Who I Am is
important because it sets the fiction aside from the fact, and as is always his
way, Townshend’s honesty drives the narrative. At times, this can be utterly
enlightening, as when he pores over his childhood, his strained relationship
with ex-wife Karen Astley (can she be the most patient woman in Rock & Roll
history?), the ordeal of the child pornography investigation that is now an
unfortunate addendum to any book about the man, and his serious difficulties
with drugs and booze. Townshend’s willingness to let us in on the less savory
aspects of his life can be a problem too. As The Who’s grandest years fell behind
him, he immersed himself in the kind of self-destructive and promiscuous
behavior that must have been harrowing to live through but feels rote when
reading it in a Rock star memoir. This is how much of the ’80s and ’90s plays
out in Who I Am, but hey, that was the guy’s life, clichéd or not. And
Pete does skirt cliché by discussing the multitude of women in his life not as
sexual conquests but as romantic obsessions. He really seemed to love them. Still,
you can’t help but feel terrible for Karen.
Who I Am is not
all ugly truths. Pete Townshend has a history of curmudgeonly behavior and
putting his foot in his mouth. Having spent more than a decade writing this
book, he comes off as more measured and kinder than he has often presented
himself in the press. He doesn’t seem to have much bad to say about anyone but
himself, which is heartening. There is a lot of love in Who I Am. The “acknowledgements” section of most books is usually
inessential. In this one, it rounds out the narrative touchingly, as Pete
retraces the major players in his story, tells us what they’re doing now, and
expresses his deep feelings for these people. He saves one of his final
messages of love for us, the fans. It is brief but beautiful, as well as a
somewhat unnecessary gesture since he’d already given us the gift of this
intimate and thorough look into his life. Thanks, old friend.
Bonus: the book ends on page 515! Does that qualify as an
Easter egg?