The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Guest: Pete Townshend (Extended)

Episode Date: November 30, 2025

Episode Overview

In this revealing and often humorous interview, Stephen Colbert sits down with Pete Townshend, legendary guitarist and songwriter of The Who, to discuss his experiences with the band, the evolution of his iconic rock operas (“Tommy,” “Quadrophenia”), the unique challenges facing young men today, personal stories from his childhood, and his continued creative output at 80. Townshend speaks candidly about his musical legacy, the dynamics within The Who, and how his work still resonates with both him and new generations.

1. The Who's "Farewell" Tours and Band Dynamics

Timestamp: 04:44 – 06:40

• Colbert opens by joking about The Who’s many "farewell" tours, noting the history of previous tours in 1982 and 1989.
  • Quote: “Farewell tours tend to be farewell. But I attended one of your earlier farewell tours, I believe in '85, and that was your second farewell.” (04:52)
• Townshend clarifies:
  • In 1982, it was his own farewell (“I left The Who”) rather than the band’s.
  • He returned in 1989 for the 25th anniversary tour, joking about “pleading to come back” because he was broke.
  • This current farewell is “genuine,” but mockingly compares it to Elton John’s lengthy tour:
    • “He did 330. Yes. We’ve done 22. All right, so we just have another 308 to do.” (05:44)
• On touring: Townshend admits he doesn't usually enjoy touring, but loved this last one because he focused on making Roger Daltrey happy and appreciated their new sense of camaraderie:
  • “I got him laughing and got him smiling and we were hugging each other and telling each other we loved each other. And that’s not something that has happened up until now.” (06:31)

2. The Who's Early Days & New York Memories

Timestamp: 06:44 – 08:44

• The Who’s first US gig was near the studio, in 1967—Townshend was only 21.
• Remembers the cultural whirlwind of 1960s New York, comparing hippies in Central Park to their own mix of Irish, Jewish, and Islamic backgrounds.
  • “The excitement of New York, discovering this place that was just such a great city… New York has given me everything.” (08:28)
• The Who performed 4–5 shows daily, and Townshend smashed a guitar at every show, repairing and reusing them (“I used this special glue called cascamite. It’s a powdered glue. And I managed to string them back together.”) (08:13)

3. Reimagining "Quadrophenia" as Rock Ballet

Timestamp: 08:44 – 09:25

• "Quadrophenia" (1973) is now staged as a rock ballet, which excites Townshend:
  • “We’re bringing this Quadrophenia Ballet to New York and we’re sold out. It’s so great.” (08:39)
• Townshend is not in the ballet, but relishes seeing the story revisited in new forms (film, ballet) over decades.

4. The Perennial Story of Quadrophenia & Empathy for Young Men

Timestamp: 09:14 – 13:25

• Townshend compares the narrative to Romeo and Juliet—“a perennial story” of longing and not fitting in.
  • “It’s just a story about a young guy who falls in love with a girl... he feels disconnected, he feels that he doesn’t belong.” (09:14)
  • “Love Rain On Me” (from Quadrophenia) is cited as one of his best songs, born from the character’s suffering and search for meaning.
• Pete Townshend reflects on his emotional connection:
  • “Quadrophenia is about young men… I do weep for young men still because we are still struggling.” (10:16)
• Colbert brings up male loneliness and asks what advice Townshend would give:
  • “…Speak up. Listen and speak up. Try to be heard.” (10:38)
• He critiques how aggression, competition, and “sport” mold young men in the UK and US, leading to struggles expressing emotion.
  • Notable note: The Who’s audience early on was mostly young men needing a voice:
    • “We can’t explain. We don’t have the language. So I set myself up as a spokesman for that crowd.” (11:34)
• Observes a cultural shift:
  • “In pop music, all of the great voices are female… The melodies are better… But, you know, when you look at what Taylor Swift is doing, she’s talking about her conquests… She’s got a great guy now. I think he looks like a good guy.” (12:30)
  • A contemporary nod to Travis Kelce.

5. The Origins of Rock Opera: "Tommy" and Artistic Influences

Timestamp: 13:25 – 15:40

• “Tommy” was inspired by the encouragement of Kit Lambert (Who’s gay manager), whose father founded the Royal Ballet.
  • Townshend jokingly tells of writing a fake opera (“Gratis Amatus”) as a joke, which gave Kit the idea to encourage a real one.
• Early attempts included “A Quick One While He’s Away” (performed with the Rolling Stones) and an abandoned opera called Raelle (about Israel and China’s political tension in the ’60s).
• “Tommy” became a deeply personal story about a boy’s spiritual journey.

6. Personal Revelations: Childhood Trauma and Autobiography

Timestamp: 15:45 – 18:49

• Townshend describes a traumatic childhood:
  • Forced to live with a clinically insane grandmother for two years while his parents were separated.
  • Experienced neglect and indirect abuse (“She didn’t personally sexually abuse me, but some happened without question.” 16:37)
  • Returning home, he found comfort in music and family unity, appreciating his father’s band and jazz records.
• Only realized much later, during the 1993 Broadway run, that “Tommy” was largely autobiographical:
  • “About halfway through one of [the interviews], I realized, oh my God, this is me.” (16:59)
  • On his parents: “They were young kids… after the war, everybody got married and had kids whether they wanted to or not.”
• Contrasts Quadrophenia—not autobiographical, more a broader story of youth alienation.

7. Art, Spirituality, and The Who’s “Gang” Mentality

Timestamp: 18:49 – 22:09

• Townshend describes the band as an unlikely “gang” that provided protection and creative freedom.
  • “Roger Daltrey, who was the school bully, came in… said ‘You, I hear you play the guitar… want to be in my band?’ And I thought, I’ve got protection.” (19:09)
• He kept his role in the band secret from art school friends until playing a gig where the band's growing popularity became clear.
• The unexpected success of “Can’t Explain” was his creative breakthrough.
• “There was magic happening and I didn’t know what it was.” (21:56)
• Reflects at 80:
  • “This is probably the best time in my life because I sort of have a general idea of what’s happening.” (22:06)

8. Unreleased Music, AI, & Favorite Songs

Timestamp: 22:27 – 25:21

• Townshend reveals he has 350-450 unreleased pieces of music (“A lot of it is probably terrible”).
  • Considering using AI (like Suno) to reimagine songs that “didn’t quite work.”
  • Colbert offers to help listen through the archive.
• Pete Townshend’s top five songs (23:30):
  1. Love, Reign O’er Me
  2. Behind Blue Eyes
  3. Let My Love Open the Door
  4. Baba O’Riley (“I think that’s now got 1.55 billion streams on Spotify.”)
  5. Won’t Get Fooled Again (“...the one that is most applicable to the modern world, which is that our leaders are never any good… Politicians promise stuff that they sort of know they have their fingers crossed behind them.”)

9. Standout Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On making amends with Roger Daltrey:
  “I got him laughing and got him smiling and we were hugging each other and telling each other we loved each other. And that’s not something that has happened up until now.” (06:31)
• On youth and masculinity:
  “We can’t explain. We don’t have the language. So I set myself up as a spokesman for that crowd.” (11:34)
• On music’s changing landscape:
  “In pop music, all of the great voices are female… So the melodies are better, the gymnastics and the vocals are better. And that’s a great thing.” (12:15)
• On his age and self-awareness:
  “I’m 80 years old now and I think, you know, this is probably the best time in my life because I sort of have a general idea of what’s happening.” (22:06)
• On political optimism:
  “Politicians promise stuff that they sort of know they have their fingers crossed behind them. They know that they can’t deliver some of the stuff they promise.” (24:22)

10. Closing Thoughts

Timestamp: 25:21

• Colbert thanks and praises Townshend for his candor and contributions, expressing genuine admiration and noting the full episode can be watched online.

Episode Highlights with Timestamps

• The Who’s Farewell Tour & Band Reflections: 04:44 – 06:40
• Early US Experiences & Guitar-Smashing: 06:44 – 08:44
• Quadrophenia Rock Ballet & Timeless Storytelling: 08:44 – 13:25
• Spiritual Search & Childhood Trauma: 13:25 – 18:49
• Art School, The Band’s Formation & Mod Culture: 18:49 – 22:09
• Creative Process and Unreleased Songs: 22:27 – 25:21
• Top 5 Pete Townshend Songs & Social Commentary: 23:27 – 25:21

Summary prepared for listeners seeking substance, context, and the uniquely candid dynamic between Colbert and Townshend.