Rolling Stone

August 1998
Random Notes

What's better than a glammed up rock opera about a transexual, staged in the hotel where the Titanic survivors were housed? How 'bout seeing Michael Cerveris, the bewigged star of said rock opera, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, mount audience member Pete Townshend during a recent performance? "As soon as they put me in an aisle seat, I knew something was going to happen," said a bemused Townshend. These two fellas first met when Cerveris was wearing pants as the lead of The Who's Tommy. "Without Pete, I wouldn't be in this dress," Cerveris said, "Tommy set me on the road. Pete said, 'I can't show you how to act but I can show you how to be a rock star.'" Said Townshend, "So I showed him where I vomited."

photo: Michael and Pete Townshend backstage at Hedwig in New York.

Stephen Trask, Michael & Pete Townshend backstage at Hedwig
New York Magazine