Ethan Russell Photographs

The work I did for "Quadrophenia," which ended up as a 20 page book that accompanied the album (some of the best work that I ever did in my opinion), took over a month. I lost over twenty pounds from the stress of producing it. Toward the end, I asked Peter if he would write something to go with it. So he did. When I read it I remarked to him that it reminded me of J.D. Salinger and "The Catcher in the Rye." Pete said, "My favorite book." Bingo! Of course.

Everyone asks about "Who's Next" and here's the story. The Who had no cover, but they had an album. Several people had taken a crack at it, but produced nothing. I worked with Pete. I listened at length to his description of "Lifehouse." I read the script. But the reality was I wasn't faring much better than my predecessors. I accompanied the Who to the English Midlands for a gig and shot them in their dressing room after the show. Not much. On the way back the next morning, speeding through the rain, these shapes blur past the window. We keep driving. At the next roundabout Pete asks me if I have any ideas. And I reply, my thumb pointing backwards, "Well there's these shapes..." Pete wheels the car around. It was his idea to piss on them.