Pete Townshend
Date of birth: 1945-05-19
Place of birth: Chiswick, London, England, UK
Known for: Acting
Also known as: The Who, Peter Dennis Blandford 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
Movie Credits
Pete Townshend's Deep End - Face The Face
2016-09-16
This show was filmed for the famous German TV series Rockpalast in MIDEM in Cannes on 29th January 1
The Who: The Kids Are Alright
1979-06-15
Through concert performances and interviews, this film offers us a comprehensive look at the British
Tommy
1975-03-19
After a series of traumatic childhood events, a psychosomatically deaf, dumb and blind boy becomes a
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
2021-06-05
Best of the 60s is a documentary and a compilation from across the years of the iconic music series.
The Who - At Kilburn 1977
2008-11-17
Featuring one of the last public appearances by Keith Moon, the 1977 Kilburn show is a long-sought h
THE WHO Live At The Chicago Amphitheater 1979
The Who performed at the Chicago Amphitheater in Chicago, Illinois on December. 8th, 1979. The conce
Monterey Pop
1968-12-26
Featuring performances by popular artists of the 1960s, this concert film highlights the music of th
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
2004-12-09
The Secret Policeman benefit shows for Amnesty International brought together comedy grand masters -
Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd
2023-05-15
Follow the moment Barrett was kicked out of Pink Floyd, from the narrative of him going from groundb
The Who: Maximum R&B Live
1994-08-15
A celebration of 30 years of The Who.
Classic Albums: The Who - Who's Next
1999-10-21
In this 1999 documentary, Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and John Entwistle discuss the making of wha
The Who: Live in Boston
2004-09-14
This film documents The Who's 2002 performance at Mansfield, Massachusetts. Pete Townshend and Roger
Led Zeppelin Played Here
2014-10-11
1969. Man lands on the moon. Half a million strong at Woodstock....and Led Zeppelin perform in the g
The History of Rock 'n' Roll
1995-03-06
The history of rock n' roll and pop music are explored are explored via interviews and footage of we
The Who: Rock in Rio 2017
2017-09-23
The Who at Cidade do Rock, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 23, 2017. Setlist: I Can't Explain /
Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
2007-09-14
A documentary on The Who, featuring interviews with the band's two surviving members, Pete Townshend
Acoustic at the BBC
2011-09-02
A journey through some of the finest moments of acoustic guitar performances from the BBC archives,
Listening to You: The Who Live at the Isle of Wight
1998-11-03
Mod rockers the Who are captured live by director Murray Lerner at the legendary Isle of Wight festi
Classic Albums: The Who Sell Out
2021-06-15
A retrospective about The Who's third studio album 'The Who Sell Out'. Including interviews with Who
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live - The Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
2009-11-03
This set features rare, one-of-a-kind performances from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction cer
The Secret Policeman's Ball
1979-12-22
A series of benefit concerts to raise money for Amnesty International. Performances include comedy s
Beat Club: The 40th Anniversary Edition
2008-01-01
A two-disc retrospective of iconic Beat Club performances recorded between 1968 and 1979 for German
Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation
2019-05-24
50 years after the legendary fest, Barak Goodman’s electric retelling of Woodstock, from the point o
Quadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me?
2013-06-29
In his home studio and revisiting old haunts in Shepherds Bush and Battersea, Pete Townshend opens h
The Who: One Band's Explosive Story
2022-08-26
The story of Roger Daltrey (vocals), Pete Townshend (guitar), John Entwistle (bass) and Keith Moon (
The Beatles Revolution
2000-11-17
A primetime special celebrating The Beatles and exploring the lasting impact on pop music of Beatles
Carousella
1966-12-31
25min short documentary about Soho strippers which was banned on its first release by the British Bo
The Who: Live in Texas '75
2012-07-29
The Who perform a live set at The Summit, Houston, Texas on 20 November 1975. Probably the best 'off
The Passing Show: The Life and Music of Ronnie Lane
2006-04-09
BBC documentary on the Small Faces' Ronnie Lane, which has since had its own standalone DVD release.
The Who & Special Guests: Live At The Royal Albert Hall
2000-11-27
The Who & Special Guests: Live at the Royal Albert Hall is a concert film of The Who's concert on No
The Who: BBC Electric Proms
2006-10-28
The Who play to a crowd that can barely believe they're about to witness one of the best live bands
White City
1985-01-02
A film based on Townshend's album "White City: A Novel". The story is based on the area where Townsh
The Who - The Making of Tommy
2013-10-25
1968 was a time of soul searching for the band - with three badly performing singles behind them the
The Who: Sensation—The Story of Tommy
2014-03-08
The Who's seminal double album 'Tommy', released in 1969, is a milestone in rock history. It revital
Night Flight: Born Again
2016-04-10
Documentary tribute to what VH1 called “the single greatest rock omnibus program ever aired” and Bro
The Who: Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests
2006-12-01
Elaborate mixed-media production documenting the Who's 1996/97 tour of the USA with special guests B
The Who - Who's Next 1971-2023
1999-10-21
The Who's landmark album, Who's Next, in a new remix by Steven Wilson, featuring bonus tracks from t
The Who: French TV Archives 1965-1967
2015-01-01
A compendium of TV and concert appearances from French Television, showcasing the prowess and power
A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who
1994-12-16
A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who, also known as Daltrey Sings Townshend, is a
The Who – Broadcast In Roundhouse Electric Proms 2006
2006-01-01
Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey are on blistering form in a session recorded at the Roundhouse in n
The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
2009-02-05
Mod rockers The Who are captured live by director Murray Lerner at the legendary Isle of Wight festi
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
1982-03-01
Following the success of the 1979 show and the financial benefits accruing to Amnesty from the spin-
One For The Road: Ronnie Lane Memorial Concert
2004-09-24
At The Royal Albert Hall, London on 8th April 2004 after some 15 months of planning with Paul Weller
Dear Mr. Fantasy - A Celebration for Jim Capaldi
2007-01-13
In January 2007 a fantastic line-up of guests gathered at the Roundhouse in London to pay tribute to
Pete Townshend - South Bank Show Documentary
1985-10-01
London Weekend Television presents presents a Pete Townshend documentary featuring his October 1985
Pete Townshend - Letterman Compilation 1985-1999
1999-12-31
A compilation of Pete Townshend's performances and interviews on The David Letterman Show from 1985
Brian Wilson: On Tour
2003-03-17
Legendary former Beach Boy, Brian Wilson toured America and Japan with a 10 piece band. Here he is c
The Lost Paths
1967-01-01
Series of three short 'Pop Films' directed between 1966 - 67 for French television by Philippe Garre
Pete Townshend - Live at Fillmore West, April 30th, 1996
1996-04-30
This Pete Townshend live performance was audience recorded at the legendary Fillmore West in San Fra
The Who Hits 50! Live
2022-11-26
Celebrate the legendary rock band’s 50th anniversary in a 2015 concert at the Royal Albert Hall in L
Classic Quadrophenia
2015-07-06
Pete Townsend's reinvention of The Who's Quadrophenia for the classical music genre (composed by par
The Who: Live at Shea Stadium 1982
1982-01-01
The Who’s 1982 tour, which was all in North America apart from two warm-up dates at the Birmingham N
Lambert & Stamp
2014-01-20
In this crazy, chaotic gospel of chance, aspiring filmmakers Chris Stamp and Kit Lambert set out to
Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse
2002-01-01
Music & Musicals, Classic Rock, Rock & Pop - Recorded in London, this live 2000 concert show
Jimi Hendrix
1973-06-14
Made shortly after his death, this documentary explores the brief life and remarkable legacy of guit
Woodstock: Untold Stories Revisited
2014-07-29
Sixteen performances, which total 73 minutes, of previously unreleased performances from the 1969 Wo
Woodstock: Untold Stories
2009-06-09
2 hours of musical performances from Woodstock which weren't included in the original Woodstock film
Monterey Pop: The Outtake Performances
2002-12-11
Additional musical performances from the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival in California, shot for the film
The Who at Live Aid
1985-07-13
The Who reunite for the first time at Wembley
The Britpop Story 'It Really, Really, Really, Could Happen'
2005-08-15
In August 1995 Blur and Oasis were engaged in a head-to-head chart battle which divided music fans a
Video EP: Pete Townshend
1982-06-14
Here is an artist who needs no introduction. During the past 15 years, both with the Who and in solo
The Who: Live in Hyde Park
2015-10-07
The Who’s epic 50th Anniversary Tour finale show, recorded at Hyde Park. Experience all the greatest
Lennon or McCartney
2014-12-12
550 artists were interviewed over ten years. At some point during those interviews, they were asked
The Who: Live at Lyon
2006-11-21
"Live At Lyon" Recorded at the Vienne Ampitheatre, Lyon, France on July 17, 2006 This bonus DVD was
The Who – With Orchestra Live At Wembley
2023-03-31
Police Protecting Children - Internet Paedophilia
2004-03-23
UK police investigation into paedophiles accessing images of child abuse on the internet. Out of ove
Heads
1969-12-19
Includes 'portraits' of Marianne Faithfull, Thelonious Monk and 28 others, some known, some less so.
The Who: Live from Toronto
1984-01-01
Widely considered one of the greatest bands ever, rock legends The Who bring down the house in this
Play It Loud: The Story of Marshall
2014-11-28
A history and tribute to British Jim Marshall's amplifiers, which since then became the standard of
Mayor of the Sunset Strip
2003-06-17
A look at the history of fame in the world through the eyes of pop star impresario, Rodney Bingenhei
The Who - Live at the London Coliseum 1969
2008-11-17
Concert of the Who's first filming of the Rock Opera «Tommy» at London's opera house, the Coliseum,
The Who: Tommy Live With Special Guests
2006-06-05
Just seven years after wrapping up one of rock's first farewell tours, The Who returned to the stage
Rachel Fuller presents: In the Attic with Pete Townshend & Friends
2009-03-31
Rachel and Pete invite you to join them in the ATTIC for an unforgettable musical experience. Traili
An Ox's Tale: The John Entwistle Story
2006-08-22
An intimate portrait of the legendary bass guitarist for The Who. This documentary includes the last
The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight 2004 Festival
2017-06-02
In 2004 The Who returned to the Isle Of Wight Festival for the first time since their legendary perf
Being Mick
2001-11-22
For everyone who's always envied the life of the legendary Rolling Stones frontman, this behind-the-
The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
1996-10-12
A 1968 event put together by The Rolling Stones. The film is comprised of two concerts on a circus s
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
1981-03-29
Organized by Paul McCartney and the United Nations, these concerts were in response to the 1975-79 K
Seize millions de jeunes: Mods
1965-03-18
A 1965 segment from a French television program "Seize millions de jeunes" which takes a look at the
The Who: Tommy Live at The Royal Albert Hall
2017-10-13
This concert film captures the first ever live performance by The Who of “Tommy” in its entirety, re
Jean-Michel Jarre: A Journey into Sound
2015-09-19
Jean-Michel Jarre is one of the pioneers of electronic music. He is a composer, performer, songwrite
Live Aid
1985-07-13
Live Aid was held on 13 July 1985, simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, and the Joh
The Who Rocks America 1982
1983-01-01
The Who presents their last concert of the 1982 "Farewell" tour in Toronto, Canada, 1982.
Bad Reputation
2018-09-28
The life and career of rock n' roll icon Joan Jett from her early years ripping it up onstage as the
The Who – Live At Tanglewood 1970
1970-06-07
1 Heaven And Hell 2 I Can't Explain 3 Water 4 I Don't Even Know Myself 5 Young Man Blues 6 Over
The Who - Live at the Silverdome
The Who - Live at the Silverdome
The Who: Quadrophenia - Live in London
2014-06-06
Legendary rock band The Who captured live in performance at London's Wembley Arena in July 2013. The
Sound of the City: London 1964-73
1973-06-01
Vintage film footage from the hey-day of the London's rock and roll scene. Interviews with rock arti
Smashing Pumpkins: If All Goes Wrong
2008-11-11
A feature-length documentary about The Smashing Pumpkins, which chronicles the band's residencies at
Woodstock
1970-03-26
An intimate look at the Woodstock Music & Art Festival held in Bethel, NY in 1969, from preparation
The Night That Changed Rock
2019-12-03
Forty years later, rock legends Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey sat down for first-of-a-kind, exclu
The Who: Fragments Fan Club DVD
2007-01-01
This DVD from THE WHO, called Fragments, went out to platinum members of their fan club. The film co
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
2005-07-13
This concert film was created for the London premiére launch of Live Aid on dvd in November 2004. It
Pete Townshend Live in New York Featuring Psychoderelict
1993-11-16
A performance from Townshend's first North American solo tour was broadcast live from the theatre of
The Who: Philadelphia 11/25/2006
The Who perform live at the Wachovia Center in November of 2006.
The Who: Vancouver 10/8/2006
By most accounts, from those in attendance and based on various boards reviewing the Sirius rebroadc
The Who: Philadelphia 9/12/2006
2006-09-12
The Who kick off their 2006 North American tour in Philadelphia
The Who: Grand Rapids 12/5/2006
2006-12-05
The Who perform in Grand Rapids during their 2006 North American tour.
The Who: Fresno 2/25/2007
2007-02-25
The Who perform at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, CA.
The Who: Cheshire 6/23/2007
2007-06-23
The Who perform in Cheshire at the Knowsley Music Festival during the summer of 2007.
The Who: Monte Carlo 7/15/2006
2006-07-15
The Who perform at the Sporting Club in Monte Carlo during the summer of 2006.
The Who: Nyon 7/20/2006
2006-07-20
The Who perform at the Paleo Festival in Nyon during the summer of 2006.
The Who: Atlantic City 3/9/2007
2007-03-09
The Who perform at the Borgata in Atlantic City, NJ.
The Who: Palm Springs 11/11/2006
2006-11-11
The Who perform at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Palm Springs, CA.
The Who: Werchter 6/30/2006
2006-06-30
The Who perform at the Werchter Festival in the summer of 2006
The Who: Lisbon 5/16/2007
2007-05-16
The Who perform for the first time in Portugal.
The Who: Dublin 6/29/2007
2007-06-29
The Who perform in Dublin, Ireland during the summer of 2007.
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
2012-12-12
“12-12-12” was a fundraising concert to aid the victims of Hurricane Sandy, it took place on Decembe
The World's Greatest Gigs
2005-11-09
A countdown of the 20 greatest gigs of all-time as chosen by a panel of pundits, promoters and perfo
The Who: Brighton 6/18/2006
2006-06-18
The Who kick-off their 2006 world tour in Brighton, UK.
The Who: Hampshire 7/3/2006
2006-07-03
The perform in Hampshire during the summer of 2006.
VH1 Rock Honors: The Who
2008-07-17
The Who were honored at the 2008 ceremony from the Pauley Pavilion at UCLA instead of the usual Las
The Who: Liverpool 7/5/2006
2006-07-05
The Who perform their first show in Liverpool during the summer of 2006.
The Who: Liverpool 7/6/2006
2006-07-06
The Who perform their second show in Liverpool during the summer of 2006.
The Who: Glasgow 7/9/2006
2006-07-09
The Who perform in Glasgow, Scotland, during the summer of 2006.
The Who: Bonn 7/11/2006
2006-07-11
The Who perform in Bonn, Germany, during the summer of 2006.
The Who: Lyon 7/17/2006
2006-07-17
The Who perform "Live at Lyon" during the summer of 2006.
The Who: St. Polten 7/22/2006
2006-07-22
The Who perform at the Lovely Days Festival in St. Polten, Austria.
The Who: Ulm 7/23/2006
2006-07-23
The Who perform in Ulm, Germany, during the summer of 2006.
The Who: Metz 7/18/2006
2006-07-18
The Who perform in Metz, France, in the summer of 2006.
The Who: Dublin 7/8/2006
2006-07-08
The Who perform in Dublin, Ireland, during the summer of 2006.
The Who: Locarno 7/14/2006
2006-07-14
The Who perform at the Moon and Stars Festival in Locarno, Switzerland.
The Who: Purple Hearts and Power Chords
2011-04-11
A 2-disc collection of live and TV performances by The Who. Before this release, several other bootl
The Who | Live, Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy
1989-11-14
This live rendition of The Who’s full-blown rock opera about a deaf, dumb, and blind boy was perform
The Who | Tommy and Quadrophenia Live
2005-11-08
Rhino Records is proud to present a 3-DVD boxed set showcasing one of the greatest live bands ever-T
Live Aid
2004-11-16
4 × DVD, The broadcast of the biggest benefit concert in history, organized by Bob Geldof and Midge
Mick Fleetwood and Friends: Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac
2020-02-15
Legendary drummer Mick Fleetwood enlisted an all-star cast for a one-of-a-kind concert honouring the
The Who: The Night That Changed Rock
2019-12-15
In 1979, British rock band The Who performed at Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, Ohio. A rush of c
The Who: Zaragoza 7/29/2006
2006-07-29
The Who wrap up their European tour with a show in Zaragoza, Spain.
The Who: Madrid 7/27/2006
2006-07-27
The Who perform live in Madrid, Spain, during the summer of 2006.
The Who: Wantagh 9/13/2006
2006-09-13
The Who play at Jones Beach in Wantagh, NY, during their 2006 US tour.
The Who: Baltimore 9/23/2006
2006-09-23
The Who perform at the Virgin Music Festival at Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Who: Holmdel 9/21/2006
2006-09-21
The Who continue their 2006 tour with a stop in Holmdel, New Jersey.
The Who: Boston 9/16/2006
2006-09-16
The Who perform at the TD Bank Garden in Boston, MA, during their 2006 US tour.
The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb
1993-12-10
A boy born the size of a small doll is kidnapped by a genetic lab and must find a way back to his fa
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC
2015-07-24
A celebration of rock 'n' roll in the shape of a compilation of classic artists and songs, featuring
Jimi Plays Monterey
1987-10-16
Jimi Hendrix's debut American set at 1967's Monterey Pop Festival is generally considered one of the
The Who: Stockholm 7/6/2007
2007-07-06
The Who performs in Stockholm, Sweden, on July 6th 2007. This DVD captures their full unedited show
The Session Man
2025-05-29
The story of highly gifted pianist and unsung hero, Nicky Hopkins, who played with the Beatles, the