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Q: Is it true that Pete Townshend’s hearing was damaged by an explosives effect when The Who performed on “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” in 1967?
A: It’s true. During rehearsal, the explosives didn’t go off as planned in Keith Moon’s drum kit, Tommy Smothers says, so Moon “sneaks down, puts another load in, then the union guy puts a load in.” So, there were three sets of explosives in the kit. During the show, “Townshend smashes his guitar, he smashes it again, and his head was right there by the drum kit when the explosive went off.” Check out youtube.com/watch?v=d9-JdubfUCw.
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erosenbaum@tribune.com
See also “Sorry, Dick, but we always liked your brother best,” On the Town section, Page 5
