Florida child abuse activists: Super Bowl act The Who not welcome here!
Tags: pedophile, Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, Super Bowl XLIV, The Who
| Tuesday 22 December 2009 9:48 am
Pete Townshend (AP Photo)
Child abuse groups in Florida are asking the NFL to drop the British classic-rock band The Who from the upcoming Super Bowl’s halftime show.
And one organization asked U.S. immigration authorities not to allow the band’s famed guitarist into the country.
Axman Pete Townshend, they point out, was arrested in 2003 in a roundup of alleged pedophiles cruising the Internet for pictures of infants and teens engaged in sex. He was placed on the United Kingdom’s sexual offenders list.
In a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Child AbuseWatch founder Evin Daly wrote: “Inviting Townshend to play is a blatant disregard to the values of . . . American families and a slap in the face to victims of child sexual abuse.”
Townshend wasn’t convicted of a crime but was “cautioned” by authorities, the equivalent to Florida’s “adjudication withheld.”
With The Who frontman Roger Daltrey calling Townshend “naïve,” the guitarist admitted to using his credit card to access child pornography. Townshend’s excuse? He was doing research!
In 2006, Townshend — known for his guitar-smashing antics on stage — wrote a short story that described graphically sex between two teenagers, and posted it on his Web site. The public’s outrage pushed Townshend to shut down the site.
Now, slightly more than a month before Super Bowl XLIV, child abuse organizations here say the 63-year-old Townshend represents a risk to area youngsters when he comes next month to prepare for the Feb. 7 performance at Land Shark Stadium.
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In addition to the Pompano Beach-based Child AbuseWatch’s letter to the NFL, Brevard County’s Protect Our Children asked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement not to allow Townshend into the United States. It has yet to receive a response to its official complaint. The Who has played several U.S. tours since 2003.
The Brevard group also wrote a protest missive to tire manufacturer Bridgestone, main sponsor of the Super Bowl’s halftime show. No response either.
“We’re part of a coordinated effort to prevent Mr. Townshend from coming into this country,” said Protect Our Children Kevin Gillick. “We acknowledge he was not convicted but he was on their sex offender list. In the United States, you’re on a sex offenders list for life.
“When Janet Jackson showed half a boob (during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, in a duo with Justin Timberlake), everybody was offended. Why having Pete Townshend perform in what’s supposed to be a family show?”
In his response to Daly’s request to drop The Who, the NFL’s Joe Browne, head of public relation, pointed out that Townshend viewed one child abuse photo and didn’t download the material. Browne also wrote that Townshend has been known to support children’s charities. The NFL, Browne added, “has worked hard in recent years to ensure the (halftime show) is suitable for . . . mass audience.”
In other words: Won’t happen!
Don’t be so sure, said Daly, a guardian ad litem.
“It’s a classic cover-your-behind letter,” Daly said. “I think there’s a chance the league would drop Pete and let the rest of the band perform. The Super Bowl is just not suitable for him.”
The Who’s publicists in London are on vacation and couldn’t be reached.
The Who has enjoyed a rebirth of sorts in the United States since some of their biggest tunes, including Who Are You, Won’t Get Fooled Again and Baba O’Riley, became the theme songs of the CSI series on CBS.
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leave pete alone! if our pooparotzi are s–t digging vultures, britain’s are 10 times worse! he is a legend with enough talent, accomplishments and history to deserve to go anywhere without anyone giving him trouble! go find a hobby!
Townshend should not be entertaining at Super Bowl. You’re right, the family rights crowd are going to to go spastic when they hear about this. Turn on the fan and get ready to start shoveling!
I guess the NFL doesn’t care what people think as long as they watch. It’s about the dollars, not the sense. But what’s new? Look at their attitude on so many issues. Steroids? Ignore. CNS injuries? Ignore. Dog fighting goons? Ignore. So why is anyone surprised about a seemingly harmless little old pedophile? Maybe NFL Commissioner Goodell will host him at his house with his twin daughters…
To Mike
Bet you wouldn’t think that if your kid were abused.Assuming you have kids.Once a perv always a perv
So what if he is. Are there not more than enough pedophiles here in the US to occupy your time? ‘Who’ cares?
Tiger played with grownups and we are crucifying him
let the band play on. the NFL is a right wing business organization with zero interest in anything but revenue. if anything upsets the league office, it’s because of potential negative affects on revenue. period.
our governmental policies of expedience and the politicians themselves are vastly more disturbing than an old guitar shredder. no matter who or what he diddles… make hime stay at the Foley’s whilst here. or, over at ole rush limbaugh’s. i’d love to see the headline: townsend beats radio personality with guitar!
Townshend wasn’t convicted of a crime.
Back off Kevin.
Rock on Pete.
Its all about the benjamins. He could have been convicted of these charges and they still would want him to attend. This country’s moral fiber is no more. Its all about the benjamins.
They should contact British Airways and demand that they not fly him. If that falls through, I would also suggest that they contact all the petrol stations in and around Richmond upon Thames (London) as a measure from preventing him from buying any petrol to get to the airport…… just a suggestion to the upright citizens brigade
For the NFL
OK: Thugs, wife beaters and smack addicts
Not-OK: Conservatives
If Janet Jackson was at the Super Bowl in 2002 and showed her boob..it’s news to me. Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson performed TWO YEARS LATER in 2004. Another excellent bit of editorial work.
Here’s a thought: when news outlets across the country are running stories about Tiger’s yacht leaving North Palm Beach (the Post’s own backyard), maybe Jose should look for himself, because the yacht is still there. For once, an opportunity for a real insider story.
Apparently, anyone with a website can claim to be an ‘investigative news agency’. If you aren’t going to validate sources, at least type something into Google.
Hey… We just “Won’t be fooled again”!!
They shouldn’t play because they’re old has-beens.
Get somebody cool, like KMFDM
Celeberties and Athletes can do what they want. It’s OK and accepted by society. John Q Citizen grows herbs on his private property and is sentenced to 45 years.
The Bravard, Daly and Gillick should be investigated.
Who’s watching the watchers?
I am not ’shocked’ to hear that the NFL would allow a pedophile into the stadium; we may claim to have morals and ethics- but the corporations don’t; they are true to only one thing: money. You might as well book Epstein with his egg shaped dick as an encore- then they can trade pics at the end of the concert. I’ll think twice before I tune in to the half time “event”. Maybe thats what everyone should do- boycott the half time event- turn the channel or better yet turn off the tv until the 3rd qtr. kickoff.
This is what happened:
As part of the Operation Ore investigations, Townshend was cautioned by the police in 2003 after acknowledging a credit card access in 1999 to the Landslide website alleged to advertise child pornography.
He stated in the press and on his website that he had been engaged in research for A Different Bomb (a now-abandoned book based on an anti-child pornography essay published on his website in January 2002) and his autobiography, and as part of a campaign against child pornography.
The police searched his house and confiscated 14 computers and other materials, and after a four-month forensic investigation confirmed that they had found no evidence of child abuse images. Consequently, the police offered a caution rather than pressing charges, issuing a statement:
“After four months of investigation by officers from Scotland Yard’s child protection group, it was established that Mr Townshend was not in possession of any downloaded child abuse images.” In a statement issued by his solicitor, Townshend said, “I accept that I was wrong to access this site, and that by doing so, I broke the law, and I have accepted the caution that the police have given me.”
As a statutory consequence of accepting the caution, Townshend was entered on the Violent and Sex Offender Register for five years.
PETE TOWNSHEND CHARITY WORK
Pete Townshend has woven a long history of involvement with various charities and other philanthropic efforts throughout his career, both as a solo artist and with The Who. His first solo concert, for example, was a 1974 benefit show which was organized to raise funds for the Camden Square Community Play Center.
The earliest public example of Townshend’s involvement with charitable causes was in 1968, when Townshend donated the use of his former Wardour Street apartment to the Meher Baba Association. The following year, the association was moved to another Townshend-owned apartment, the Eccleston Square former residence of wife Karen. Townshend sat on a committee which oversaw the operation and finances of the centre. “The committee sees to it that it is open a couple of days a week, and keeps the bills paid and the library full,” he wrote in a 1970 Rolling Stone article.
In 1969 and 1972 Townshend produced two limited-release albums, Happy Birthday and I Am, for the London-based Baba association. This led to 1972’s Who Came First, a more widespread release, 15 percent of the revenue of which went to the Baba association. A further limited release, With Love, was released in 1976. A limited-edition boxed set of all three limited releases on CD, Avatar, was released in 2000, with all profits going to the Avatar Meher Baba Trust in India, which provided funds to a dispensary, school, hospital and pilgrimage centre.
In July 1976, Townshend opened Meher Baba Oceanic, a London activity centre for Baba followers which featured film dubbing and editing facilities, a cinema and a recording studio. In addition, the centre served as a regular meeting place for Baba followers. Townshend offered very economical (reportedly £1 per night) lodging for American Baba followers who needed an overnight stay on their pilgrimages to India. “For a few years, I had toyed with the idea of opening a London house dedicated to Meher Baba,” he wrote in a 1977 Rolling Stone article. “In the eight years I had followed him, I had donated only coppers to foundations set up around the world to carry out the Master’s wishes and decided it was about time I put myself on the line. The Who had set up a strong charitable trust of its own which appeased, to an extent, the feeling I had that Meher Baba would rather have seen me give to the poor than to the establishment of yet another so-called ’spiritual center’.” Townshend also embarked on a project dedicated to the collection, restoration and maintenance of Meher Baba-related films. The project was known as MEFA, or Meher Baba European Film Archive.
Children’s charities
Townshend has been an active champion of children’s charities. The debut of Pete Townshend’s stage version of Tommy took place at San Diego’s La Jolla Playhouse in July 1992. The show was earmarked as a benefit for the London-based Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Foundation, an organization which helps children with autism and mental retardation.
Townshend performed at a 1995 benefit organized by Paul Simon at Madison Square Garden’s Paramount Theatre, for The Children’s Health Fund. The following year, Townshend performed at a benefit for the Bridge School Benefit, a California facility for children with severe speech and physical impairments with concerts organized by Neil Young each year. In 1997, Townshend established a relationship with Maryville Academy, a Chicago area children’s charity. Between 1997 and 2002, Townshend played five benefit shows for Maryville Academy, raising at least $1,600,000. His 1998 album A Benefit for Maryville Academy was made to support their activities and proceeds from the sales of his release were donated to them.
As a member of The Who, Pete Townshend has also performed a series of concerts, beginning in 2000, benefitting the Teenage Cancer Trust in the UK, raising several million pounds. In 2005, Townshend performed at New York’s Gotham Hall for Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope, an annual children’s charity fundraiser, and donated a smashed guitar to the the Pediatric Epilepsy Project.
Drug rehabilitation
Townshend has also advocated for drug rehabilitation. In a 1985 radio interview, he said:
“ What I’m most active in doing is raising money to provide beds in clinics to help people that have become victims of drug abuse. In Britain, the facilities are very, very, very lean indeed … although we have a national health service, a free medical system, it does nothing particularly for class A drug addicts – cocaine abusers, heroin abusers … we’re making a lot of progress … the British government embarked on an anti-heroin campaign with advertising, and I was co-opted by them as a kind of figurehead, and then the various other people co-opted me into their own campaigns, but my main work is raising money to try and open a large clinic. ”
The “large clinic” Townshend was referring to was a plan he and drug rehabilitation experimenter Meg Patterson had devised to open a drug treatment facility in London; however, the plan failed to come to fruition. Two early 1979 concerts by The Who raised £20,000 for Patterson’s Pharmakon Clinic in Sussex.
Further examples of Townshend’s anti-drug activism took place in the form of a 1984 benefit concert, an article he wrote a few days later for Britain’s Mail On Sunday urging better care for the nation’s growing number of drug addicts, and the formation of a charitable organization, Double-O Charities, to raise funds for the causes he’d recently championed. Townshend also personally sold fund-raising anti-heroin T-shirts at a series of UK Bruce Springsteen concerts, and reportedly financed a trip for former Clash drummer Topper Headon to undergo drug rehabilitation treatment. Townshend’s 1985–86 band, Deep End, played two benefits at Brixton Academy in 1985 for Double-O Charities.
Amnesty International
In 1979, Townshend became the first major rock musician to donate his services to the human rights organization Amnesty International when he performed three songs for its benefit show The Secret Policeman’s Ball - performances that were released on record and seen in the film of the show. Townshend’s acoustic performances of three of his songs (”Pinball Wizard”, “Drowned”, and “Won’t Get Fooled Again”) were subsequently cited as having been the forerunner and inspiration for the “unplugged” phenomenon in the 1990s.[24] Townshend had been invited to perform for Amnesty by Martin Lewis, the producer of The Secret Policeman’s Ball who stated later that Townshend’s participation had been the key to his securing the subsequent participation for Amnesty (in the 1981 sequel show) of Sting, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Phil Collins and Bob Geldof. Other performers inspired to support Amnesty International in future Secret Policeman’s Ball shows and other benefits because of Townshend’s early commitment to the organization include Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen, David Gilmour and U2 singer Bono who in 1986 told Rolling Stone magazine: “I saw The Secret Policeman’s Ball and it became a part of me. It sowed a seed….”
Miscellaneous efforts
Highlights of Pete Townshend’s other public charitable efforts include the following:
A 1972 Tommy performance which raised nearly £10,000 for the Stars Organization for Spastics charity.
A 1979 Rock Against Racism benefit concert, organized to raise money to pay the legal costs of those arrested in a London area anti-racism demonstration. Townshend helped organize the show, topped the bill, and supplied the event lighting and equipment.
A 1981 Rock Against Unemployment benefit concert, part of the People’s March For Jobs campaign.
A 1982 Prince’s Trust Gala Benefit performance.
Performing with The Who at the 1985 Live Aid concert.
Involvement in fundraising supportive of Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress.
Performing in a 1986 Royal Albert Hall benefit show for the victims of a Colombian Volcano disaster which killed over 25,000 people.
A 2001 benefit show for San Diego’s La Jolla Playhouse which raised approximately $100,000.
Performing in Rock the Dock, a 1998 benefit for striking Liverpool dock workers.
Organizing an online auction in 2000 to raise funds for Oxfam’s emergency services to help those affected by floods in Mozambique and a combination of drought and food shortages in Ethiopia. Among the auctioned items were a selection of gold and platinum awards, letters from celebrities such as Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney, and musical instruments (including a smashed Rickenbacker guitar and the guitar on which Townshend composed the Who classic “Behind Blue Eyes”). The centerpiece of the auction, however, was a 1957 Fender Stratocaster which was given to Townshend as a gift by Eric Clapton after Townshend had helped arrange Clapton’s 1973 recovery from his own heroin addiction, and comeback show at the Rainbow. The guitar was ultimately purchased by Pete Townshend, Mick Jagger and David Bowie, and presented to British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Performing with The Who at the 2001 all-star The Concert for New York City at Madison Square Garden, honouring policemen and emergency personnel killed in the September 11 attacks.
Performing at the Royal Albert Hall in a 2004 Ronnie Lane tribute show which served as a fundraiser for both Lane’s family and multiple sclerosis research.
Performing with The Who at the 2005 Live 8 concert.
Performing with The Who in Detroit in 2008, donating all profits to local charities.
Maybe have 1/2 time entertainment provided by Chris Brown? No? Then maybe the Rolling Stones (they never did any drugs or had their lips touch a drop of alcohol).
How about a ball toss from Barry Bonds? Maybe have Tiger Woods flip the coin toss?
And what to do if the Philadelphia Eagles end up playing in the Super Bowl? Would we all boycott the game on account of Michael Vick playing?
I doubt it.
So people just move on.
Ok Anthony - are you his PR representative or just another perv wanting to see him?
so none of you ever made mistakes? none of you ever did anything regretable? no one reading this article has ever done something that others have looked down upon them for?
Let’s say Townsend did all kinds of good works. So what? Michael Vick is a spokesperson for the ASPCA. I wouldn’t want my dogs near him. Most pedophile priests did good works…a lifetime of good works is not a bank account one can draw on when they decide to do wrong.
Regardless, the fact remains….they suck!
nothing that involved sex/childre/infants… there are errs that humans make that are indeed overlookable- then there are the ones that are unforgivable- anything involving children/sex is on that list.
david: very profound statement-love it.
@Susan
He was cleared of all charges.
What does that mean to you?
means-nothing Jonathon- and you know why- it involved children/sex- where there was smoke there is fire. If you were NOT a journalist would you do research on children/sex?
He was, um, doing research for an, um, book that was, um, never published. Yeah, yeah.
He couldn’t do research by contacting authorities to obtain material legally. He had to go to a pay child-porn site, yeah yeah.
3 issues for jurors to be aware of:
1-The Huffington Post reported that millions of computers have been contaminated with child porn by internet viruses.
2-the practice of prosecutors charging kids for sending naked pictures of themselves to friends amounts to tyranny.
3-prosecutors often plant ideas into supposed child victims of sexual abuse leading to people being jailed for things they never did.
The whole issue is full of hysterical witch hunters like the idiot that does not want Townshend performing. Townshend was never convicted of anything. A bell once rung cannot be unwrung. We live in a puritanical society similar to the rule of the Taliban.Evin Daly - go pat your self on the back and go to bed feeling all snug about your idiotic self.
You have to give him the benefit of doubt- just consider him naive like Roger D? -not me.
What about the 2006 web posting? I don’t consider him naive and I think the ‘Who’ is great; been a fan since the 70s (great guitar player)… But this guy is soiled goods. I think the NFL people were unaware of this mess and will be compelled to change the line up.
3 True Stories about our corrupt “justice” system:
1-During a nasty divorce in NJ the wife falsely accused her husband of molesting their daughter-when the wife realized how sick the false accusations were the prosecutor said, “Too bad-we will proceed with the case anyway”. The husband fled to Ireland and still lives there.
2-I was stopped at a road block in Ft Pierce on my way home from fishing. A white cop instructed me to follow him back to a 7-11 store. The clerk said I was definitely not the robber- The cop said-”let’s take him in anyway”-his partner- a black cop said, “no way”.
3-My tennant was on his 4th DUI in the 1980’s-his father hired an attorney who is still considered among PB County’s most powerful. The attorney was given $10,000 which was split with the judge and the case vanished into thin air.
Cops, prosecutors, and judges are often corrupt. False charges are common. I will aquit almost any defendant if I sit on a jury regardless of what any BOZO judge instructs me to do. Child molestation cases often put innocent people in prison where they are severely punished by other prisones for something that never happened.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE FALSELY ACCUSED AND/OR CONVICTED OF SOMETHING YOU DID NOT DO ?
These 3 examples are 100% the truth and there is no “other side” to these stories. We live in a punishment happy society and we suffer under the WEIGHT OF THE prison industrial complex unless we are wealthY enough to avoid or pay our way out legal
entaglements.
Child molestation hysteria has reached a fever pitch not unlike the witch hunts of former years. To dare to stand up to injustices in this arena exposes one to being considered a heretic. The accusers want to be seen as wonderful heroes. My bet is that some of these activists are themselves often guilty of sexual crimes which include child molesting as they feel they are perfect and untouchable.
To#24 hedly…whatever,putting aside this story, NO the WHO do not suck as you foolishly put it.Most of todays music couldnt lite a candle to the talent of the original WHO who I fondly recall seeing in the 70s at the old Miami baseball stadium and that goes for most of the other bands from back then compared to today.
Facts speak louder than words or pretences.
#1. FBI states “doing research” as most common excuse
given in cases involving viewing of child rape.
#2. Paying to view images of child rape guarantee it’s
next victm.
#3. No book or resulting fact finding outcome was ever
forthcomming, but there was a sexually explcit
blog descrbing underage sex, written by Townshend
and critisized by British child advocacy groups,
AFTER- his being “cautioned” by Scotland Yard.
#4. Being placed on the british Sex offender list
having DNA and fingerprints taken- to be
kept on an active lifetime data-base? Hmmmm…
Are you STILL trying to convince yourselves he is innocent? Would YOU pay to view images of Child Rape.
(no it is not “kiddie-porn” it IS child rape- nothing cute or pornographic about it. Purely vile.
Anthony-
Would you like me to list Bernie Madoff’s charities?
Anthony - are you Townshend’s publicist!!??
BUSTED!!
The NFL is on a downward trend; however the gate receipts have not reflected this yet. Pride comes BEFORE the fall; give it some time. Once the cash slide starts they’ll have their wimpy hands out to the federal government. Insiders know it, that’s why they couldn’t have Rush onboard. I quite watching and moved to college football.
First: Pete doesn’t need ANYONE to defend him.
Next: To all you hysterical bedwetters who can’t figure out why the NFL is letting in a pedophile: you can relax, because they’re NOT! Pete is NOT a pedophile, and the courts agreed to such. The operation that swooped up the database of credit cards ruined many innocent people’s lives, as well as catching many pedophiles, but people are innocent until proven guilty, and Pete has always been innocent.
In short, get your facts straight, Evin Daly and Kevin Gillick, and go find someone who IS guilty. Move on, you clueless publicity hoes. The thought that The Who would perform without Pete is ridiculous. The thought that you could get Pete banned from travelling is ridiculous. In his own words: “[Pete doesn't] need to be forgiven.”
Hey, Jose, what’s a “guardian at litem”?
Blly T-
‘Innocent’ people DON’T need defending.
‘Innocent’ people DON’T pay to view child abuse.
‘Innocent’ people DON’T end up on Sex Offender Lists.
It is not that he should or shouldn’t perform even if his presence might be construed as tacit endorsement for what is being protested. It’s that his bogus explanation for his research was bought by the British authorities. Anyone wishing to research the subject would do well to interview the offenders and their victims; no need to look on websites to see what it is all about. I’m an adult survivor of sexual abuse as a child along with my late sister and five other cousins at the hands of my mother’s brother. It remains troubling that anyone could defend him. He remains not guilty…he’s not innocent…that’s a moral term reserved for children and people who have done nothing wrong. He was wrong…the courts would not have required him to register as a sex-offender if they thought he was innocent. Legally, he’s not guilty, but that doesn’t absolve him of anything.
I’m not going to watch the half-time show because I generally am bored with half-time to begin with. It remains problematic that anyone might prevent him from performing, but it is perfectly alright for anyone to protest this worthless piece of trash. He isn’t innocent…he just didn’t get caught. And for those who ask who among us haven’t done something wrong or regretful…you wouldn’t ask the question if Townshend was a murderer or a rapist…is it okay to get a bye for your past just because everyone else in humanity is frail and human? He’s not a pedophile…no one has proven that he had any contact with children. But to believe he was merely researching a banned website for a book? Get real folks…he may not be a pedophile, but he’s likely got some significant moral issues that have yet to be dealt with because the system and some of his fans have enabled him by giving him a pass on his perversion. Oh…and like my Grandmother used to say…at least Mussolini got the trains to run on time.
The Mendacity of Hope
Hi here in the uk unlike the United States Sex Offender groups are not public. I am presently trying to raise awareness regarding child protection and run 2 groups on facebook Childrens Voices Let Them Be Heard and Make Sex Offender lists public I have previously been a fostermum of over 22 years with 4 adopted and 3 birth children. each with their own story to tell.Abuse effects children for life, It is not something that cab be hidden, ignored and found shameful. I am looking for support for these children, here in the uk we need to protect our children . Please people if you have five minutes to spare can you please take the time to take a look at the sites and offer your support Best wishes Maggie Dean
The super bowl is supposed to be about football; but somewhere over the past several years it has turned into a money making extravaganza where the commercials and halftime entertainment is the main focus. If we would revert back to having the marching bands and cheerleaders for halftime and the focus on the football game again, then we would not have this issue or the “wardrobe malfunction” controversy re: Janet Jackson.
Greed speaks again.
@Leah
Let me guess, you are a right wing Christian zealot that still believes that Bus didn’t lie about WMD?
Asshole!
#32- Great points all, inre to court systems/judges/police and their shortcomings. I agree with you completely. But you are letting these things bump the facts about Pete Townsend. No one in their right mind would trust him alone with their underage children. Pete T should spare all of us Who fans all of this annoyance and just bow out of this controversy that he is the cause of.
Some of you people need to get lives and quit thinking everything you read in the gossip pages is the whole gospel truth. Pete Townshend was trying to do his part to bring attention to the issue of free advertisements for porn sites featuring minors because he wanted them gotten rid of. He never looked inside any site for any kind of images. He paid $5 once because it was an adult verification site
What a level headed guy. He’s proclaimed himself a woman in years past, bopped Abbie Hoffman with his guitar in ‘69… well, I’m okay with that one… let’s see, there’s the sexually explicit online posting b/w minors from 2006 and the gossipy report of him ‘cruising’ the web in ‘03 for the betterment of mankind. The half time act should be changed so everyone can enjoy the Superbowl; not contemplate Pete Townsends parallels to Roman Polanski.
The incident occurred in 1999, if he really was into this stuff, don’t you think they would have found one picture on one of his computers? They didn’t find one. C’mon people, he did something stupid. Let’s move on. This is not Gary Glitter.
Oh excuse me, I guess you know everything there is to know about Pete Townshend then. Silly me. All those family members, friends, associates as well as fans that have stuck by him and defended him must not have a clue.
You people need to get a life. Pete T has never abused any child, in fact he’s spent most of his life defending and supporting abused/neglected children. You are really looking into the wrong dark corners. Look in the mirror, hypocrites!
Jake-
I am sure you are RIGHT about everything.
Unfortunately you are WRONG about me.
I am a liberal Jew. (Hint; my name is Leah!)
But I would not be surprised if you have a problem with Jews too.
I do however believe in a moral humanity.
That does not include brushing aside child abuse
victims and the issue of child abuse.
Cir- Bravo, I couldn’t agree more!!!!!
Leah,
What does cleared of all charges mean?
Why should anyone prevent someone from making a living?
Jose,
Shame on you for writing this. Basic research shows that not only wasn’t Townshend convicted- but that the authorities exonerated him , and admitted they had no case against him !!!!!!!! But to save face, they put Townshend on the SO list. And to all you people that want to burn Townshend at the stake-please also do your research before you open your mouths.
Pete contacted the Internet Watchdog Federation (UK) regarding the website he had viewed in order to report it’s content, this was prior to any arrest! The IWF denied Pete ever being incontact with them following the commencement of the investigation!!! It was only a great deal of time later that some arsehole from the IWF somehow remembered the correspondence Pete had had with them!! A paedophile does not report his/her illicit action or behaviour!!
His clearance and subsequent exoneration was not surprisingly reported on by the mass press, afterall good news does not sell papers!!!
Educate yourself people with the facts before throwing stones.
Andrew R
God, I get tired of this… So few people actually know the facts of this episode, that it truly is a return to the witch hunts in Salem.
Mr. Townshend was one of a very few, if any, artists that published a blog before blogs were commonplace. He would discuss his interests, describe projects, and publish stories he was working on. (He is a published author). In this way, he wrote often about one of his pet peeves: Child abuse in general, and the ease of access that was available. He wrote that he himself was a victim of abuse as a child from a distant member of his family, and felt that something needed to be done about it. He also indicated that he had tried contacting authorities in regards to that ease of access and ways to limit the access, but with little in the way of information or cooperation form them. In order to understand the problem and with obviously poor judgement, he accessed one site using a credit card, downloaded nothing and continued to rant about the problem on his site.
Several months later, his name came up from his credit card, and his arrest and the above mentioned news story was carried out. He tried to explain his actions, but the hysteria that results from this accusation was insurmountable. I believe he has found that trying to justify it only continues to whip up the fervor in those who are morally superior, so comments in regards to this are non-existant.
People can be absolutely bigotted slugs; somehow, being able to denigrade others on no facts and pure sensationalism elevates them to sainthood, (at lseat in their own minds).
Regardless of what they say, however, Mr. Townshend’s accomplishments in music and performance will live far beyond any of us and give joy and excitement to countless others.
Long Live Rock.
Saint Jim, how do you put bigotry into this equation? Facts and erratic behavior is what put a cloud over the axman’s persona. I could enjoy The Who and Townsend any day, like most R&R afficionados from 30/40 years ago do, but will take exception for this performance because it’d just be another big stir that we could do without on Superbowl Sunday. It’s too questionable, this ‘obvious bad judgement’ you describe. Name calling is so convincing an argument. The facts-all the facts- are out there.
Excellent post Jim. You got the facts right. This witch hunt mentality is an embarrassment.
Anthony is KING. Pete is innocent.
What happens when you have a bunch of rich barely high school educated Floridians? CHAOS.
Let me add my voice to those AGAINST your mudslinging campaign. If you had been paying attention, you’d know he was trying to fight the same thing you are. Instead you have this wrongheaded witch hunt. It’s easy for you to recruit people to a cause like yours because of their knee-jerk reactions to your inflammatory BS. Anyone willing to a little research into the REAL story would soon discover that your cause LOST a potential voice when you decided to vilify him.
Defaming Mr. Townshend does not make the world safe for children. Daly’s information is wrong, broad brushstroke, and borders on libelous slander.
I’m saddened and shocked that Daly who is supposedly running an organization set up to safe guard children, did not check the veracity of the now dropped charges against Mr. Pete Townshend. This man who lives off of our tax dollars and donated funds should have done better research.
It very insulting that Evin Daly is quoting the London Times from 2003 as well when much more information on Pete’s case had yet to be released. Evin Daly has huge gaps in his information and as a parent of a young child as well as non-profit worker myself, I find his ineptitude disturbing; especially as he claims to be “fighting child abuse!”
Where was his screeching, uninformed voice when Mr. Townshend received the highest award for artistic achievement, the Kennedy Centre Honours from President George W Bush? I think it’s very clear that this a groundless attack on Evin Daly’s part.
Catching people like Philip and Nancy Garrido both of whom claimed to be helping abused children when they themselves were the guilty, is where Evin Daly should be focusing his time and tax payer money-not the NFL. It’s pitiful that Evin Daly is not out actually doing something worthwhile instead of attacking the wrongly accused. I hope NO ONE will not buy even an iota of his vindictive idiocy.
Way to go Miss Geico!
The people/organizations who are protesting against Mr. Townshend’s appearance in the Super Bowl should do their homework better - if they are really convinced to have a justified cause and the truth on their side regarding Mr. Towshend. Because now, the only thing they are working for, is the establishment and confirmation of their own, personal narrow mindedness and the loss of personal integrity.
I am not questioning actions against child abuse. I am a human rights activist and fighting against any violation of human rights and integrity - including women’s and children’s rights.
Facts:
1) Mr. Townshend was never convicted for any of the issues these peope are protesting against.
2) He was registered for the maximum duratiation of 5 years on the UK sex offenders list.
3) Already during this period of 5 years, facts came to light proving big mistakes in the research on the case which led to Mr. Townshend’s registration. These big mistakes resulted in wrong, unlawful accusations of innocent internet users.
4) Unfortunately for Mr. Townshend, these big legal mistakes were only admitted by the time his registration had ended.
Final statement by Scotland Yard:
“After four months of investigation by officers from Scotland Yard’s child protection group, it was established that Mr Townshend was not in possession of any downloaded child abuse images. He has fully co-operated with the investigation.”
For more, extensive and correct information, please visit:
http://www.petetownshendisinnocent.com/
Murkha Narthaki
Pete Townshend isn’t a pedophile. He said he was motivated by disgust and vengeance in accessing that website. He was in the process of writing his autobiography and fighting to recall repressed memories of his own abused childhood. The people who know him BEST believe him, so who the hell are YOU people to think you know better? Give the guy a break, get on with your own lives and let him get on with his. Evan Daly and Kevin Gillick have been so willfully painting this Townshend episode in so negative a light as possible that they seem like nothing more than disingenuous publicity whores.
no one aprt from you yanks cares about the superbowl,no one in the world cares, we are looking forward to the world cup, leave pete and the who alone and get your own bands and stop stealing our heroes then slagging them off, pete was cleared of all charges simple as that.
Pete was PROVEN INNOCENT. These people have nothing better to do than viciously smear an innocent man without doing any research. It makes me sick.
Get some facts before you jump on the bandwagon.
http://www.petetownshendisinnocent.com
You know its always the self righteous activists who are so passionate in their fight against other peoples lives and lifestyles who are hiding their own embarassing moments. You dont know the facts but fight anyway. Pete was never found to be guilty, but here in America you honor Michael Jackson who has paid millions of dollars to keep his deepest secrets from being revealed.
Why dont you righteous morons go to church and confess your own sins and leave others alone. The WHO have raised so much money for children’s charities. MJ never did. What have you done to help the less fortunate? Probably not a damn thing. The WHO will play the superbowl and if you dont like it, turn off your TV and F-off
Well said, Tim E.
Pete’s a good guy. Too good for this world, probably.
In a way I hope he bows out; this whole fiasco makes the SuperBowl/NFL not worthy of him. But in a way, I hope he stands tall and can dismiss it all.
What a conundrum. D***!
Perhaps the hot Florida sun has fried any remaining brain cells in your head. You want to change the world, how about fixing Louisiana? There’s still people living in tents years after Katrina and you’re worrying about a great rock band playin the super bowl. Your priorities are all screwed up and this paper is a POS for publishing this story. Idiots should be ignored, not encouraged.
And do u really think your pathetic lobbying is gonna stop a multi billion dollar business like the NFL from doing what they want? Wake Up Morons!
P.S. *LEAH*
Innocent people *DO* end up paying for crimes. It happens all the time.
I only say F’ck off to the people I love, but in this case I’ll make an exception. Fvck Off Arseholes!
You better leave Pete alone or I’ll kick your arse!
Leave him alone - let him play.
He was not at any point ever charged with a crime.
Pete is NOT a pedophile!
This is positively ridiculous! OUTRAGEOUS! Pete Townshend is innocent! This is a ‘made up crime’ of which Pete was never even charged with! Leave Pete alone!!! The Who is not The Who without Pete!!
This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve read in a very, very long time.
Pete Townshend, like mentioned above, is not a criminal. He logged onto that site for research. I can’t believe that after this long, people are still trying to stir things up for the poor man- he was only trying to raise awareness himself, and all you radicals out there who, though you’re for a good cause, you ALSO stir up trouble, are here to ruin a day that he was invited to play for….
If you don’t agree with it, don’t watch the halftime show. Don’t go to the game. Don’t buy his records. Just personally boycott the man- don’t make a public issue out of something that happened YEARS ago and was TAKEN THE WRONG WAY.
I have a great deal of respect for Pete Townshend- he’s an incredible man… And didn’t you people sit and think that if Pete really were a pedophile, that Roger Daltrey, a man who helps children every day, would stand by him? I think not.
Get your crap together.
Leave Pete alone. This is old news. Pete is innocent and a good man.
This ‘Susan’ who is writing here is a total fool. Get that facts you idiot.
Pete just got the KENNEDY CENTERHOR FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
GET A LIFE YOU MORONS!!!!
ROCK ON …THE WHO!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m also tired of people disparaging Pete for not having put the book in question out yet. First of all, a work WORTH ANYTHING can take years (or even decades) to complete. Secondly, fans have already seen much of this book (his memoirs) in e-format; his “research” DID seem to inform some of the content. Furthermore, what glimpses we got of the book seemed to be the result of PAINSTAKING work and attention to detail. A labor of love. So who knows what his reasons are for the delay in publication. Maybe since this “episode” started he lost all desire to put the book out. I might have. (or … could it be?? that his life is not yet over?? What a novel thought!) Unlike many of those self-important shams today who put out – laughably – memoirs and autobiographies in their 50s, 40s, 30s … or younger, Pete apparently doesn’t feel the need to flaunt himself midway through life. This is the mark of a person of true value and honor. He’s too busy actually working and living his life and modestly giving to people to put his book first. Not to mention touring for over two years straight, answering the clamoring call for a new album, pleasing fans, doing charity events, giving interviews, making appearances, and all the other responsibilities we can’t possibly begin to understand. I think the fact he DOESN’T have a memoir out yet sets him above the rest. It means he puts himself last. It seems every moron on Earth these days can publish a book, and it’s all for the ego.
Besides, since when has procrastination (or even a change of plan??) been an offense to be suspect about?? I am among the first dying to read his own words in full when they come out. But I can wait for a life worth reading about. Would his attackers even care to read his book or try to understand it? It would probably go over all their heads.
There!
All i can say is all against the who/pete performing, go back to your rock in which you live under & go fuck yourselves….i’m not even gonna explain why you uneducated fuckheads should do so cos you aren’t even worth my time or the effort, simply get back into your little world in your head & get the fuck out of reality, you’re not wanted here, you’re a waste of space & make our lives miserable.
For some knowledge on the subject, hopefully to shut some of those fuckwits up, google “A Different Bomb” essay…that was written a while ago, it’s facinating, true & after doing an essay on it myself, several english teachers found it a great read & a different bomb got added to be part of the seniors english reading/essay assignments.
When I was 10 I was sexually and physically abused by my 5th grade teacher. I wrote to Petey about the incident and how unfair it was that Petey should pay for the crimes that many free-wandering predators commit against children.
I love Pete and Roger very much and there’s not fitting act for Super Bowl XIV than the Who! Long live rock!
WHAT A NASTY SELF RIGHTEOUS GROUP THIS IS! Pete Townshend need not defend himself…He’s a GOOD GUY made a bad choice …WHO of us has nvere made a mistake. People have worshipped M.Jackson who actually committed big time sins…Let’s NOT judge especially a guy who’s done so much for kid’s charities!! GO AWAY YOU SELF RIGHTEOUS& POLITICALLY CORRECT MORONS !!!
So another child’s body was just found on Christmas day due to a released CONVICTED sex offender and how are Evin Daly and Kevin Gillick saving these children again? I guess I’m just not seeing what those two attention junkies are doing to protect children.
Judging them by their actions and not their words, they don’t seem to be doing much of anything constructive to safeguard the lives of children. Charities that are privately and publicly funded are supposed to be focusing on the most pressing and severe issues, Pete’s case which was decided in 2003, hardly qualifies as pressing. If Evin Daly really wanted to save children from abuse, he would be putting his energies elsewhere. Anyone, like Evin Daly, who claims their own version of the news is the “best known to humanity” obviously has severe ego problems. Compared to the work, time, money and career focus that Pete Townshend has put towards children’s charities, Daly and Gillick are nothing but bombastic joke.
Yeah, good point about Katrina! How about actually helping homeless and foster children stay alive in this cold brutal world instead of going after someone who was acquitted seven years ago?
By the way, all that Kevin Gillick’s “organization” consists of as far as I can tell is a blog and a paypal donation button while Daly wrote a very freaky article on “Men and Porn” media even giving credence to these creepy megalomaniacs?
“Some men find a trip to Hooters stimulating. Others frequent strip joints. Some up the ante with drugs or alcohol. Others employ the world’s oldest professional, prostitutes. Still others are compulsive cheaters. The testosterone is all controlling, demonstrable through male risk taking and aggression (an observation, not an excuse).If you want a demonstration of how primitive men’s sex drives are add some beer to the mix. Watch as his social barriers diminish and his sex drive take over. Men will have sex with just about any female after a few drinks; hence the term ‘beer goggles’. Some men need alcohol to have sex as they need help in reducing inhibitions or they find their mate unattractive. Too much liquor however and all bets are off.”
_-Evin Daly
http://www.content4reprint.com/women-s-issues/men-sex-n-porn.htm
Pete Townshend is not a pedophile. On the contrary, he’s decent man who’s been a positive force for children around the world for a long time. His strong support for organizations such as Amnesty International, Children’s Health Fund, Crossroads Centre, Nordoff-Robbins, Teenage Cancer Trust and War Child is well known. If anything, Townshend’s done more good for children than the self-serving individuals at Child Abuse Watch and Protect Our Children could ever hope to achieve. It’s also important to remember that the National Football League cares about its brand and does not like controversy. That’s why the league has been tougher on off-the-field player conduct. That’s why Rush Limbaugh was dropped from a group bidding for ownership of the St. Louis Rams. The league has a solid understanding of the circumstances concerning Pete Townshend. They know he’s a decent man. They know this attempt to ban him is nothing more than a farce. They know it’s an honor to have him play Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010.
These groups need to do their RESEARCH before besmirching a man’s reputation in public. Pete was CLEARED of all charges. His computers were searched with military precision by British authorities and they not a single child porn photo or evidence that any such photo was ever downloaded. HE was sexually abused as a very small child by his grandmother and WAS doing research on the topic for his autobiography.
Because he did use his credit card to enter the site, British law required him to go on the list for 5 years. He is NO LONGER ON THE LIST!!!! Trying to have him banned from the SB is a blatant and shameless attempt to gain attention for the issue by slandering a good, decent and spiritual man.
The Who have performed on tour in this country several times since 2003, the year Pete Townsend was given a reprimand by the Brits. If those gigs didn’t cause a scandal here, neither should a gig at the Super Bowl.
Give it a rest, Mr. and Mrs. Thumper. The Who are coming to town, and they’re going to play. As well they should — whether or not “Happy Jack” and “Mary Anne with the Shaky Hands” were about wanking off.
It really sickens and saddens me that this issue is even being argued… I keep reading all of you writing the same thing, he is innocent because he wasnt found guilty of it… Let me remind you, OJ Smith was also found innocent of his crime. ; D In 2003 Mr. Townshend admitted to purchasing access to a child pornography site with his credit card “for research”. Really?!?! You need to watch videos of child rape to write a book against it??? LAME EXCUSE! Thats like Michael Vick saying he was running a dog fighting ring to make the public aware of how inhumane it is to animals! Then in 2006 this same “innocent” man published a blog about two 16 year old kids having sex that was “too graphic to be reprinted”. Innocent men dont continue the same sick behavior that got them in trouble initially! What business does a 61 year old man, who at the time was a registered sex offender, have writing stories about kids having sex?!? Here is a line from his “story”… “She had splendid breasts for such an elfin girl: loose, low and lush; she was a luxurious creature.” Let me remind you again… This is a SIXTY ONE year old man who just 3 years before was accused of looking at child pornography, writing a sex story about a SIXTEEN year old girl… Where is the common sense people?!? And you all can cite his many charities and acts of kindness to fellow man but in no way, shape or form should or does that excuse his behavior and/or actions! If the person in question were just some creepy, old neighborhood guy and not a rich and famous creepy, old guy, I wonder how many of you would be jumping on his bandwagon and defending him so vehemently??? The Who will probably end up playing at the Superbowl, as disgusting as that is because unfortunately, the NFL is all about the money now-a-days. (Ummhmm… Micheal Vick) I for one, will simply change the channel for the half time show if The Who are playing and encourage all others who feel the same way I do, to do the exact same thing! Hit the NFL were it hurts, the pocket books!!
Simpson* not Smith
Pete Townsend was not arrested for child abuse.There were no other people or kids involved.He found an obscene website and actually notified authorities how bad it was.Thats the only way they would have known he was aware of the site. If you are looking at any web site at your house the police are not going to know about it and come and arrest you at your home. This lady is just trying to get free press. After 911 the Who flew to NYC and played for free for all the police and firefighters check it out on youtube..The Who stealing the show at concert for NYC…Its Awesome!
Where was these groups when MichaelJackson performed with all those children around him? when he performed at the superbowl.
Pete can’t come and play, but every football stadium accross the U.S. blasts out GARY GLITTERS song ANTHEM Rock & Roll also known as THE HAY SONG. There is way more evidence against Michael and Gary then there is Pete.
Let it be. Pete is a good man and helped thousands. he was doing research.
If you Google Evin Daly’s self published,
“Men, Sex n’ porn” essay sometime you can read where “family advocates” are putting their time and money.
Daly explains pornography away yet fights for children’s rights? How many abused children drift into the pornography industry? How many when they are under age? Sure you want to be quoting these “advocates” ????Townshend was never criminally charged and since has been decorated by President Bush, sang for the heroes of 9-11, gives tirelessly to charity etc etc and a totally bogus and unjust arrest does not change the fact that everyone knows he is a great man who has been proven NOT guilty.Daly hasn’t done ANYTHING with his life but he does need to get one.
Nicole Marie: A fictional novel about two 16 year old Mods is NOT child molestation-it is a fictional novel! Are you an imbecile? Protest every Judy Blume and Anne rive novel while you’re at it.
Bill Marcus… The point I was making with the story about the 16 year olds is this, Pete Townshend was warned about his behavior and was being watched for looking at the child porn website in the first place… So he writes a story about underage kids having sex?!? Why couldnt his characters have been 25 or even 18??? Because the man is frickin pervert, thats why! If he truly felt there was nothing wrong with his “story” then why did he erase it after some of his child charity groups got wind of it?? And really… How old are you?!? Name calling??? lmao I can see why you are a fan of Pete Townshend! ; D Simpletons and pedos tend to band together eh Bill Marcus?!
In the first place it was not a story about teens having sex. Pete Townshend was putting up some chapters of a story he had written called The Comedian. In the one of the chapters this character is recalling his first girlfriend and in two paragraphs only mentions a single sexual act that the tabloids jumped on, read this out of context to these children’s charitity reps and then printed their reactions to make up a story about Townshend being “criticized” for writing an erotic story. The characters were both sixteen which is, by the way, the age of consent in England.
1) The Who received the Kennedy Center Honors last year - and no said a word - the Superbowl brings out everyone who wants a bit of spotlight.
2) The investigators confiscated all his computers and found nothing and he wasn’t charged.
3) There is email evidence that he reported this bad website to the authorities. Vigilantism is his mistake.
4) I saw The Who perform at the Chicago House of Blues many years ago where they handed Fr. Smith of the Merryville Academy a check for $1 million. The Merryville Academy helps children of abuse. I personally knew one child whose father burned him with gas. In my opinion, this father, and child sex abusers, should be put to death.
5) Roger Daltrey of The Who, has received one of England’s highest honors for his work with the Teenage Cancer Trust. The Who (both Pete and Roger) have done more for children than all other rock bands combined (as far I know).
I’m the author of a big German Who biography (“The Who - Maximum Rock”), and I’m shocked and angry about the unfair “Super Bowl Warning” which is offending Pete Townshend in a way no one in a free country should accept.
I spent many years researching all about the Who and Pete Townshend, and I can assure: Pete Townshend is not a sex offender. He has supported children’s organizations for many, many years and he would rather kill himself than harm a child.
Christoph Geisselhart,
Germany
Townshend was never convicted of anything and he has spent many years raising money for children’s charities, as well as contributing a lot of his own money. He’s as much of a “threat” to local childen as Sarah Palin. Get over it people and enjoy the music.
I just wrote bridgestone on their website at investor relations the following:
I am very disappointed with your companies support, of the decision by the NFL, to go forward with “The Who” during the half-time show. The man used his credit card to download child pornography and the lead man is gay. Who are you going to support next? Maybe a new commercial with OJ Simpson?
I agree, what “was” so wrong with Ms.Jackson’s malfunction? Rather my child see a flash of breast than a documented pediphile.