICT(Music Only Version)#3Empty Glass#4 All The Best Cowboys...#5Rough Mix(with E.Clapton&the late Ronnie Lane)Ask me next week I'm sure I'll have a different list all together!!CHEERS PT ROCKS!!
HenryPonds 4 years ago
The ever wordy song from All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes. Great song and the bass work is very good. I have always been a little impartial to this whole album and I am not sure why. It's very edgy and the lyrics have a lot of thought. Reflects Pete's life a the time.
bigbadbob58 4 years ago
Poor audio, and that harmonica player was god awful. That said, that was a great song that didn't get radio play only because of the sexual content of the lyrics. Too bad Pete can't come up with anything decent nowadays. I bought the latest "Who" CD. What shit.
DeputyDawg999 4 years ago
Fuck you. It's a great album.
Beatlefan8 4 years ago
i dont think so
Gothboy77 4 years ago
Does that fucking harmonica player even hear the other band members?
PhantomDog 4 years ago
Thank you for that incredible laugh!
Suzywriter 3 years ago
these guys are really rockin!!!
humbler1 4 years ago
"Can't pretend that growing older never hurts" Best words were never spoken...
2kl2klps 4 years ago
just need a brief new romance
linco515 4 years ago
is the bass player from Big Country?
MacGrurry 4 years ago
Yes, his name is Tony Butler nice!!!
freak6913 4 years ago
Best non Who song Pete ever wrote.Bloody brilliant!
ydor 4 years ago
good stuff
foppa123 4 years ago
whos on drums?
abigailjazz 4 years ago
Brilliant song.
5/5 stars.
virgilthefrog 4 years ago
_White City_ was a great album, and "Slit Skirts" is a fabulous song about coming to terms with getting older. And it's made more wonderful by Pete's soaring, ripping guitar riff at the end. Great stuff!
genespleen 4 years ago
lookit that black guy go! and im pretty sure thats gene wilder, not pete townshend
bib4tuna 4 years ago
the 80`s at best great song
TKEN99 4 years ago
one of the most beautiful accelerating chord progressions ever
ePhilosopher 4 years ago
is that what it's called? I love it too :D
zornfizza2 4 years ago
this is the only version i heard-with the harmonica player at the end. theses guys jam!!!
MacGrurry 4 years ago
Comment removed
jjp009 4 years ago
I remember watching this from the early 8's but I don't remember the harmonica. Were there 2 videos? I didn't like the harmonica at first but it grew on me. Does anybody know if this version of the song is available on CD?
1969dave1969 4 years ago
Song IS available on CD, you'd probably have to order it from somewhere. In the studio version, there's no harmonica, but it's a nice touch.
darkstormstress22 4 years ago
I agree, this must be an alternate take from in the studio. LOTS of things are different about this cut vs. the album cut... vcals, arrangments and so on. Excellent clip!
dave33615 5 years ago
Sounds like the one from Chinese City maybe?
opalrecluse 5 years ago
According to Wikipedia, this was a version specifically recorded for one of Sony's Video45's from the early 80's. Townshend released the clips on his own website, and they made their way to sites like this.
cubdukat 4 years ago
Thanks for posting this...I always thought this song was underrated!
ann6079 5 years ago
couldn't agree more!!! just a great tune!!!
pauliborracho 4 years ago
Great shot of Jody at the end. Love this song.
ackerlaw2004 5 years ago
I hate fade outs at the end of a tune...Pete starts wailing and then it fades...wtf? This must be an alternate take from the studio w/ Peter Hope Evans on mouth harp.
scodug 5 years ago
I used to play this album over and over and over again...it's great seeing the vids again. Like someone else said, from a time when you could watch MTV and see great video after great video and really get into the music.
BelmontShore 5 years ago
So thrilled to see other people know and love this song. It's amazing!!!
guypratt1 5 years ago
WOW! I havn't seen this in 20+ years. Reminds me of when MTV actually played rock videos. Keep expecting Thomas Dolby, Human League or Madness to come on next. Thanks for the post!!!
lucifer73 5 years ago
Amazing song.
MsChantilly 5 years ago
Pete looks like shit, but this a great song!
rastlr 5 years ago
From the days when many music videos were filmed by recording rehearsals for live concert performances.
meh130 5 years ago
one of my all time favorite songs,but next time leave the harmonica player at home
genodrums 5 years ago
Big Country rhythm section - unbeatable.
zv8889 5 years ago
The great lyrical song of all time.
sbubbb 5 years ago
Sums up addiction perfectly.
cookieman38111 5 years ago
why addiction? it's about love and relationships, listen to how he describes men who took refuge in the oil. tell me what you think, thanks
110thelma 5 years ago
I always took the line about "men who took refuge in the oil" to be about burning the midnight oil, so to speak, by working late hours, and ignoring their families. It could also have sexual connotations, of course, as the same men often go elsewhere for sex.
Teflon65 3 years ago 2
Excellent song! I was recently reintroduced to this song about 3 years ago when I was 34! Mtv used to play this video a lot in the early 80s! At least 3 great hooks in the song, I especially remember the female bongo player!
cvjucla3 5 years ago
Jody Linscott, also played percussion with the Who later alongside Simon Phillips and recently played with Mike Oldfield.
gingerfoozle 5 years ago
Does anyone know who Jeanie is?
snealfleeba 5 years ago
petes voice is so high!! great song.
jockeeb 5 years ago
yeah, thats tony butler on bass, later played with big country, along with the drummer here, mark brzezicki. both great musicians!!
heartandsoil 5 years ago
I love this song,it's one of my favorites from my favorite townshend solo album
It rocks and is super melodic,smart and emotional
In that sense it reminds me a lot of one of my other heroes,Todd Rundgren.It's really a shame that he didn't do more touring as a solo artist in the 80's,he's such a fabulous live performer
marcelsingor 5 years ago
Drug addiction and treatment for his addictions cut his solo touring and performing career. Townshend was bledding money by the early 1980's; Hence, back with The Who where the real money was and still is, minus two former members of The Who that are sadly missed and will never be replaced.
Slit Skirts reveal Townshend's genuis for melodic and changing tempo which flows naturally, and of course his gift as a lyricist.
Peter, thanks for the music and the memories!
BB1295 5 years ago