From the Daily Mail
tinyurl.com/lkk6ynThe Mod(grand)father: Pete Townshend returns to his roots on Fifties scooter at age of 64
By Richard Simpson
He is perhaps the best-known figurehead of the Mod movement in the 1960s.
And it is clear that even in his 64th year, Pete Townshend has not lost his rebellious streak.
The former Who guitarist, once famed for smashing up guitars on stage and hotel rooms off it, is showing his lawlessness in a less extreme fashion nowadays.
The Modfather: Pete Townshend returns to his mod roots, buying a bright red 50cc scooter at the age of 64
Neighbours at his sprawling £15 million mansion on Richmond Hill in Surrey have been surprised to find the rocker eschewing the trappings of fame and fortune to pootle around the town on that most Mod of accessories - a bright red Vespa motorscooter.
Even more surprising to locals has been Townshend's bizarre habit of riding the 50cc bike not, as might be expected, into his garage, but right over the threshold and into the hallway of his home. The curious spectacle was captured by a Mail photographer this week.
As Townshend pulled up outside his house on the Vespa, he simply leaned across to unlock the door, revved the engine up and steamed right on in over the welcome rug.
Who lives in a house like this: Pete simply parks his Vespa inside
Earlier, Townshend, in sunglasses and a bright orange helmet, had left his house on the scooter through the same door before immediately breaking the law and riding 200 meters the wrong way down a one-way street.
What makes the strange parking arrangement even more intriguing is the fact that Townshend keeps a number of exclusive cars - including a blue Ferrari - off-street behind a high wooden gate just a few meters further down the road.
Townshend told the Mail this week that he had so much fun on the 125cc Vespa he uses to get around at his and his girlfriend Rachel Fuller's home in France that he decided to buy one for his English home.
No need for a garage: Pete parks inside
And of course, the Vespa must bring back golden memories of his Mod heyday when such scooters were iconic symbols of the movement, adorned with mirrors and lights and rode wearing fishtail parkas.
As the guitarist and songwriter for The Who, he wrote more than 100 songs for the band's eleven studio albums, including the rock operas Tommy and Quadrophenia and the singles My Generation and Substitute.
He amassed a £40 million fortune from four decades in the business.
However, Townshend's wife of 40 years, Karen Astley, filed for divorce in April, prompting a fight over his million fortune.
Luxury: Pete lives in this sprawling mansion
Astley, who had been separated from Townshend for 15 years, hired Fiona Shackleton, the formidable lawyer who represented Sir Paul McCartney in his split from Heather Mills.
Court papers stated Miss Astley found her husband's behaviour 'no longer tolerable'. Whether that included riding motorbikes into the house is not known.
The divorce paves the way for Townshend, 63, to marry girlfriend Miss Fuller, 35.
Townshend has a mottled past. In 2003 the guitarist was arrested after he was found to have used his credit card to view child porn websites.
He denied being a paedophile, claiming he visited the sites to research his autobiography while evidence showed he had downloaded no images and had contacted child protection agencies beforehand.
He was cautioned by police before being placed on the sex offenders register.
