Pete Townshend

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

145

Gender

Male

Birthday

1945-05-19 (78 years old)

Place of Birth

Chiswick, London, England, UK

Also Known As

  • The Who
  • Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend

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

The Simpsons
8.0%

The Simpsons

Dec 17, 1989

Tommy
6.4%

Tommy

Mar 19, 1975

Woodstock
7.5%

Woodstock

Mar 26, 1970

Monterey Pop
7.3%

Monterey Pop

Dec 26, 1968

Live Aid
7.9%

Live Aid

Jul 13, 1985

The Kids Are Alright
7.1%

The Kids Are Alright

Jun 15, 1979

Bad Reputation
6.8%

Bad Reputation

Sep 28, 2018

Lennon or McCartney
5.2%

Lennon or McCartney

Dec 12, 2014

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Acting

The Who: Fragments Fan Club DVD as Himself
The Who - Live at the Silverdome as Himself
The Who: Vancouver 10/8/2006
The Who: Philadelphia 11/25/2006
THE WHO Live At The Chicago Amphitheater 1979 as Himself
2023
The Who: Who's Next | Life House as Self
2023
Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd as Self
2022
The Who Hits 50! Live
2022
The Who: One Band's Explosive Story as Self - The Who Member
2021
Classic Albums: The Who Sell Out as Himself
2021
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go! as Self (archive footage)
2020
Mick Fleetwood and Friends: Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac as Self
2019
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
2018
Bad Reputation as Self
2017
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
2016
Pete Townshend's Deep End - Face The Face as Self
2016
Night Flight: Born Again as Self
2015
The Who: Live in Hyde Park as Himself - guitarist, vocals
2015
Jean-Michel Jarre: The Rise of Electronic Music as Self
2015
Classic Quadrophenia
2015
The Who: Live at Glastonbury 2015 as Himself, Guitar
2015
The Who: French TV Archives 1965-1967
2014
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
The Who: Quadrophenia - Live in London
2014
The Who: Sensation - The Story of Tommy as Himself
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self
2014
Lambert & Stamp as Himself
2013
The Who - The Making of Tommy as Himself
2013
Quadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me? as Himself
2012
12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief as Self
2012
The Who: Live in Texas '75 as Himself
2011
Acoustic At The BBC as Self
2011
The Who: Purple Hearts and Power Chords
2009
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live - The Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as Self
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
2008
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
2007
Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who as Himself
2007
The Who: Dublin 6/29/2007
2007
The Who: Cheshire 6/23/2007
2007
The Who Live at Glastonbury as Vocals, Guitar
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 as Himself
2006
The Who: Grand Rapids 12/5/2006
2006
The Who: Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests as Pete Townshend
2006
The Who: Live at Lyon as Himself (Guitars, Vocals)
2006
The Who: Palm Springs 11/11/2006
2006
The Who: BBC Electric Proms as Himself
2006
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: Philadelphia 9/12/2006
2006
An Ox's Tale: The John Entwistle Story as Himself
2006
The Who: Zaragoza 7/29/2006
2006
The Who: Madrid 7/27/2006
2006
The Who: Ulm 7/23/2006
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: Lyon 7/17/2006
2006
The Who: Monte Carlo 7/15/2006
2006
The Who: Locarno 7/14/2006
2006
The Who: Bonn 7/11/2006
2006
The Who: Glasgow 7/9/2006
2006
The Who: Dublin 7/8/2006
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 as Self
2006
VH1 Rock Honors
2006
The Passing Show: The Life and Music of Ronnie Lane as Himself
2006
The Who – Broadcast In Roundhouse Electric Proms 2006
2005
The World's Greatest Gigs
2005
The Who: Tommy and Quadrophenia Live as Self - Guitar, Vocals
2005
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today as Self
2004
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball? as Self
2004
Live Aid
2004
One For The Road: Ronnie Lane Memorial Concert as Pete Townshend
2004
The Who: Live in Boston as Himself
2003
Mayor of the Sunset Strip as Self
2003
Brian Wilson: On Tour as Self
2002
Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse
2001
Being Mick as Self
2000
The Who and Special Guests: Live at the Royal Albert Hall as Self - Lead Guitar / Vocals
2000
The Beatles Revolution as Self
1999
Pete Townshend - Letterman Compilation 1985-1999 as self
1999
Classic Albums: The Who - Who's Next as Self
1999
Where Are They Now? as Self
1998
Listening to You: The Who Live at the Isle of Wight as Himself
1997
Behind the Music as Self
1997
Classic Albums as Self
1996
The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus as Self - Guitar
1996
Pete Townshend - Live at Fillmore West, April 30th, 1996 as guitar, vocals
1995
The History of Rock 'n' Roll as Self
1994
A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who as Self
1994
The Who: Maximum R&B Live as Himself
1993
Pete Townshend Live in New York Featuring Psychoderelict as Himself
1989
The Simpsons
1989
The Who Live, Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy as Self - Guitars & Vocals / Mr. Walker / Mrs. Walker / Narrator
1987
Na siehste! as Self
1985
Pete Townshend - South Bank Show Documentary as self
1985
Live Aid as Self
1985
White City as Pete Fountain
1984
The Who: Live from Toronto
1983
The Who Rocks America 1982 as Himself
1982
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball as Himself
1982
The Who: Live at Shea Stadium 1982 as Self
1981
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea as Self
1981
The Who: Rockpalast 1981 as Hinself
1981
The Who: Rockpalast Festival 1981
1981
Grateful Dead: Live on Rockpalast as Self - Performer / Special Guest
1979
The Secret Policeman's Ball as Himself
1979
The Kids Are Alright as Himself
1978
The Kennedy Center Honors as Self
1976
The Secret Policeman's Ball as Self
1975
Tommy as Himself
1975
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche as Self - The Who
1974
Rockpalast
1973
Jimi Hendrix as Self
1973
Sound of the City: London 1964-73 as Self
1971
Great Performances as Self
1970
The Who ‎– Live At Tanglewood 1970 as Himself
1970
Woodstock as Self - The Who
1969
Heads as Self
1968
Monterey Pop as Self - The Who
1967
Omnibus as Self
1967
The Lost Paths as Himself
1966
Carousella as himself
1965
Seize millions de jeunes: Mods as Interviewee
1964
Top of the Pops as Self

Crew

1999
American Beauty as Thanks
1986
Dogs in Space as Thanks

Production

2021
Her Majesty as Executive Producer
1999
The Iron Giant as Producer
1979
Quadrophenia as Executive Producer

Sound

2021
Her Majesty as Music
2016
A Silent Voice: The Movie as Theme Song Performance
2016
A Silent Voice: The Movie as Main Title Theme Composer
2006
Cloud Chaser as Music
2002
CSI: Miami as Theme Song Performance
2002
Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse as Music
1979
Quadrophenia as Music Director
1975
Tommy as Original Music Composer
1970
Double Pisces, Scorpio Rising as Music

Writing

2008
The Who: Live at the London Coliseum 1969 as Writer
2006
The Who: Tommy Live With Special Guests as Writer
1985
White City as Writer
1979
Quadrophenia as Story Consultant
1975
Tommy as Original Story
1975
Tommy as Original Concept
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