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.
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Known For
Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd
Self
2023
The Who Hits 50! Live
2022
The Who: One Band's Explosive Story
Self - The Who Member
2022
Classic Albums: The Who Sell Out
Himself
2021
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
Self (archive footage)
2021
The Night That Changed Rock
2019
Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation
Self
2019
Bad Reputation
Self
2018
The Who: Tommy Live at The Royal Albert Hall
Himself – guitars, vocals
2017
The Who: Rock in Rio 2017
guitar
2017
The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight 2004 Festival
Self
2017
Pete Townshend's Deep End - Face The Face
Self
2016
Night Flight: Born Again
Self
2016
The Who: Live in Hyde Park
Himself - guitarist, vocals
2015
Jean-Michel Jarre: A Journey into Sound
Self
2015
Classic Quadrophenia
Self
2015
The Who: French TV Archives 1965-1967
2015
Lennon or McCartney
Self
2014
Play It Loud: The Story of Marshall
Self
2014
Led Zeppelin Played Here
Self (archive footage)
2014
Woodstock: Untold Stories Revisited
Self
2014
The Who: Quadrophenia - Live in London
2014
The Who: Sensation—The Story of Tommy
Himself
2014
Lambert & Stamp
Himself
2014
The Who - The Making of Tommy
Himself
2013
Quadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me?
Himself
2013
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
Self
2012
The Who: Live in Texas '75
Himself
2012
Acoustic at the BBC
Self
2011
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live - The Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Self
2009
Woodstock: Untold Stories
2009
Rachel Fuller presents: In the Attic with Pete Townshend & Friends
Self
2009
The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
Himselft
2009
The Who - At Kilburn 1977
guitar
2008
The Who - Live at the London Coliseum 1969
Himself - guitars, vocals
2008
Smashing Pumpkins: If All Goes Wrong
Himself
2008
VH1 Rock Honors: The Who
Self
2008
Beat Club: The 40th Anniversary Edition
2008
Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
Self
2007
The Who: Dublin 6/29/2007
2007
The Who: Cheshire 6/23/2007
2007
The Who: Lisbon 5/16/2007
2007
The Who: Atlantic City 3/9/2007
2007
The Who: Fresno 2/25/2007
2007
Dear Mr. Fantasy - A Celebration for Jim Capaldi
Himself
2007
The Who: Fragments Fan Club DVD
Himself
2007
The Who: Grand Rapids 12/5/2006
2006
The Who: Live at Lyon
Himself (Guitars, Vocals)
2006
The Who: Palm Springs 11/11/2006
2006
The Who: BBC Electric Proms
Himself
2006
The Who: Philadelphia 9/12/2006
2006
An Ox's Tale: The John Entwistle Story
Himself
2006
The Who: St. Polten 7/22/2006
2006
The Who: Nyon 7/20/2006
2006
The Who: Metz 7/18/2006
2006
The Who: Monte Carlo 7/15/2006
2006
The Who: Glasgow 7/9/2006
2006
The Who: Liverpool 7/6/2006
2006
The Who: Liverpool 7/5/2006
2006
The Who: Hampshire 7/3/2006
2006
The Who: Werchter 6/30/2006
2006
The Who: Brighton 6/18/2006
2006
The Who: Tommy Live With Special Guests
Self
2006
The Passing Show: The Life and Music of Ronnie Lane
Himself
2006
The Who – Broadcast In Roundhouse Electric Proms 2006
2006
The World's Greatest Gigs
2005
The Britpop Story 'It Really, Really, Really, Could Happen'
Self (archive footage)
2005
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
Self
2005
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
Self
2004
One For The Road: Ronnie Lane Memorial Concert
Pete Townshend
2004
The Who: Live in Boston
Himself
2004
Police Protecting Children - Internet Paedophilia
Self
2004
Mayor of the Sunset Strip
Self
2003
Brian Wilson: On Tour
Self
2003
Monterey Pop: The Outtake Performances
2002
Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse
2002
Being Mick
Self
2001
The Who & Special Guests: Live At The Royal Albert Hall
Self - Lead Guitar / Vocals
2000
Pete Townshend - Letterman Compilation 1985-1999
self
1999
Classic Albums: The Who - Who's Next
Self
1999
The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
Self - Guitar
1996
Pete Townshend - Live at Fillmore West, April 30th, 1996
guitar, vocals
1996
Pete Townshend Live in New York Featuring Psychoderelict
Himself
1993
Pete Townshend - South Bank Show Documentary
self
1985
The Who at Live Aid
1985
Live Aid
Self
1985
The Who: Live from Toronto
1984
The Who Rocks America 1982
Himself
1983
Video EP: Pete Townshend
1982
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
Self
1982
The Who: Live at Shea Stadium 1982
Self
1982
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
Self
1981
The Who: The Kids Are Alright
Himself
1979
Tommy
Himself
1975
THE WHO Live At The Chicago Amphitheater 1979
Himself
The Who: Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests
Pete Townshend
2006
The Beatles Revolution
Self
2000
The Who - Who's Next 1971-2023
Self
1999
Listening to You: The Who Live at the Isle of Wight
Himself
1998
The History of Rock 'n' Roll
Self
1995
A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who
Self
1994
The Who: Maximum R&B Live
Himself
1994
White City
Pete Fountain
1985
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Himself
1979
Jimi Hendrix
Self
1973
Sound of the City: London 1964-73
Self
1973
The Who – Live At Tanglewood 1970
Himself
1970
Monterey Pop
Self - The Who
1968
The Lost Paths
Himself
1967
The Who – With Orchestra Live At Wembley
Heads
Self
1969
Seize millions de jeunes: Mods
Interviewee
1965
The Who - Live at the Silverdome
Himself
Woodstock
Self - The Who
1970
The Who: Vancouver 10/8/2006
The Who: Philadelphia 11/25/2006
The Sparks Brothers
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2021
Mick Fleetwood and Friends: Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac
Self
2020
The Who: The Night That Changed Rock
Self
2019
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC
2015
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self · (1 episode)
2014
The Who: Purple Hearts and Power Chords
2011
The Who: Baltimore 9/23/2006
2006
The Who: Holmdel 9/21/2006
2006
The Who: Boston 9/16/2006
2006
The Who: Wantagh 9/13/2006
2006
The Who: Zaragoza 7/29/2006
2006
The Who: Madrid 7/27/2006
2006
The Who: Ulm 7/23/2006
2006
The Who: Lyon 7/17/2006
2006
The Who: Locarno 7/14/2006
2006
The Who: Bonn 7/11/2006
2006
The Who: Dublin 7/8/2006
2006
VH1 Rock Honors
(1 episode)
2006
The Who | Tommy and Quadrophenia Live
Self - Guitar, Vocals
2005
Live Aid
2004
Where Are They Now?
Self · (1 episode)
1999
Behind the Music
Self · (1 episode)
1997
Classic Albums
Self · (2 episodes)
1997
The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb
Voice
1993
The Simpsons
Pete Townshend (voice) · (1 episode)
1989
The Who | Live, Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy
Self - Guitars & Vocals / Mr. Walker / Mrs. Walker / Narrator
1989
MTV Rockumentary
(1 episode)
1989
Na siehste!
Self · (1 episode)
1987
Jimi Plays Monterey
Self (archive footage)
1987
The Kennedy Center Honors
Self · (1 episode)
1978
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Self · (15 episodes)
1976
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Self - The Who · (1 episode)
1975
Rockpalast
Self (guitar vocal) · (1 episode)
1974
Rockpalast
(1 episode)
1974
Great Performances
Self · (1 episode)
1971
Omnibus
Self · (1 episode)
1967
Carousella
himself
1966
Top of the Pops
Self · (2 episodes)
1964