Pete Townshend
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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
Credits
Tommy (1975)
as Himself
Being Mick (2001)
as Self
Classic Quadrophenia (2015)
as Self
Lennon or McCartney (2014)
as Self
Mayor of the Sunset Strip (2003)
as Self
Woodstock (1970)
as Self - The Who
Live Aid (1985)
as Self
Lambert & Stamp (2014)
as Himself
Billy Idol Should Be Dead (2026)
as Self
The Night That Changed Rock (2019)
Actor
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief (2012)
as Self
Listening to You: The Who Live at the Isle of Wight (1998)
as Himself
The Who: The Kids Are Alright (1979)
as Self
The Shadows At Sixty (2020)
as Self
Heads (1969)
as Self
Night Flight: Born Again (2016)
as Self
1996 VH1 Honors (1996)
Actor
The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus (1996)
as Self - Guitar
London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony: A Symphony of British Music (2012)
as Self
The Who: Who's Next - Life House Super Deluxe Edition (2023)
Actor
The Beatles Revolution (2000)
as Self
Led Zeppelin Played Here (2014)
as Self (archive footage)
Smashing Pumpkins: If All Goes Wrong (2008)
as Self
Bad Reputation (2018)
as Self
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball (1982)
as Self
Quadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me? (2013)
as Himself
The Secret Policeman's Ball (1979)
as Himself
The Who: Sensation - The Making of Tommy (2013)
as Himself
The Who - Live at the Silverdome (—)
as Himself
VH1 Rock Honors: The Who (2008)
as Self
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today (2005)
as Self
Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who (2007)
as Self
Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation (2019)
as Self
The Who: French TV Archives 1965-1967 (2015)
Actor
Brian Wilson: On Tour (2003)
as Self
THE WHO Live At The Chicago Amphitheater 1979 (—)
as Himself
The Story of Quadrophenia (—)
as Self
Jimi Hendrix (1973)
as Self
Monterey Pop (1968)
as Self - The Who
Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse (2002)
Actor
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball? (2004)
as Self
The Who: Fresno 2/25/2007 (2007)
Actor
The Who: Glasgow 7/9/2006 (2006)
Actor
The Who Hits 50! Live (2022)
Actor
Woodstock: Untold Stories Revisited (2014)
as Self
Jimi Plays Monterey (1987)
as Self (archive footage)
All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes (1982)
as Self
The Who: Bonn 7/11/2006 (2006)
Actor
Classic Albums: The Who - Who's Next (1999)
as Self
The Who: Quadrophenia Super Deluxe Edition (2026)
Actor
The Who: Dublin 6/29/2007 (2007)
Actor
Come Together The Rise of the Festival (2018)
Actor
An Ox's Tale: The John Entwistle Story (2006)
as Himself
The Who: Dublin 7/8/2006 (2006)
Actor
The Who: Locarno 7/14/2006 (2006)
Actor
The Who: Boston 9/16/2006 (2006)
Actor
The World's Greatest Gigs (2005)
Actor
The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb (1993)
as Voice
Acoustic at the BBC (2011)
as Self
The Who: BBC Electric Proms (2006)
as Himself
Mick Fleetwood and Friends: Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac (2021)
as Self
Pete Townshend - Live at Fillmore West, April 30th, 1996 (1996)
as guitar, vocals
The Who: Werchter 6/30/2006 (2006)
Actor
The Who: Stockholm 7/6/2007 (2007)
Actor
The Session Man (2025)
as Self
Pete Townshend - South Bank Show Documentary (1985)
as self
The Who: Baltimore 9/23/2006 (2006)
Actor
Live Aid (2004)
Actor
The Who: Philadelphia 11/25/2006 (—)
Actor
The Who: Zaragoza 7/29/2006 (2006)
Actor
The Who - At Kilburn 1977 (2008)
as guitar
Video EP: Pete Townshend (1982)
Actor
The Who: Fragments Fan Club DVD (2007)
as Himself
The Who: Ulm 7/23/2006 (2006)
Actor
The Who: Lyon 7/17/2006 (2006)
Actor
The Who: Hampshire 7/3/2006 (2006)
Actor
The Who: Palm Springs 11/11/2006 (2006)
Actor
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go! (2021)
as Self (archive footage)
The Who: Quadrophenia - Live in London (2014)
Actor
The Who: Madrid 7/27/2006 (2006)
Actor
The Who: Vancouver 10/8/2006 (—)
Actor
The Who: Nyon 7/20/2006 (2006)
Actor
Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd (2023)
as Self
Jean-Michel Jarre: A Journey into Sound (2015)
as Self
The Who | Tommy and Quadrophenia Live (2005)
as Self - Guitar, Vocals
The Britpop Story 'It Really, Really, Really, Could Happen' (2005)
as Self (archive footage)
The Who: Live in Hyde Park (2015)
as Himself - guitarist, vocals
The Who: Live in Boston (2004)
as Himself
Woodstock: Untold Stories (2009)
Actor
The Who: Philadelphia 9/12/2006 (2006)
Actor
The Who: Maximum R&B Live (1994)
as Himself
The Who – Broadcast In Roundhouse Electric Proms 2006 (2006)
Actor
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live - The Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2009)
as Self
The Who: Tommy Live at The Royal Albert Hall (2017)
as Himself – guitars, vocals
The Who: Holmdel 9/21/2006 (2006)
Actor
One For The Road: Ronnie Lane Memorial Concert (2004)
as Self
The Who | Live, Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy (1989)
as Self - Guitars & Vocals / Mr. Walker / Mrs. Walker / Narrator
The Who: St. Polten 7/22/2006 (2006)
Actor
The Who: Grand Rapids 12/5/2006 (2006)
Actor
Pete Townshend - Letterman Compilation 1985-1999 (1999)
as self
Carousella (1966)
as himself
Play It Loud: The Story of Marshall (2014)
as Self
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea (1981)
as Self
The Who: Tommy Live With Special Guests (2006)
as Self
The Who: Live at Shea Stadium 1982 (1982)
as Self
The Rock Prophet: The Story of Link Wray (2025)
as Self
The Who: Live at Lyon (2006)
as Himself (Guitars, Vocals)
The Lost Paths (1967)
as Himself
Sound of the City: London 1964-73 (1973)
as Self
Pete Townshend's Deep End - Face The Face (2016)
as Self
The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight 2004 Festival (2017)
as Self
The Who: Liverpool 7/6/2006 (2006)
Actor
The Who & Special Guests: Live At The Royal Albert Hall (2000)
as Self - Lead Guitar / Vocals
The Who at Live Aid (1985)
Actor
A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who (1994)
as Self
The Who: Metz 7/18/2006 (2006)
Actor
The Passing Show: The Life and Music of Ronnie Lane (2006)
as Himself
The Who: One Band's Explosive Story (2022)
as Self - The Who Member
Monterey Pop - The Outtake Performances (2002)
Actor
The Who: Live from Toronto (1984)
Actor
Classic Albums: The Who Sell Out (2021)
as Himself
White City (1985)
as Pete Fountain
The Who: Atlantic City 3/9/2007 (2007)
Actor
The Who – Live At Tanglewood 1970 (1970)
as Himself
The Who: Sensation—The Story of Tommy (2014)
as Himself
Police Protecting Children - Internet Paedophilia (2004)
as Self
The Who: Live in Texas '75 (2012)
as Himself
The Who: Cheshire 6/23/2007 (2007)
Actor
The Who With Orchestra Live At Wembley (2023)
Actor
The Who Rocks America 1982 (1983)
as Himself
Dear Mr. Fantasy - A Celebration for Jim Capaldi (2007)
as Himself
The Who: Brighton 6/18/2006 (2006)
Actor
The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 (2009)
as Himselft
The Who - Who's Next 1971-2023 (1999)
as Self
The Who: Monte Carlo 7/15/2006 (2006)
Actor
The Who: Wantagh 9/13/2006 (2006)
Actor
The Who: Purple Hearts and Power Chords (2011)
Actor
Pete Townshend Live in New York Featuring Psychoderelict (1993)
as Himself
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC (2015)
as Self (archive footage)
Rachel Fuller presents: In the Attic with Pete Townshend & Friends (2009)
as Self
The Who: Rock in Rio 2017 (2017)
as guitar
The Who: The Night That Changed Rock (2019)
as Self
The Who: Liverpool 7/5/2006 (2006)
Actor
The Who: Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests (2006)
as Pete Townshend
The Who: Live at the London Coliseum 1969 (2008)
as Himself - guitars, vocals
Beat Club: The 40th Anniversary Edition (2008)
as Self (archive footage)
Seize millions de jeunes: Mods (1965)
as Interviewee
The Who: Lisbon 5/16/2007 (2007)
Actor