1. First, when did you meet Pete Townsend and The Who and in what circumstances did you become friends ?
Irish Jack : That was in 1962 when the band were called The Detours. There were five members in the band then. Roger Daltrey played lead guitar and trombone. Pete Townsend was only learning guitar but showing promise. The lead singer was Colin Dawson and he set his style on Cliff Richard. The band used to actually do dance steps when they played Shadows' numbers. At that time John Entwistle was the only true musician in the band on bass guitar because he had studied piano and played french horn with the Middlesex Youth Orchestra. The drummer was a guy called Doug Sandom. Everyone in the band had regular 9 to 5 jobs, except Pete who had just started at art college. And he's never actually had a job to speak of. He did do a paper round once in Ealing. If your web site visitors want to know the full story as to how I actually got to meet the band they can look it up (and other information) on my web site www.thewho.net/irishjack . It's all there in a story called 'In the beginning'. I also have a very interesting audio facility on my web site which might be worth checking out. And yes, it's all true.
2. Why were you a Mod in the 60's and how did you start being interested in that stuff ?
Irish Jack : Because it was probably the most exciting time in my life. You just could not fail to be a Mod. The rush of personalised energy was unbelievable. Down one minute up the next...How did I start being interested in that stuff ? Well, it happened to me because I was in the right place at the right time. Being a Mod was a lot like that. The power of circumstance.
3. What are The Who members doing now ?
Irish Jack : Auditioning for work ?
4. Were you or the Who riding scooters in the 60's ? What kind ?
Irish Jack : No. I never did have my own scooter because I lived in a block of flats on the third floor and it was always too awkward. I did ride around on many of them though. None of The Who had scooters. We used to have a guy who worked with us when we had an office at Eaton Place in the early days called Mike Shaw, and he used to ride around town on his scooter looking for gigs for the band. He became our lighting man. He was a smart Mod. We're still good friends. I speak to him on the phone. He lives in Cornwall now. The only musician I can remember having a scooter was Peter Quaife the Kinks bass guitarist. And my old friend from The Small Faces Ronnie Lane, he rode around on a scooter as well for an East London company delivering false teeth. Fucking hell, imagine that. false teeth !
5. Can you tell us how Quadrophenia started ?
Irish Jack : Christ, I knew you were going to ask me that. Have you got ten hours to spare ? Believe it or not, Quadrophenia may have been started by a 28 year old ex-London Mod buying a pair of size 7 Dr. Martens boots in Cork, Ireland. this was in 1971. How about that then ? You didn't know that, did you ? When I bought the Dr. Martens boots I was working as a bus conductor and I was corresponding letters with Pete Townsend on a regular basis at the time, so I wrote him about fourteen pages of the usual stream of sunconsciousness telling him that I had just become the first bus conductor in Cork to wear the famous Dr. martens boots. Pete replied to my letter by telling me that he felt elated in the knowledge that one of his oldest friends had embraced 70's youth culture. inspired by his positive response I then sent him my old Goldhawk Social Club Membership card ( the Goldhawk Social club had been the Mod base for The Who in 1964/65) so along with the membership card I also wrote telling him and reminding him of some of the things that happened when we were Mods back in the old Goldhawk Social Club. Pete's next letter was to inform me that he was now thinking of writing another opera as a follow up to TOMMY ; he called it a MOD OPERA in his letter. And I thought..'Jesus, what have I started here ? A fucking MOD OPERA ! ' I couldn't believe it. Later on when he did press interviews he said Quadrophenia was based on one of his old Mod friends from the Goldhawk Social Club...me, Irish Jack !
6. What do you think about today's Mod and Scooter scene ? About the second wave of Mod bands in the early 80's like the Jam, Secret Affair ?
Irish Jack : What do I think about them ? Well I think they just had to happen. That's how strong the Mod ethos has always been. It'll always be an unstoppable sub-culture. A bit like James Dean's character, it'll never go away. Ther'll be Mods riding around on scooters long after I'm six feet in the ground. Or maybe I'll be cremated and have my ashes scattered over Shepherd's Bush Green, I haven't made any will yet. I like today's scene. I like all the Mods who come up to me in their cute little suits and far-out backcombed hair and they all have different accents, even different languages and the first thing they do is shake my hand and say.."Is it true, is it true ? "
7. Tell us more about the book you wrote.
Irish Jack : The book, I actually co-wrote with an american Who fan called Joe McMichael from Los Angeles. the book is called 'The Who concert File'. It's published by Omnibus Press in the UK and Music Sales in America. It's sold quite well. I am particularly proud of it because it contains a listing for almost every show The Who performed going back to 1962 when they were the Detours. There is even a wedding date listed which the band played in 1964. The wedding of Joan Wilson and Alec Parker on Saturday, March 7th 1964, reception at the Old Oak Institute in East Acton in London. Joan Wilson was the sister of Harry Wilson who was the Detours first drummer....two drummers before Keith Moon ! I'm also very proud of the fact that the book is the acknowledged performing biography of The Who and the one thing that makes it absolutely authentic is the fact that my old friend Pete Townsend has written a fantastic foreword.
8. What did you think about Chaville Scooter Show in November 1999 ?
Irish Jack : I was very impressed with that. Some of the scooters were absolutely amazing, both the vintage and the modern models. I got on very well with all the French Mods, such friendly people. I just wish I could speak French. But you know, not being able to speak the language taught me a lesson. I learned that the real communication was not in language, it was on the dance floor at the Vulcan SC 4th Millenium Support Party with the Mods from all over, many different nationalities identifying one common bond...MOD and good music. The same with scooters at the Paris Scooter Show. You look at a motorbike and you don't see the same love affair. As I said at my reading...."Vespa, Lambretta...I love you. You are like a woman. You are like Brigitte Bardot !"
9. What kind of music do you like today ?
Irish Jack : All kinds. Elgar's Nimrod from the Enigma Variations. Dave Brubeck's 'Take Five'. Jarvis Cocker's 'Disco 2000'. Madonna's 'Ray of Light' and 'I'm in love with a perfect stranger' from the Austin Power's movie. Eddie Vedder, Sheryl Crowe. Take a listen to the La's from England singing 'timeless melody' - if that's not 90's Mod !
10. How often do you meet your friends from The Who ?
Irish Jack : Never enough. But occasinally, depending on the circumstances. I do telephone john and Roger if something crops up. But not Pete. I've been to all their homes and stayed overnight down through the years but what I should explain is that I am more of a family friend than a Who fan. Real Who fan spend hours queueing for show tickets, buying CD's and videos. Me ? I've never bought a Who record in my life and I've never paid to see The Who. There's definitely a lot more people more worthy of The Who than I am. I grew up with the band when we had nothing and we were a wedding band playing at barmitzvahs and summer garden parties. We didn't even have club dates never mind a bad record deal.
11. What about Keith Moon ? Are all those stories real ? Was he sometimes really crazy ?
Irish Jack : Oh yes, very real. Larger than life. He was Keith Moon, you see. Keith Moon actually joined The Who when he came up on stage from out of the audience at the Olfield Hotel in Greenford, London in May 1964. The band were actually using a stand-in drummer at the time and Keith invited himself on stage to play Bo Diddley's 'Road Runner'. He actually 'led' the band through the number and ended his performance by splitting the stand-in drummer's bass pedal ; the stand-in drummer had been using the kit for fifteen years without a scratch. At the time Keith was a member of a band called The Beachcombers from Wembley in north west London. The Beachcombers played everything by the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean, the band were really into surf music. Keith's first musical love had always been The Beach Boys, he idolised the band. I use a little recitation about Keith when I do my readings. It's called 'Restless Spirit' and it goes like this...
'Oldfield Hotel, does your tattered book of '64 record a crazy cat in a dyed ginger suit ? Brandy-eyed he stepped on stage and split the drummer's bass pedal. He was The Who---we heard---from that moment on. Oldfield Hotel, did he check out or was he carried out ? He being the actor, the Bell Boy, the wildman of rock. Flash demonic, drumsticks in the air. A cheeky lad from Wembley, Moon. Set us alight you did with a thousand volleys. Them sticks a-twirling like air-fan blades between your bloodied fingers. The airport risk. Culprit to frisk. Forever the the joker, Moon. Gave us the hard sweat of rock. Down beat drumbeat always total, the excessiveness always on call to backfire. With you it seemed something would have to crack Moon..sooner or later. You had your moments. Dark and gloomy private fears, as if maturity itself was some damned intrusion upon a well planned prank. That boish tooth is gone, knocked out, and so are you, dear boy. Gone like L.A. surf and Beach Boy sand. Yet you're a restless spirit, forever stirred. Play your drums drummer boy. Your story's over. It's over...Barbara Ann ! (Copyright Irish Jack)
12. How do you feel today being a kind of Mod living legend ?
Irish Jack : How do I feel about being a Mod legend ? I hate it. I'd love to be someone else but I'm trapped in this wolf-faced, thin-boned, speed-freak, skinney body. And my hair's going grey. You've noticed ? I've still got that centre parting in my hair. Still wear suits with vents five inches long. Still wear bloody awful immaculately accurate Fred Perries. I'm still fucking JIMMY !
13. How do you feel today when you see Mods on scooters dressed like in the 60's ?
Irish Jack : I'm happy.
14. What can you tell us about current Who activity ?
Irish Jack : Pete Townsend is currently very active with his rejuvenated LIFEHOUSE project. After 28 years the fruits of his very misunderstood work has finally come to life. In a way, Pete wrote about and foresaw the principle of the internet system which we all take for granted today. His musical play LIFEHOUSE was broadcast on BBC radio in early december and to complement the activity Pete did a number of radio and press interviews. Readers of your website should note that there is a 6-CD set called The Lifehouse Chronicles, two CDs contain Pete Townsend's original demos of the songs that were to shape the framework of LIFEHOUSE ; one CD of Pete Townsend's own themes and the sixth CD is a collection of themes and mixes from various stages in his career. Anyone interested in gaining extra information regarding the new CDs should visit the following sites...www.petetownsend.co.uk and www.petetownsend.net Roger Daltrey appeared on stage in Dublin, Ireland in early december to play one of the lead roles in a modern rock version of Handel's Messiah. Also on the bill were Chaka Khan and Gladys Knight of Gladys Knight and the Pips fame. Roger has also been busy performing live on stage with the British rock Symphony, an ensemble of highly talented musicians. The symphony is reknowned for some of its stunning renditions of rock classics by The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Stones, The Beatles and Pink Floyd. Roger performed with the British Rock Symphony during the summer in outdoor venues in England and in America. He has also starred in a movie called 'Leprechaun' and appeared in a dramatic role for the English tv network ITV. The name of the tv series is popularly known as The Bill and has a very high viewing audience. Roger's appearance in the role of reformed crack dealer Larry Moore earned him wide acclaim in the press. Roger Daltrey is now due to lead the British Rock Symphony on a tour of Australia from February 23rd to March 11th. John Entwistle toured America both in 1998 and 1999 with his solo band called John Entwistle Band. The tour was labelled the 'Left for Dead - The Sequel' and all his tour shows were recorded for a live album. John Entwistle now has a new CD entitled 'Left for Live' by the John Entwistle Band. The Who performed as a live band last November 12th and 13th at the Chicago House of Blues - both shows were sold out. In December recently the band performed at the Sheperd's Bush Empire in London, playing on the 22nd and 23rd. Again both shows were sold out. Web site readers might be interested to know that John Entwistle has his own web site : www.eden.com/theox
15. Can you tell us one of your all time favourite stories with The Who ?
Irish Jack : An all time favourite story ? I've got a million to tell. But there is one that seems to stand out from the others and it happened in November 1973. It was my 30th birthday and I decided to celebrate it in Newcastle which is in the north of England. The Who were performing at the Odeon Theatre in Newcastle so I decided to travel there from Cork in Ireland where I was living with my wife and kid and working as a bus conductor. Anyway off I went to Newcastle for the show. It was the 7th of November and like I said, I was 30 years old that day. As soon as I arrived in Newcastle the first thing I did was to do a little bit of shopping. There was a large toy store there called Fenwicks and I spotted a little kid's scooter. You know the type, one wheel in front with two smaller wheels at the back and a little platform for the child's foot. Seeing as this was the 1973 Quadrophenia tour of the UK, I thought it might be in keeping with things if I returned home to my house with a nice little toy scooter for my young kid to play on up and down our back garden. So I bought the scooter and carried it under my arm to the Five Bridges Hotel where The Who were staying. When I got to reception I asked for Pete Townsend. The girl phoned him and soon he came ambling down the thick carpeted stairs to greet me in a pair of unlaced Dr. marten boots. ' How apt ' I thought. He hugged me and laughed when he noticed the toy scooter, "What a coincidence, Jack." We went upstairs to meet the others and after a while Pete and I had dinner. The next day---after the show---I woke around noon with a king-sized headache (all of which is another story!), I struggled out of bed and walked like a zombie to the reception bar. I felt so sick it was unbelievable. I told some waitress what had happened to me and she went and got what she told me was very reliable cure for a massive hangover. She poured me a little drink of this stuff called Ferney Blancquet telling me I would be as right as rain in no time. As soon as I swallowed the stuff I began to feel really sick so I dashed to the gent's toilet and vomited all over my clothes and the toilet floor. I felt so bad I decided to go back to bed for a couple of hours. then suddenly I remembered that I didn't have a lift back to London, so I casually asked the girl if The Who were still in the hotel. "Oh no," she said, "they all leftearly this morning." Jesus I couldn't believe it. Now I would have to check train or bus times and travel back 500 miles on my own. I sat down and put my head in my hands almost regretting ever coming to Newcastle in the first place.The waitress saw how bad I was and said, "Hang on. I'll just make sure everybody's left. But I'm sure they have..." She picked up the phone and made an enquiry. Then she put the phone down and as long as I live I'll never forget the smile on her face when she said.."I think Keith Moon is still there. Would you like to speak to him ?" I managed to get up from the chair and crossed the floor. Then I said, " Hold on. If you give me his room number I'll go up.." She gave me the number and I never travelled so fast in my life. I found the room and hammered the door. An educated voice answered back saying "come" I hesitated for a second and then pushed the door in to find keith Moon in bed with some girl. He immediately offered me his hand to shake as if I hadn't seen him in fifteen years----despite the fact we had said good night just a few hours previously. Then he threw back the bed clothes and invited me to join him. I just couldn't believe it. The poor girl was in shock. She didn't think it was a bit funny. I looked at her feeling very embarassed and then explained to Keith that the rest of the band had returned to London and I had no way of getting back. "No problem, dear boy," he said, "come back with me. I'll tell Chalky you're coming with us. Got luggage ?" I've never heard of this Chalky character before. "Who's Chalky, Keith ?" Keith looked at me as if I'd been away for twenty years.."Chalky? He's my driver, jack" "Oh!" Then Keith explained that he wouldn't be going back to London for another couple of hours and we agreed to meet downstairs in reception. Before I closed the door I told him I didn't have any luggage except a little kid's toy scooter which wouldn't take up too much room in his car. Keith purred and smiled back at me as I left the room. I decided to head back to my room to catch some badly needed sleep while waiting for Keith. I felt so sick I knew there was no point going to the bar and trying to force alcohol down. I went back to my room and was just about to fall asleep when the door opened and I was shaken by a very hard looking guy who looked like he meant business. He was a real Londoner, if you catch my drift. " 'Ere Jack, Keef' says you're bringing a scooter back to London with you. D'You know where it is ?" I was just about able to think at the time. "The scooter ? Yeah, it's downstairs, Chalky." "Downstairs ? Right." Chalky left the room like collecting the scooter was some kind of army manoeuvre and I went back to sleep. About half an hour later I was awakened by a firm grip on my shoulder. It was a big hand and it belonged to Chalky. "Jack..Jack, listen. that scooter, mate. It's nowhere to be seen. Are you sure you left it downstairs ?" I was trying to keep my eyes open as I reassured him. "Of course, I'm sure. I left it there myself. It's definitely there." Chalky left the room for the second time and he pulled the door hard behind him. I could hear him swear under his breath as he went. I buried my head back into the pillow hoping that was the end of the big search and maybe now at long last I could get at least one hour's sleep. I had a splitting headache and swore I'd never touch alcohol again. You know the feeling? Soon I could hear loud voices outside my room. Two female voices---both from Newcastle, and the unmistakable voice of Chalky...now very agitated. The door opened and in he marched followed by the two waitresses from the bar. "Listen jack..", Chalky was stabbing his thick finger into my naked chest, "You might be a friend of Keef' and the rest of the 'oo but that don't mean you can fuck around like this, awlright?" I looked at him stupefied and nodded 'awlright' as he continued.."Now, for the last fucking time..where's this fucking scooter of yours? Where'd you fucking park it, jack? A little bell went off in my brain and I looked right up at Chalky from the bed, "where did I PARK IT?" "Yeh! Where'd you park it, mate? Cos I've been all over the fucking place and it's nowhere. Fucking nowhere!" "I didn't park it anywhere, Chalky.." I told him half in dread of his menacing features "I left it downstairs at the back of reception. It's a kid's fucking toy scooter, for fuck's sake. It's for my daughter!" To say that Chalky never uttered a single word to me on the long journey back to Keith's house in Chertsey later that night, would not be to exaggerate in the least. For many years afterwards something always niggled in the back of my mind that maybe it had been Keith Moon who had put poor old Chalky under the mistaken impression that he should be looking for a full sized Vespa or Lambretta scooter. Because that's what Keith Moon was all about. He was a genius. He was Keith Moon, you see.
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