About this title: BEHIND BLUE EYES is the first-ever biography of Pete Townshend, one of rock's greatest innovators, the brains behind The Who, inventor of the rock opera, and an enduring presence as a performer and composer throughout his long and death-defying career. Geoffrey Giuliano has known Townshend intimately for almost 20 years and includes many ...
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Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Good. Minimal damage to cover and binding. Pages show light use. With pride from Motor City. All books guaranteed. Best Service, Best Prices. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Cooper Square Press
Date Published: 2002
ISBN-13:9780815410706ISBN:0815410700
Description: Very Good. Isbn matches very clean softcover. clean text and light cover wear. FAST SHIPPING W/ CONFIRMATION. NO PRIORITY OR INTERNATIONAL ORDERS OVER 4LBs. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: E P Dutton
Date Published: 01/11/1996
ISBN-13:9780525940524ISBN:0525940529
Description: Used-Good. Book in good or better condition. Dispatched same day from warehouse. Please email with any questions for quick response. read more
Edition: First American Edition
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: E P Dutton, New York, New York, U.S.A.
Date Published: 1996
ISBN-13:9780525940524ISBN:0525940529
Description: Very Good- in Good+ jacket. Spine lean, remainder mark bottom edge of book, edgewear to the jacket, scuffing and soiling to the jacket, small clear stain to the front panel of the jacket(only visible at an angle), top edge of the front jacket panel folds down a bit, and other light to moderate shopwear. read more
Edition: First Edition (stated)
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Dutton, New York
Date Published: 1996
ISBN-13:9780525940524ISBN:0525940529
Description: Photographs. Very Good in Very Good- jacket. Full number line present. Small ownership stamp to the author's box, otherwise unmarked. The boards show light shelfwear. The jacket has light edgewear and mild rubbing (mostly to the rear panel), and a 1/2" tear to the upper rear edge. Clean and tight; jacket in mylar. read more
Description: Fine. 0815410700 Excellent condition Soft cover book, clean pages, No creases to spine, this book is Near NEW! Shop & Save With US. read more
"Behind Blue Eyes is a personal, man-behind-the-myth sort of bio. The book gives a fair amount of insight into the relationships between Townshend and his fellow members of The Who, not just that they didn't get along but why they didn't. Also very interesting is the exploration of Townshend's childhood relationship with his parents and the long term effects they had on him. It's well written and informative but, on the other hand, it too often shies away from journalism and favors a sort of sensational, wordy, teen scene kind of reporting. It's heartfelt and trite at the same time.
While there was obviously the artistic side to Townshend and to The Who, I suppose I wanted more of Townshend as rock guitarist and of his place in his rock band, The Who. I love the bits about how and why Townshend wrote certain songs, his creative process at various times in his life. The influences on Townshend's guitar style are explored in effective detail but I would have liked more of this sort of thing. More on the songwriting, more on his guitar style, more on the guitars, amps and effects used during which sessions or what he used for various live recordings like Live At Leeds. I also wanted more about The Who but I suppose I should read a book on The Who, eh?
Townshend seems to have been a sort of spoiled brat as much as he was generous and giving. He helped Eric Clapton kick heroin, though Townshend later tangled with that demon himself. He was also capable of heartless cruelty and verbal abuse of even close loved ones. He battled several addictions through his life and managed to stay productive and creative to the end. Townshend was a fascinating, talented, intelligent and opinionated character and you do feel that you get to know him through Giuliano's writing.
The chapter on Townshend's association with Mehar Baba left me wondering just what it was that made all these 60's pop stars turn to Eastern religion. Of course, it was the popular thing, the trendy thing to do. It metamorphed the participant into an "enlightened" being searching for himself or some "higher power." However, the involvement of folks like The Beatles and The Stones seems to have actually had a profound effect on their lives. Townshend is no exception. He spent a great deal of time, energy and money spreading Mehar Baba's good word.
Giuliano is a pretty well respected writer in the 60's British Invasion genre. His other books include The Lost Beatles Interviews, Blackbird: The Life And Times Of Paul McCartney and Dark Horse: The Private Life Of George Harrison. I don't want to give the impression this guy is a hack because he's not. I do think he's a fan and his writing sometimes leans towards fan appreciation to the exclusion of telling the story. At the same time, I think Giuliano takes a unique look at Townshend and his band."
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