{"id":29486,"date":"2015-06-11T23:56:26","date_gmt":"2015-06-12T03:56:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wendybrandes.com\/blog\/?p=29486"},"modified":"2015-06-12T00:29:44","modified_gmt":"2015-06-12T04:29:44","slug":"throwback-thursday-music-the-who-and-joan-jett","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/2015\/06\/throwback-thursday-music-the-who-and-joan-jett\/","title":{"rendered":"Throwback Thursday Music: The Who and Joan Jett"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 1982, when I was in high school, the Who went on a farewell tour<\/a>. My gorgeous but strict mother, BarbaraB, wouldn’t let me go to the New Jersey show. I cried and cried because, after all, it was a FAREWELL TOUR! My last chance EVER to see The Who!<\/p>\n

\"1983\"

I can’t find a 1982 photo right now, but here’s one from 1983. Close enough! I adored the LeSportsac bag that you see in the foreground.<\/p><\/div>\n

Last chance, that is, until 1985, when the group reunited for Live Aid<\/a>.\u00a0 Another reunion took place at the Brit Awards in 1988. By 1989<\/a>, The Who was back on a real tour, but I didn’t see them that year. In fact, I didn’t see the band live until its set at the Concert for New York City in 2001<\/a>. I finally caught them on a big tour in 2006<\/a>. The not-so-great seats I had for that show didn’t make up for my 1982 trauma, so, last October, when I saw the Who was going on tour to celebrate the group’s 50th anniversary<\/a> (I can’t resist a big anniversary!<\/a>), I got fancy-schmancy VIP-package tickets to the May 26 show at Barclays Center in Brooklyn<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By the time the concert rolled around, I had forgotten what benefits came with the ticket package, so my concert-going friend Jessie<\/a> and I were baffled by an email that instructed us to get to Barclays by 4:45 p.m. We didn’t think anything special was going to happen but we dutifully showed up, and it was a good thing we did! We were two of about 60 people — ticket-holders and press — who got to sit in on the Who’s soundcheck. I was so thrilled I finally forgave BarbaraB for keeping me home in 1982. Then I found out that my idol Joan Jett<\/a>, who is opening for the Who on this anniversary tour, had also opened for them on the ’82 tour.\u00a0 I missed Joan the year that “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” was a huge hit! I hate to tell you this, BarbaraB, but you are …<\/p>\n

\"unforgiven\"<\/p>\n

Jessie can testify that I actually discussed these issues OUT LOUD with her — while we sat in our awesome sixth-row seats waiting for the show to start, and after I had my photo taken with Simon Townshend, the guitar-playing young brother of Who guitarist\/composer Pete Townshend.<\/p>\n

\"simon\"<\/p>\n

Anyway, it was a thrill to finally see Joan Jett live, especially right after she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame<\/a>. As you can see, she looks and sounds great! <\/p>\n