Townshend Cleared of Possessing Kid Porn

Associated Press, via Yahoo ^ | 5.7.2003

[NYC GOP Chick]

Townshend Cleared of Possessing Kid Porn

7 minutes ago

LONDON - Pete Townshend (news) was cleared Wednesday of possessing pornographic images of children. But The Who guitarist was warned by police not to access a Web site containing images of child abuse.

Townshend was arrested in January on suspicion of making and possessing indecent images of children. The arrest was part of Operation Ore, an FBI (news - web sites)-led crackdown on Internet child pornography.

After a four-month investigation, London's Metropolitan Police said Wednesday that the rocker "was not in possession of any downloaded child abuse images," but had accessed a site containing such images in 1999.

The musician acknowledged using his credit card to enter a Web site advertising child pornography but said he was doing research for his autobiography.

The title character in Townshend's rock opera "Tommy" — a deaf, dumb and blind pinball wizard — is sexually abused by an uncle, and Townshend said he believed he had been sexually abused as a young boy, while in the care of his mentally ill grandmother.

Police said it was not a defense "to access these images for research or out of curiosity."

As part of the cautioning procedure, Townshend's fingerprints, photograph and a DNA sample will be taken by police, and he will be placed on a national register of sex offenders for five years.

Townshend was one of The Who's four founding members, along with bassist John Entwistle (news), singer Roger Daltrey (news) and drummer Keith Moon (news). Moon died in 1978 and Entwistle died last year.

The group, founded in London in the early 1960s, was part of the first British rock invasion, alongside the Rolling Stones and The Beatles. Their hits included "I Can See for Miles," "Pinball Wizard" and "Won't Get Fooled Again."

[NYC GOP Chick]

Thought you might be interested... :)

[Living Free in NH]

I really hope he doesn't frequent that crap because he's a great musician and I've been having a hard time enjoying their music lately.

[sushiman]

No surprise here , even if he was guilty ...

[tallhappy]

Townshend's fingerprints, photograph and a DNA sample will be taken by police, and he will be placed on a national register of sex offenders for five years.

I guess that's what they always do when they clear someone.

In a related story Jack the Ripper was cleared but as a precaution was hanged by the neck until dead.

Yes we have no bananas.

[Garden Island]

In other news, Robert Downey Jr. was arrested again yesterday. In a public statement, Mr Downey claimed he was doing research for an upcomming film- The Robert Downey Jr story.

[jern]

But according to everyone on FR he was guilty?

[AuH2ORepublican]

After The Beatles and maybe Led Zeppelin, The Who is the greatest rock band of all time. I was listening to Quadraphenia last weekend, and it gets better with every listen. And Pete Townshend is one of the greatest composers and guitarists of the rock era. But, we have to face it, he's a fruit. He said so himself. And I have to say I wasn't shocked when I found out, since it explains some of his lyrics (listen to "How Many Friends," which is probably The Who's best song written after 1973).

[Contra]

I bet he was looking at pictures of young boys, that's probably why he got off, the gays cut him a break.

[steplock]

Easy to take care of this - it's called court - trial by jury so it's public - no sealed records.

[manic4organic]

We won't be fooled again...

[q_an_a]

This like the story of all those adults who abused kids in day care centers shows how a few words have become time bombs. It is useful to wait to see if the facts turn out to be fiction.

[Cosmo]

A "Quadrophenia is the best double album ever made" bump!

[Chancellor Palpatine]

The musician acknowledged using his credit card to enter a Web site advertising child pornography but said he was doing research for his autobiography.

[Keith]

"Can you see the real me...can ya...CAN YA?"

[TLBSHOW]

TLBSHOW right again!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/832839/posts

[Cosmo]

I posted my quadrophenia bump before reading your post. I just bought a new copy of the album cuz my old onehad oxidized from my days living onthe beach of LA. (No, i wasn't living on ON the beach -- I had an apartment, damnit!!:)) No other concept album, rock opera etc. has ever approached quadrophenia; No album ever exhibited such a command of leitmotif as did Quadrophenia. -That includes Tommy!! Zeppelin's physical graffiti was one of the greats, but it's simply an album with 2 extra sides. The Wall, the quinitsential double lp for many rock devotees, borders on trite in my opinion

Sorry for my ramble. I was just listening to quadrophenia yesterday -- brings tears to my eyes. As a former classical musician,I don't think there's a rock album I feel more passionate about


Feel the gin

[Catphish]

he's a fruit . . . . since it explains some of his lyrics (listen to "How Many Friends," which is probably The Who's best song written after 1973).

Or "Rough Boys" - it's pretty plain what he's going on about in that one.

[Cosmo]

The album is playing as we speak...the jack russells have retreated to the laundry room, quivering in fear!

[AppyPappy]

I almost bought it a million times.