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
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (47)
The Session Man
as Self
2025
Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd
as Self
2023
The Who – With Orchestra Live At Wembley
2023
The Who Hits 50! Live
2022
The Who: One Band's Explosive Story
as Self - The Who Member
2022
Her Majesty
Executive Producer (Production)
2021
Classic Albums: The Who Sell Out
as Himself
2021
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
as Self (archive footage)
2021
Mick Fleetwood and Friends: Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac
as Self
2021
The Who: The Night That Changed Rock
as Self
2019
The Night That Changed Rock
2019
Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation
as Self
2019
Bad Reputation
as Self
2018
Come Together The Rise of the Festival
2018
The Who: Tommy Live at The Royal Albert Hall
as Himself – guitars, vocals
2017
The Who: Rock in Rio 2017
as guitar
2017
The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight 2004 Festival
as Self
2017
A Silent Voice: The Movie
Main Title Theme Composer (Sound)
2016
Pete Townshend's Deep End - Face The Face
as Self
2016
Night Flight: Born Again
as Self
2016
The Who: Live in Hyde Park
as Himself - guitarist, vocals
2015
Jean-Michel Jarre: A Journey into Sound
as Self
2015
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC
as Self (archive footage)
2015
Classic Quadrophenia
as Self
2015
The Who: French TV Archives 1965-1967
2015
Lennon or McCartney
as Self
2014
Play It Loud: The Story of Marshall
as Self
2014
Led Zeppelin Played Here
as Self (archive footage)
2014
Woodstock: Untold Stories Revisited
as Self
2014
The Who: Quadrophenia - Live in London
2014
The Who: Sensation—The Story of Tommy
as Himself
2014
Lambert & Stamp
as Himself
2014
The Who - The Making of Tommy
as Himself
2013
Quadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me?
as Himself
2013
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
as Self
2012
The Who: Live in Texas '75
as Himself
2012
Acoustic at the BBC
as Self
2011
The Who: Purple Hearts and Power Chords
2011
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live - The Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
as Self
2009
Woodstock: Untold Stories
2009
Rachel Fuller presents: In the Attic with Pete Townshend & Friends
as Self
2009
The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
as Himselft
2009
The Who - At Kilburn 1977
as guitar
2008
The Who - Live at the London Coliseum 1969
as Himself - guitars, vocals
2008
Smashing Pumpkins: If All Goes Wrong
as Himself
2008
VH1 Rock Honors: The Who
as Self
2008
Beat Club: The 40th Anniversary Edition
as Self (archive footage)
2008
