July 15, 2005
Lifehouse
I watched a DVD of Pete Townsend's Lifehouse music performed at the Sadler's Wells Theatre, London on February 25th & 26th 2000. I presume the DVD is from these two shows.
Lifehouse was to be a journey through the scarred wasteland of a futuristic middle England, where a computerised 'Big Brother' grid imposes virtual reality on the populace and the subversions of rock music offer the only salvation.
The songs in the concert did not offer the listener this kind of narrative.The narrative did not really come through. We had the music not the play with music. And then there is the film that is yet to be.
Townsend made reference to a BBC play in 1999 of 'Lifehouse' Radio 3 and a 6 CD box set, 'The Lifehouse Chronicles'. Presumably, the two shows at London's Sadler's Wells were to sell the CD set. The set includes the original tracks for the project, which Townsend recorded in 1970 and 1971, as well as new music, orchestral pieces, the radio play and text on the history of the project.
I've found little background on Lifehouse. In 1996 BBC Radio 1 produced an documentary on Lifehouse, directed by John Pidgeon, called The One That Got Away'. There are few critical reviews of the music.
The band was a rock band (keyboards, Bass, electric guitar, Percussion with 3 supporting vocalists) plus the London Chamber Orchestra. Townsend fronted as vocalists playing acoustic guitar.
The music was familar as a lot of it was performed on Who's Next:---Baba O'Riley', 'Won't Get Fooled Again' and 'Song Is Over'.