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

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Late Show with David Letterman

Top of the Pops

Great Performances

Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

All Movies (148)

• Billy Idol Should Be Dead2026 · as Self
• The Who: Quadrophenia Super Deluxe Edition2026
• The Rock Prophet: The Story of Link Wray2025 · as Self
• The Session Man2025 · as Self
• The Who: Who's Next - Life House Super Deluxe Edition2023
• Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd2023 · as Self
• The Who With Orchestra Live At Wembley2023
• The Who Hits 50! Live2022
• The Who: One Band's Explosive Story2022 · as Self - The Who Member
• Classic Albums: The Who Sell Out2021 · as Himself
• Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!2021 · as Self (archive footage)
• Mick Fleetwood and Friends: Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac2021 · as Self
• The Shadows At Sixty2020 · as Self
• The Who: The Night That Changed Rock2019 · as Self
• The Night That Changed Rock2019
• Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation2019 · as Self
• Bad Reputation2018 · as Self
• Come Together The Rise of the Festival2018
• The Who: Tommy Live at The Royal Albert Hall2017 · as Himself – guitars, vocals
• The Who: Rock in Rio 20172017 · as guitar
• The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight 2004 Festival2017 · as Self
• Pete Townshend's Deep End - Face The Face2016 · as Self
• Night Flight: Born Again2016 · as Self
• The Who: Live in Hyde Park2015 · as Himself - guitarist, vocals
• Jean-Michel Jarre: A Journey into Sound2015 · as Self
• It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC2015 · as Self (archive footage)
• Classic Quadrophenia2015 · as Self
• The Who: French TV Archives 1965-19672015
• Lennon or McCartney2014 · as Self
• Play It Loud: The Story of Marshall2014 · as Self
• Led Zeppelin Played Here2014 · as Self (archive footage)
• Woodstock: Untold Stories Revisited2014 · as Self
• The Who: Quadrophenia - Live in London2014
• The Who: Sensation—The Story of Tommy2014 · as Himself
• Lambert & Stamp2014 · as Himself
• The Who - The Making of Tommy2013 · as Himself
• Quadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me?2013 · as Himself
• 12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief2012 · as Self
• London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony: A Symphony of British Music2012 · as Self
• The Who: Live in Texas '752012 · as Himself
• Acoustic at the BBC2011 · as Self
• The Who: Purple Hearts and Power Chords2011
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live - The Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame2009 · as Self
• Woodstock: Untold Stories2009
• Rachel Fuller presents: In the Attic with Pete Townshend & Friends2009 · as Self
• The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 19702009 · as Himselft
• The Who - At Kilburn 19772008 · as guitar
• The Who: Live at the London Coliseum 19692008 · as Himself - guitars, vocals
• Smashing Pumpkins: If All Goes Wrong2008 · as Self
• VH1 Rock Honors: The Who2008 · as Self
• Beat Club: The 40th Anniversary Edition2008 · as Self (archive footage)
• Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who2007 · as Self
• The Who: Stockholm 7/6/20072007
• The Who: Dublin 6/29/20072007
• The Who: Cheshire 6/23/20072007
• The Who: Lisbon 5/16/20072007
• The Who: Atlantic City 3/9/20072007
• The Who: Fresno 2/25/20072007
• Dear Mr. Fantasy - A Celebration for Jim Capaldi2007 · as Himself
• The Who: Fragments Fan Club DVD2007 · as Himself
• The Who: Grand Rapids 12/5/20062006
• The Who: Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests2006 · as Pete Townshend
• The Who: Live at Lyon2006 · as Himself (Guitars, Vocals)
• The Who: Palm Springs 11/11/20062006
• The Who: BBC Electric Proms2006 · as Himself
• The Who: Baltimore 9/23/20062006
• The Who: Holmdel 9/21/20062006
• The Who: Boston 9/16/20062006
• The Who: Wantagh 9/13/20062006
• The Who: Philadelphia 9/12/20062006
• An Ox's Tale: The John Entwistle Story2006 · as Himself
• The Who: Zaragoza 7/29/20062006
• The Who: Madrid 7/27/20062006
• The Who: Ulm 7/23/20062006
• The Who: St. Polten 7/22/20062006
• The Who: Nyon 7/20/20062006
• The Who: Metz 7/18/20062006
• The Who: Lyon 7/17/20062006
• The Who: Monte Carlo 7/15/20062006
• The Who: Locarno 7/14/20062006
• The Who: Bonn 7/11/20062006
• The Who: Glasgow 7/9/20062006
• The Who: Dublin 7/8/20062006
• The Who: Liverpool 7/6/20062006
• The Who: Liverpool 7/5/20062006
• The Who: Hampshire 7/3/20062006
• The Who: Werchter 6/30/20062006
• The Who: Brighton 6/18/20062006
• The Who: Tommy Live With Special Guests2006 · as Self
• The Passing Show: The Life and Music of Ronnie Lane2006 · as Himself
• The Who – Broadcast In Roundhouse Electric Proms 20062006
• The World's Greatest Gigs2005
• The Who | Tommy and Quadrophenia Live2005 · as Self - Guitar, Vocals
• The Britpop Story 'It Really, Really, Really, Could Happen'2005 · as Self (archive footage)
• Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today2005 · as Self
• Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?2004 · as Self
• Live Aid2004
• One For The Road: Ronnie Lane Memorial Concert2004 · as Self
• The Who: Live in Boston2004 · as Himself
• Police Protecting Children - Internet Paedophilia2004 · as Self
• Mayor of the Sunset Strip2003 · as Self
• Brian Wilson: On Tour2003 · as Self
• Monterey Pop - The Outtake Performances2002
• Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse2002
• Being Mick2001 · as Self
• The Who & Special Guests: Live At The Royal Albert Hall2000 · as Self - Lead Guitar / Vocals
• The Beatles Revolution2000 · as Self
• Pete Townshend - Letterman Compilation 1985-19991999 · as self
• Classic Albums: The Who - Who's Next1999 · as Self
• The Who - Who's Next 1971-20231999 · as Self
• Listening to You: The Who Live at the Isle of Wight1998 · as Himself
• The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus1996 · as Self - Guitar
• Pete Townshend - Live at Fillmore West, April 30th, 19961996 · as guitar, vocals
• 1996 VH1 Honors1996
• A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who1994 · as Self
• The Who: Maximum R&B Live1994 · as Himself
• The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb1993 · as Voice
• Pete Townshend Live in New York Featuring Psychoderelict1993 · as Himself
• The Who | Live, Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy1989 · as Self - Guitars & Vocals / Mr. Walker / Mrs. Walker / Narrator
• Jimi Plays Monterey1987 · as Self (archive footage)
• Pete Townshend - South Bank Show Documentary1985 · as self
• The Who at Live Aid1985
• Live Aid1985 · as Self
• White City1985 · as Pete Fountain
• The Who: Live from Toronto1984
• The Who Rocks America 19821983 · as Himself
• Video EP: Pete Townshend1982
• All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes1982 · as Self
• The Secret Policeman's Other Ball1982 · as Self
• The Who: Live at Shea Stadium 19821982 · as Self
• Concerts for the People of Kampuchea1981 · as Self
• The Secret Policeman's Ball1979 · as Himself
• The Who: The Kids Are Alright1979 · as Self
• Tommy1975 · as Himself
• Jimi Hendrix1973 · as Self
• Sound of the City: London 1964-731973 · as Self
• The Who ‎– Live At Tanglewood 19701970 · as Himself
• Woodstock1970 · as Self - The Who
• Heads1969 · as Self
• Monterey Pop1968 · as Self - The Who
• The Lost Paths1967 · as Himself
• Carousella1966 · as himself
• Seize millions de jeunes: Mods1965 · as Interviewee
• THE WHO Live At The Chicago Amphitheater 1979— · as Himself
• The Who - Live at the Silverdome— · as Himself
• The Who: Vancouver 10/8/2006—
• The Who: Philadelphia 11/25/2006—
• The Story of Quadrophenia— · as Self

All TV Shows (21)

• Live Aid at 40: When Rock ’n’ Roll Took on the World2025 · as Self
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert2015 · as Self
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert2015 · as Self - Musical Guest
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon2014 · as Self
• VH1 Rock Honors2006
• Where Are They Now?1999 · as Self
• Behind the Music1997 · as Self
• Classic Albums1997 · as Self
• Late Show with David Letterman1993 · as Self - Guest
• The Simpsons1989 · as Pete Townshend (voice)
• MTV Rockumentary1989
• Na siehste!1987 · as Self
• The Kennedy Center Honors1978 · as Self
• The BRIT Awards1977 · as Self
• The Secret Policeman's Ball1976 · as Self
• Les Rendez-vous du dimanche1975 · as Self - The Who
• Rockpalast1974 · as Self (guitar vocal)
• Rockpalast1974
• Great Performances1971 · as Self
• Omnibus1967 · as Self
• Top of the Pops1964 · as Self