Tommy can you see me? - my claim to fame!

On the 22- May - 1974, nearly 31 years ago! - The Who played a gig at Portsmouth Guildhall as a "thank you" to the people of Portsmouth for allowing them to film the Ken Russsel film "Tommy" in the city.

My Bruv, Mr.D was fortunate enough to see the gig, and I remember him telling me he was sat underneath the bass stacks of John Entwistle. As a consequence his ribcage didn`t stop vibrating for 48 hours! - lucky g*t!

Being only 15 I didn`t get to see the gig and wasn`t street wise enough top know about such things as touts - so I didn`t see my heroes in my home town!

However I did meet some of them (see previous post "Empty Vessels?,") - and I also spent two days filming as an extra, although, unfortunately I was left on the cutting room floor.

There are two scenes in the film at which, not in which, I was present, - the first being the marriage of Ann Margaret ( Tommy`s mother) to Oliver Reed (his Step Father,) which took place at Warblington Church, Emsworth, (not far from where I now live.)

The second was supposed to be Tommy hang gliding off of Warblington castle, which from memory is at the end of the film. All i can remember was that we had to all wear blue anoraks and stand beneath this event as some sad disciples!

The film when it finally came out was very weird, (as can be expected of Mr. Russel,) and as such I was pretty disappointed with it, as were many other of my friends who were Who fans.

That said it was a memorable experience to witness this event and to see the band members at close quarters.

As previously blogged the most memorable day was the filming at the disused Marine barracks Church where I met Pete Townshend and sat talking to him, strumming his guitar and generally passing the time of day with the great man.

The day was as weird as the film in as much as I remember there being a great deal of people suffering from "Thalidomide" being used in the film, many of them severe cases, so much so that they were transported in old prams, and I recall Eric Clapton, very out of it, telling them all how much he loved them, which I am sure they apprectated, but at 15 it still felt patronising to me!

When they finally shot the Townshend/Clapton crossed guitar scene, with the panoramic picture of Marilyn Monroe behind the altar, Moonie was very drunk sand was mimicking their "crossed swords" movements by doing likewise with a bottle of Vodka to try and put them off!

Having recently read Keith Moon`s biography, " Dear Boy," ( Clair I will do the book thing soon and will include this in it, ) I discovered that they stayed at a hotel during the filming on Hayling Island, not far from where I now live, and according to legend, Moonie and Oliver Reed swam back to the hotel from Portsmouth after a night on the lash! - believe that if you will!

So although I recall vividly the events, I was a little disappointed with the outcome. The DVD was relaunched last year, and despite putting it on Xmas and birthday request list, I still do not posess it and as such the kids still don`t understand what I am talking about when the topic occasionally comes to the fore - so it looks as if I am going to have to treat myself to it!

That said the events of the filming did leave a lasting impression on me - but even more so on Portsmouth ........ they managed to burn the bl**dy pier down in the process!!!! - so me and my mates were no longer able to be "Pinball Wizards"