Pete Townshend made headlines this week when the Who member was quoted as saying "thank God" late bandmates Keith Moon and John Entwistle are gone. As we — and even Townshend himself — predicted, the comments did not go down so well with Who fans. Now in attempts to do some damage control, Townshend has penned a lengthy Facebook post to clarify what he was trying to say.
Speaking to Rolling Stone in a new interview published on Monday (November 26), Townshend said, "It's not going to make Who fans very happy, but thank God they're gone," adding, "Because they were fucking difficult to play with. They never, ever managed to create bands for themselves."
In response to the backlash that quote and others received, Townshend now writes, "To those family members of Keith and John, especially Chris Entwistle and Mandy Moon, I apologise for the headlines — and for carelessly providing the words that were used — but in the past three months I have done so many interviews I am losing focus and patience. I forgive myself. I hope they can forgive me too. I loved their dads and still do."
He also tried to explain his frustration over the death of both Moon and Entwistle, saying he still remains "angry" over their passing.
"No one can ever know how much I miss Keith and John, as people, as friends and as musicians," he wrote. "The alchemy we used to share in the studio is missing from the new album, and it always feels wrong to try to summon it up without them, but I suppose we will always be tempted to try. To this day I am angry at Keith and John for dying. Sometimes it shows. It's selfish, but it's how I feel."
You can view his entire Facebook post below.
Townshend's comments come as the Who get set to release their new album WHO, due out December 6 via Polydor Records.
Speaking to Rolling Stone in a new interview published on Monday (November 26), Townshend said, "It's not going to make Who fans very happy, but thank God they're gone," adding, "Because they were fucking difficult to play with. They never, ever managed to create bands for themselves."
In response to the backlash that quote and others received, Townshend now writes, "To those family members of Keith and John, especially Chris Entwistle and Mandy Moon, I apologise for the headlines — and for carelessly providing the words that were used — but in the past three months I have done so many interviews I am losing focus and patience. I forgive myself. I hope they can forgive me too. I loved their dads and still do."
He also tried to explain his frustration over the death of both Moon and Entwistle, saying he still remains "angry" over their passing.
"No one can ever know how much I miss Keith and John, as people, as friends and as musicians," he wrote. "The alchemy we used to share in the studio is missing from the new album, and it always feels wrong to try to summon it up without them, but I suppose we will always be tempted to try. To this day I am angry at Keith and John for dying. Sometimes it shows. It's selfish, but it's how I feel."
You can view his entire Facebook post below.
Townshend's comments come as the Who get set to release their new album WHO, due out December 6 via Polydor Records.
