A quote from Peter Townshend:
What exactly does that last bit mean?
“Shepard’s Bush” was a club in London, and I believe there were several others with the same name (and hence the same owner?) elsewhere in the UK.
I guess ol’ Pete was making a reference to the fact that the blokes who went to these clubs were not from the tea and crumpet set.
Back in the day, the bands booked by these clubs were often pub rock bands, punk bands, oi bands, etc.
Someone else closer to the UK scene than I am can say whether some of these clubs are still around.
Shepherd’s Bush is a district of West London where most of the 'orrible 'Oo came from.
What I take Pete to mean is that he thinks The Who are appealing to the lowest common denominator – the Shepherd’d Bush geezers*.
BTW there is a club, the Shepherd’d Bush Empire, but I don’t think that’s what Pete is referring to, it’s a fairly classy venue
*meaning working class young blokes like them, not old chaps.
Shepherd’d Bush Empire What?
Shepherd’s Bush Empire.
I don’t think Spiff is right about the chain of clubs, but the Empire is indeed a well-known music venue - in fact I’m going to a gig there tomorrow night.
Shepherd’s Bush is also known as the home of the BBC - the BBC Television Centre is actually on Wood Lane, just outside Shepherd’s Bush, but the name stuck - Terry Wogan, for instance, would regularly talk about “the goings-on at Shepherd’s Bush”.