The debut solo album of Pete Townshend was likened to “a war medal” by the veteran guitarist.
The legendary performer would leave The Who in 1986 and had a successful solo career, releasing a series of well-received albums. Though his first solo effort, Who Came First, would release in 1972 at the height of The Who’s fame, his first album following the break-up of the Roger Daltrey-fronted group was described as a “cry for stability.” Empty Glass would release in 1980 and would technically be Townshend’s third solo studio album. But speaking to David Sheff of Playboy Magazine, Townshend considered it his proper debut, and a benchmark in his decades as a solo musician. Townshend would release a further four solo albums, with his most recent album release being the 1993 album, Psychoderelict.
Townshend said: “It was wanting to not be a drunk. Alcoholism produced my most morally bereft period – 1978 through 1980 – and Empty Glass, which most people think is my best solo work. That album is, in a sense, a cry for stability, a cry for an empty glass, for sobriety and for a return to values that I held above everything else.
“But the reason the cry was authentic was that I was in real trouble. The album is like a war medal. I went through hell, and I don’t undervalue it, but I don’t aspire to do it again. The fourteen years since then, being sober, are far preferable, though a few months ago I decided to go on a bender.”
Townshend would say that, while he missed aspects of touring with the band, there were some limitations to both Daltrey and John Entwistle’s work with him. Townshend would release seven albums as a solo artist, with his most recent release, Psychoderelict, in 1993.
Though Townshend would get back together with The Who several times over his career, he believes the band did not aid him as well as it could have. Asked if looking back at his time in The Who was a reminiscent, “good old days” feeling, Townshend says he felt “fettered” by frontman Daltrey.
He said: “Under the so-called democracy of The Who I felt very fettered by Roger, but at the same time it was wonderful to share the weight of a concert with him. I was somewhat held back by John Entwistle’s tendency to play too loud, but equally I miss his backstage wit and the fact that we have been friends since we were 11 years old. So it’s mixed.”
Townshend would also share the story of how he kicked The Who’s original drummer from the band. Townshend suggested the original drummer had been the only thing standing in the way of a record deal, and the decision was made by the gutiarist, as well as Daltrey and Jon Entwistle, to remove him from the group.
