Pete Townshend recently took a shot at Rick Rubin as he believes there were contradictory statements about the creative process and noted that creativity isn’t reserved only for those who make money with it.
Many people are captivated by the concept of creativity, nearly as much as they appreciate the results of that creativity in the form of art. They eagerly seek out insights from artists, educators, or industry veterans who share the secrets of the creative process, especially when these insights are presented appealingly. This kind of content has drawn audiences for decades and will likely continue to do so. However, Pete Townshend of The Who doesn’t seem to appreciate this fascination.
During a recent interview on “Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt” podcast, Townshend talked about Rick Rubin for the perceived sins of sending mixed messages about creativity:
“You see a lot of stuff on YouTube and Instagram, people nagging you about the way that you have to be creative. Somebody needs to occasionally slap Rick Rubin, because, one minute he’s telling us that we need to do whatever we like, and then, on the other hand, he’s telling us that we mustn’t do this, and we mustn’t do that.”
The Who icon stated that he’s tested various methods and aids in his creative pursuits. However, he noted how it always came down to the basics, writing on a piece of paper:
“The book of rules for me is… I’ve dabbled with all of those methods. I’ve carried complete big, recording studios on the road with me sometimes, and then sometimes I’ve used little cassette machines. I’ve recorded in all kinds of different ways. And if I fancy going into a studio with a huge orchestra, I’ve done that too. But what’s most interesting is the paper. The paper, the photograph, the writing.”
Townshend further noted how creativity is inherent to all humans, not just those who were lucky enough to earn a living out of it:
“It’s not just about rock stars, pop stars, singers, musicians, artists, or whatever. It’s about everybody. This is why I think so many people who are successful in the arts and music tell people [that] everybody is creative. I think everybody might well be creative. It’s just that they don’t necessarily feel creative. And a lot of them, I think, feel lucky that they don’t go through the kind of trials and tribulations that they see big stars go through.”
Townshend also feels Rubin and other “pundits of creativity” got right is that it has to spark joy:
“As Rick Rubin so rightly says, and many other pundits about creativity, it has to be fun. It has to it has to be enjoyable. It has to be something that you love to do, and it also has to be something that you like what you do. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that anybody else will like it.”
