Collection of eight letters from Pete Townshend of The Who, consisting of six TLSs and two ALSs, signed either as “Pete” or “Pete Townshend,” each one page, 8.25 x 11.75, dated between 1977 and 1982, with two undated. The three earliest letters are on Townshend's personal Twickenham letterhead, the next two on beige The Boathouse letterhead, and two others on his embossed personal stationery. The letters, which are all addressed to poet and lyricist John Bycroft, read, in part:
TLSs
November 15, 1977: “Thanks for the letter and the lyrics, I will look at them and get back to you as soon as possible.”
November 25, 1977: “Just a note to say I got the other words. Pockets is incredible. Chopin is good too. Must keep doing it mate.”
January 10, 1978: “Thanks for the lyrics. ‘Girl On a Train’ is another good one — I hope I can get them used.”
March 12, 1979: “I will gladly pay you some money if you sign a contract as a composer for my company. I’m sure ‘Pockets’ will do quite well. If it were a medium hit it could make you several hundred pounds, a big hit of course much more. Alternatively, if the prospects of contracts, lawyers etc. is worrying I will BUY ‘Pockets’ from you for £250. I promise if it’s a massive hit I will use the profits to sign you up.”
October 21, 1980: “I have enjoyed so much of your poetry lately, and so many are suitable for putting to music successfully that I keep feeling the urge to ask you to come down to work with musicians here. It would be difficult for you I know as you haven't done it before, but I think it would be worth doing. You are going to stockpile an immense pile of stuff that will load you down. If you don't feel up to an event like this perhaps you could allow us to try what we did on POCKETS. I'm seriously thinking of doing POCKETS on my next solo album, I still like it such a lot. EXPENDABLE is good too, though bleak.”
September 8, 1982: “Glad to hear the intensity hasn’t broken you yet. I wish we could meet but as you probably know the band are touring again so it might not be possible.” Townshend adds in his own hand: “(Free in mid-November).”
ALSs
November 10th, no year: “Thanks for the story which I enjoyed as usual. Sorry to be so long replying. If those songs have surfaced yet I’ll be glad to listen.”
No date: “Just got back from the states. I gather by your rather tense note that you were under the impression I was your manager — mentor — svengali! I was always just a fan...I believe that you are using me as excuse old pal. If you want something done — do it. I wish you all the best and would like to keep in touch, but the choice is yours.” Townshend’s postscript: “If ever in London try to see me, if we keep out of the pub we could achieve something.” In overall fine condition.
