Pete Townshend

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Pete Townshend (2012)

English musician, songwriter, and author

Birth name	Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend
Also known as
Born	Birth date -1st March 1966 Chiswick, London, England
Origin
Died
Genres	Rock, hard rock, art rock, power pop
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter, author
Instrument(s)	Guitar, vocals, keyboards

Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (born 19 May 1945) is an English musician, songwriter, and author. He is best known as the lead guitarist and principal songwriter for the rock band The Who. Townshend has written more than 100 songs for 12 of The Who's studio albums, including concept albums, rock operas, and hit singles such as "Pinball Wizard", "Won't Get Fooled Again", and "Baba O'Riley". He has also written over 100 songs that have appeared on his solo albums and other works.

Early life

Townshend was born in Chiswick, London, to Cliff Townshend, a professional saxophonist in the Royal Air Force dance band The Squadronaires, and Betty Townshend, a singer with the Sydney Torch and Les Douglass Orchestras. He was raised in a musical family, which influenced his early interest in music.

Career

The Who

Townshend co-founded The Who in 1964 with Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon. The band became known for their energetic live performances and their contributions to the development of the rock opera genre. Townshend's innovative guitar techniques, including power chords and feedback, were influential in the development of rock music.

Solo career

In addition to his work with The Who, Townshend has had a successful solo career. His solo albums include Empty Glass (1980), All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes (1982), and White City: A Novel (1985). His solo work often explores themes of spirituality and personal introspection.

Other projects

Townshend has also been involved in various other projects, including writing and producing for other artists, composing for film and theatre, and authoring several books. His most notable literary work is his autobiography, Who I Am.

Personal life

Townshend has been married twice and has three children. He has been open about his struggles with substance abuse and his journey towards recovery. He is also known for his philanthropic efforts, particularly in support of music education and child abuse prevention.

Legacy

Townshend is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists and songwriters in the history of rock music. He has received numerous awards and accolades, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Who.

Discography

With The Who

• My Generation (1965)
• A Quick One (1966)
• The Who Sell Out (1967)
• Tommy (1969)
• Who's Next (1971)
• Quadrophenia (1973)
• The Who by Numbers (1975)
• Who Are You (1978)
• Face Dances (1981)
• It's Hard (1982)
• Endless Wire (2006)
• Who (2019)

Solo albums

• Who Came First (1972)
• Empty Glass (1980)
• All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes (1982)
• White City: A Novel (1985)
• The Iron Man: The Musical by Pete Townshend (1989)
• Psychoderelict (1993)

See also

• List of guitarists
• List of rock musicians
• List of songwriters