27 September 2023 - Summary of My Life With The Who - by Lorraine Juhl

Lorraine Juhl writes about the inspiration from The Who and Pete Townshend, not only created lifetime enjoyment of their works of music, but also led to what in the beginning was a teenage grandiose idea of becoming a rockstar to fulfilling her aspiration as a pastime interest in guitar playing and listening to music which evolved to include, songwriting,  playing guitar in live concerts, and making recordings of her songs.

Introduction

During the mid 1970’s I had a bed in a well finished attic room by a window. On the walls surrounding my bed were posters of The Who (Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle and Keith Moon). On one side of my bed was a stack of The Who LP albums that rested between my speakers that supported my 1970’s diamond point needle stereo. Just about every day I listened to music by The Who. I often played ‘Tommy’,’Who's Next’, ‘Quadrophenia’, ‘The Who By Numbers’, and ‘Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy’.

I immensely liked and enjoyed listening to The Who albums and I was quite fascinated and inspired by the way Pete Townshend played guitar; so I took up guitar playing and took both private guitar lessons and minored in music and drama in high school. Most of my friends in high school and extended maternal family that I was living with at the time either listened to music, played an instrument or sang. On many occasions I sat on top of my bed playing acoustic guitar practising excerpts from the original 1969, ‘Tommy’ by The Who - In particular, ‘Overture’, ‘Amazing Journey’, and ‘Pinball Wizard’. I also played a really fantastic electric guitar that a friend from school let me borrow, and wrote songs and made recordings of my guitar playing on 1970’s reel to reel tape. Eventually I learned to play the entire rock opera Tommy on guitar.

Teenage Years (1975 - 1979)

I first became aware of The Who in 1975 after seeing the classic rock opera ‘Tommy’ in quadraphonic sound at a movie theatre along the beach in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The movie made a great impression on me. Thereafter,  a boyfriend, who was a classmate of mine at the Fort Lauderdale high school,  heard I enjoyed the movie ‘Tommy’ in quadraphonic sound and gave me the LP  album ‘Who's Next’,  as a gift. I loved ‘Who's Next’ the first time I played the album. So I ended up buying other albums by The Who, too. Thereafter, I was transferred to another high school in Massapequa Park, Long Island, New York. Shortly after, I heard that The Who were giving a concert at the Madison Square Garden in New York. On 11 March 1976,  I attended The Who concert at age 14 with a boyfriend from Massapequa Park High School. The Who concert was great!  And, I had a great time at The Who concert.  I was fulfilled and inspired. After The Who concert I spent my free time after school listening to ‘Quadrophenia’, ‘Who's Next’ and’ Tommy’. 

I immensely liked and enjoyed The Who albums and I was quite fascinated and greatly inspired by the way Pete Townshend played guitar. At age 14, I acquired an inexpensive acoustic guitar.  I  took up guitar playing and took private guitar lessons while minoring in music and drama throughout my high school years at Bricktown High School, New Jersey from 1976 through 1978. Most of my friends in high school and extended maternal family I was living with at the time either listened to music, played a musical instrument or sang.

On many occasions I sat on top of my bed playing acoustic guitar, practising excerpts from the original 1969, 'Tommy’ by The Who - In particular,  'Overture',  'Amazing Journey', and  'Pinball Wizard'. I also played a really fantastic electric guitar that a boyfriend from school let me borrow and wrote songs and made recordings of my guitar playing on 1970’s reel to reel tape. Eventually I learned to play the entire rock opera ‘Tommy’ on guitar.

In 1978  my music studies were unfortunately interrupted. I was once again relocated, and transferred to Montclair High School, Montclar, New Jersey. The same year,  I heard Keith Moon died, I felt saddened, and thought it was the end of The Who. At the same time, my guitar was warped by the heater at the place where I lived. And, as a teenager, I did not know how to become involved in a band or music group. My whole desire to play guitar like Pete Townshend and the grandiose idea of becoming a rock star along with a band seemingly suddenly came to an end. Little did I know at the time that opportunity would some day arrive.

Young Adult Years (ca.1983, ca. 1986)

While I was studying at college in New Jersey, I often went out on the weekends to Manhattan, New York City. On one occasion,  in approximately 1983,  I met a fellow acquaintance from India, who was interested in seeing the movie, ‘Quadrophenia’ which was playing at a movie theatre near central park. So, we went to see the movie. I really enjoyed listening to ‘Quadrophenia’ by The Who once again and seeing the movie. I distinctly recall wanting to see The Who once again after seeing the movie.

Around 1987, while I was working in New Jersey, my boyfriend invited me to see The Who in concert at the Madison Square Garden in New York, only this time with a replacement drummer for Keith Moon. The concert was great as always, and I was so excited about seeing The Who again!

Adult Middle Years (2000 - 2008)

Many years passed before I could fulfill my youth aspirations. Around the year 2000 I had the opportunity to embrace guitar playing once again. Finding music both fun, euphoric and having therapeutic effects, I once again turned to The Who and Pete Townshend for inspiration. I acquired more albums by The Who and Pete Townshend recorded on CD (compact disc) in the early 2000’s, adding to my 1980’s and 1990’s collection, now owning a collection of the entire original works of music by The Who and quite a collection of Pete Townshend’s solo works of music and books. I also acquired a few acoustic and electric guitars.

Between years 2000 and 2002 I learned to play the entire original 1969 rock opera ‘Tommy’ with acoustic guitar from both Hal Leonard, ‘The Who: The Definitive Collection Guitar Recorded Versions’ and the 1969 ‘Tommy’ by The Who. For 2 years I practised Tommy along with The Who CD, while at the same time finding inspiration and support at www.petetownshend.com website between 2000 and 2006. 

Between 2002 and 2006 I also  explored the creative pursuits of writing songs and recording my songs in solitude. I found the endeavours of writing songs and recording music were fulfilling and fun while also having a bit of therapeutic effects. Writing songs provided me with a sense of self expression. The first album, ‘Catharsis’ I wrote songs for was completed in 2004, while the second album, ‘Out in the Country’ was finished in 2006.

One day I heard about a music school which was not too far from where I lived, that offered semester courses in rock music from the 1960’s,1970’s and 1980’s, and 1990’s. It was just  the opportunity I was looking for to play guitar in a band with other musicians who sang, played bass, drums, keyboard and lead/riff guitar. I played rhythm guitar - so the band was just perfect for me! During the semester the band and I would do live gigs at various local venues. I played electric and acoustic guitar in the band and performed in concerts for five years in a row, from 2002 to the end of 2007. The band and I played songs from The Who, Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, and much more.

Adult Later Years (From 2021 On wards)

My favourite pastime interests have grown to include songwriting, playing guitar, writing, listening to music, making recordings of songs I write, and light reading. And, yes, I still find Pete Townshend's guitar playing inspiring and listen to music by The Who and Pete Townshend's solo works of music. In fact, I play many songs with guitar along with The Who, only this time via streaming.  From 2023 and beyond I have been writing more songs for fun and enjoyment. 

My works of music are posted at the streaming service Soundcloud

Enjoy!