Pete Townshend
Biography
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend (born 19 May 1945) is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career. His career with The Who spans more than forty years, during which time the band grew to be considered one of the most influential bands of the 60s and 70s, and, according to Eddie Vedder, "possibly the greatest live band ever." Townshend is the primary songwriter for The Who, having written well over one hundred songs for the band's eleven studio albums, including concept albums and the rock operas Tommy and Quadrophenia, plus popular rock and roll radio staples like Who's Next, and dozens more that appeared as non-album singles, bonus tracks on reissues, and tracks on rarities compilations like Odds & Sods. He has also written over one hundred songs that have appeared on his solo albums, as well as radio jingles and television theme songs. Although known primarily as a guitarist, he also plays other instruments such as keyboards, banjo, accordion, synthesiser, bass guitar and drums, on his own solo albums, several Who albums, and as a guest contributor to a wide array of other artists' recordings. Townshend has never had formal lessons in any of the instruments he plays. Townshend has also been a contributor and author of newspaper and magazine articles, book reviews, essays, books, and scripts, as well as collaborating as a lyricist (and composer) for many other musical acts. Townshend was ranked #3 in Dave Marsh's list of Best Guitarists in The New Book of Rock Lists, #10 in Gibson.com's list of the top fifty guitarists, and #50 in Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list: 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Townshend was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Who in 1990. Description above from the Wikipedia article Pete Townshend, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia
Known For
Self
Pete Townshend's Deep End - Face The Face
Self
The Who: The Kids Are Alright
Himself
Tommy
Self (archive footage)
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
guitar
The Who - At Kilburn 1977
Himself
THE WHO Live At The Chicago Amphitheater 1979
Self - The Who
Monterey Pop
Self
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
Self
Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd
Himself
The Who: Maximum R&B Live
Self
Classic Albums: The Who - Who's Next
Himself
The Who: Live in Boston
Self (archive footage)
Led Zeppelin Played Here
guitar
The Who: Rock in Rio 2017
Self
Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
Self
Acoustic at the BBC
Himself
Listening to You: The Who Live at the Isle of Wight
Himself
Classic Albums: The Who Sell Out
Self
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live - The Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Himself
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Beat Club: The 40th Anniversary Edition
Self
Woodstock
Himself
Quadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me?
Self - The Who Member
The Who : pile et faces – La double vie d'un groupe anglais de légende
Self
The Beatles Revolution
himself
Carousella
Himself
The Who: Live in Texas '75
Himself
The Passing Show: The Life and Music of Ronnie Lane
Self - Lead Guitar / Vocals
The Who & Special Guests: Live At The Royal Albert Hall
Himself
The Who: BBC Electric Proms
Pete Fountain
White City
Himself
The Who - The Making of Tommy
Himself
The Who: Sensation—The Story of Tommy
Self
Night Flight: Born Again
Pete Townshend
The Who: Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests
Self
The Who - Who's Next 1971-2023
The Who: French TV Archives 1965-1967
Self
A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who
The Who – Broadcast In Roundhouse Electric Proms 2006
Himselft
The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
Self
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
Self
One For The Road: Ronnie Lane Memorial Concert
Himself
Dear Mr. Fantasy - A Celebration for Jim Capaldi
self
Pete Townshend - Letterman Compilation 1985-1999
self
Pete Townshend - South Bank Show Documentary
Self
Brian Wilson: On Tour
Himself
Les Chemins perdus
guitar, vocals
Pete Townshend - Live at Fillmore West, April 30th, 1996
The Who Hits 50! Live
Self
Classic Quadrophenia
Self
The Who: Live at Shea Stadium 1982
Himself
Lambert & Stamp
Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse
Self
Jimi Hendrix
Self
Woodstock: Untold Stories Revisited
Monterey Pop: The Outtake Performances
Woodstock: Untold Stories
The Who at Live Aid
Self (archive footage)
The Britpop Story 'It Really, Really, Really, Could Happen'
Video EP: Pete Townshend
Himself - guitarist, vocals
The Who: Live in Hyde Park
Self
Lennon or McCartney
Himself (Guitars, Vocals)
The Who: Live at Lyon
The Who – With Orchestra Live At Wembley
Self
Police Protecting Children - Internet Paedophilia
Self
Heads
The Who: Live from Toronto
Self
Play It Loud: The Story of Marshall
Self
Mayor of the Sunset Strip
Himself - guitars, vocals
The Who - Live at the London Coliseum 1969
Self
The Who: Tommy Live With Special Guests
Self
Rachel Fuller presents: In the Attic with Pete Townshend & Friends
Himself
An Ox's Tale: The John Entwistle Story
Self
The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight 2004 Festival
Self
Being Mick
Self - Guitar
The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
Self
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
Interviewee
Seize millions de jeunes: Mods
Himself – guitars, vocals
The Who: Tommy Live at The Royal Albert Hall
Self
Jean-Michel Jarre: A Journey into Sound
Self
Live Aid
Himself
The Who Rocks America 1982
Self
Bad Reputation
Himself
The Who – Live At Tanglewood 1970
Himself
The Who - Live at the Silverdome
The Who: Quadrophenia - Live in London
Self
Sound of the City: London 1964-73
Himself
Smashing Pumpkins: If All Goes Wrong
Self - The Who
Woodstock
The Night That Changed Rock
Himself
The Who: Fragments Fan Club DVD
Self
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
Himself
Pete Townshend Live in New York Featuring Psychoderelict
The Who: Vancouver 10/8/2006
The Who: Philadelphia 11/25/2006
The Who: Philadelphia 9/12/2006
The Who: Monte Carlo 7/15/2006
The Who: Fresno 2/25/2007
The Who: Nyon 7/20/2006
The Who: Dublin 6/29/2007
The Who: Grand Rapids 12/5/2006
The Who: Werchter 6/30/2006
The Who: Atlantic City 3/9/2007
The Who: Lisbon 5/16/2007
The Who: Palm Springs 11/11/2006
The Who: Cheshire 6/23/2007
Self
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
The World's Greatest Gigs
The Who: Brighton 6/18/2006
The Who: Hampshire 7/3/2006
The Who: Liverpool 7/5/2006
Self
VH1 Rock Honors: The Who
The Who: Liverpool 7/6/2006
The Who: Glasgow 7/9/2006
The Who: Metz 7/18/2006
The Who: St. Polten 7/22/2006
The Who: Ulm 7/23/2006
The Who: Bonn 7/11/2006
The Who: Lyon 7/17/2006
The Who: Dublin 7/8/2006
The Who: Locarno 7/14/2006
The Who: Purple Hearts and Power Chords
Self - Guitars & Vocals / Mr. Walker / Mrs. Walker / Narrator
The Who | Live, Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy
Self - Guitar, Vocals
The Who | Tommy and Quadrophenia Live
Live Aid
Self
Mick Fleetwood and Friends: Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac
Self
The Who: The Night That Changed Rock
The Who: Zaragoza 7/29/2006
The Who: Madrid 7/27/2006
The Who: Wantagh 9/13/2006
The Who: Boston 9/16/2006
The Who: Holmdel 9/21/2006
The Who: Baltimore 9/23/2006
Voice
The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb
Self (archive footage)
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
Jimi Plays Monterey
The Who: Stockholm 7/6/2007
Self
The Session Man
1996 VH1 Honors
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
139
Gender
Male
Birthday
1945-05-19
Place of Birth
Chiswick, London, England, UK
Also Known As
The Who