Pete Townshend criticizes The Beatles' interview humor

Pete Townshend, the guitarist for The Who, recently shared his thoughts on his differences with The Beatles during a podcast. He criticized the band, saying they often used jokes to avoid serious questions in interviews. This was in contrast to his own approach, where he tried to answer questions thoughtfully. Townshend, 79, discussed how The Who made a big impact in the 1960s with their hit song "My Generation." The song faced controversy and was initially banned by the BBC for what some considered offensive stuttering vocals. However, it eventually gained popularity, reaching No. 2 on the U.K. charts. Townshend defended the song, saying its banning was more about protection rather than fears of a youth revolution. He highlighted a key difference between The Who and The Beatles, noting that The Beatles avoided political topics during their early years. Townshend felt that their focus was more on fashion and music rather than societal issues. He argued that many artists at the time did not discuss politics, which felt outdated to them. In contrast, The Beatles later became more socially conscious, especially after a transformative trip to India in 1968. They began writing songs with political themes, like "Revolution." Townshend has a history of making pointed comments about other musicians, including criticisms of Kanye West and Led Zeppelin in the past.