Ackwnoledgment http://www.kshe95.com/ - The Who.com - Youtube - /www.parkinsons.org.uk/
Pete Townshend took the stage (April 19th) at London's Royal Albert Hall to perform at the Parkinson’s UK Presents: Symfunny No. 2. fundraiser for Parkinson's research and care. According to fan reports, Townshend played a solo acoustic version of the Quadrophenina classic "I'm One," and then, sans instrument -- while backed by the house orchestra -- he performed the live premiere of his 1976 collaboration with his late-father-in-law, Ted Astley, called "Football Fugue" and the legendary Quad finale, "Love Reign O'er Me."
Back in February, Townshend explained why he committed to playing the rare solo gig, posting, "My beloved father-in-law Edwin (Ted) Astley, who helped me break into orchestral arrangements for some of my songs in the ‘80s, suffered and eventually died from Supranuclear Palsy which is a horrible type of Parkinson’s Disease. Together we collaborated on several songs, one very silly fugue called 'Football Fugue' which I will perform on the night. If I’m allowed to speak, I can be funny too."
Ted Astley also did the orchestration on Townshend's 1977 ballad "Street In The City," from Rough Mix, his joint album with Ronnie Lane. Several of Townshend's other works with Astley -- 1978's "Brooklyn Kids," "I Like It The Way It Is," and "The Ferryman" found homes on Townshend's assorted Scoop collections.
Pete Townshend told us that with the release of the Who's debut single, 'I Can't Explain,' back in 1965 -- when he was just 19-years-old -- he felt as though he was given the brief by his audience on how to carry out his career as a songwriter: "What I felt was that the band -- the member of the band, the record company, the managers, and the audience were all saying to me: 'We really like this song you wrote write some more!' And I though, 'Ah! I'm an artist; I've got a commission.' And that has sustained me all my life. Just that simple thing, 'Write some more.' It's just such a great thing to be told if you're a writer (laughs) -- 'We want to hear something more from you.'"
Townshend will be on the bill with comedian Jason Manford, among others and explained in a statement why the cause was so near and dear to his heart, saying, "My beloved father-in-law Edwin (Ted) Astley, who helped me break into orchestral arrangements for some of my songs in the ‘80s, suffered and eventually died from Supranuclear Palsy which is a horrible type of Parkinson’s Disease. Together we collaborated on several songs, one very silly fugue called 'Football Fugue' which I will perform on the night. If I’m allowed to speak, I can be funny too."
