Pete Townshend
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.
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Photos
Movies (190)
The Who - Live at the Silverdome
2026 · Himself
Pete Townshend: Behind Blue Eyes
2026 · Self
Billy Idol Should Be Dead
2026 · Self
The Who: Quadrophenia Super Deluxe Edition
2026
The Rock Prophet: The Story of Link Wray
2025 · Self
The Session Man
2025 · Self
Townshend
2025 · Self
The Who: Who's Next - Life House Super Deluxe Edition
2023
Syd Barrett y el origen de Pink Floyd
2023 · Self
The Who With Orchestra Live At Wembley
2023
The Who Hits 50! Live
2022
The Who: One Band's Explosive Story
2022 · Self - The Who Member
Her Majesty
2021 · Executive Producer, Music
Classic Albums: The Who Sell Out
2021 · Himself
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
2021 · Self (archive footage)
Mick Fleetwood and Friends: Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac
2021 · Self
The Hat
2020 · Original Music Composer
The Shadows At Sixty
2020 · Self
The Who: The Night That Changed Rock
2019 · Self
The Night That Changed Rock
2019
Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation
2019 · Self
Bad Reputation
2018 · Self
Come Together The Rise of the Festival
2018
The Who: Tommy Live at The Royal Albert Hall
2017 · Himself – guitars, vocals
The Who: Rock in Rio 2017
2017 · guitar
The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight 2004 Festival
2017 · Self
A Silent Voice: The Movie
2016 · Theme Song Performance
Pete Townshend's Deep End - Face The Face
2016 · Self
Night Flight: Born Again
2016 · Self
The Who: Live in Hyde Park
2015 · Himself - guitarist, vocals
Jean-Michel Jarre: A Journey into Sound
2015 · Self
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC
2015 · Self (archive footage)
Classic Quadrophenia
2015 · Self
The Who: French TV Archives 1965-1967
2015
Lennon or McCartney
2014 · Self
Play It Loud: The Story of Marshall
2014 · Self
Led Zeppelin Played Here
2014 · Self (archive footage)
Woodstock: Untold Stories Revisited
2014 · Self
The Who: Quadrophenia - Live in London
2014
The Who: Sensation—The Story of Tommy
2014 · Himself
Lambert & Stamp
2014 · Himself
12-12-12
2013
The Who: Sensation - The Making of Tommy
2013 · Himself
Quadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me?
2013 · Himself
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
2012 · Self
London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony: A Symphony of British Music
2012 · Self
The Who: Live in Texas '75
2012 · Himself
Acoustic at the BBC
2011 · Self
The Who: Purple Hearts and Power Chords
2011
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live - The Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
2009 · Self
Woodstock: Untold Stories
2009
Rachel Fuller presents: In the Attic with Pete Townshend & Friends
2009 · Self
The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
2009 · Himselft
The Who: At Kilburn 1977
2008 · guitar
The Who: Live at the London Coliseum 1969
2008 · Himself - guitars, vocals, Writer
Smashing Pumpkins: If All Goes Wrong
2008 · Self
VH1 Rock Honors: The Who
2008 · Self
Beat Club: The 40th Anniversary Edition
2008 · Self (archive footage)
Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
2007 · Self
The Who: Stockholm 7/6/2007
2007
The Who: Dublin 6/29/2007
2007
The Who: Cheshire 6/23/2007
2007
The Who: Bilbao 5/19/2007
2007
The Who: Madrid, 5/17/2007
2007
The Who: Lisbon 5/16/2007
2007
The Who: Hollywoo 3/26/2007
2007
The Who: Tampa 3/25/2007
2007
The Who: Oklahoma City 3/23/2007
2007
The Who: Uniondale 3/11/2007
2007
The Who: Atlantic City 3/9/2007
2007
The Who: Indianapolis 3/6/2007
2007
The Who: San Diego 3/1/2007
2007
The Who: Fresno 2/25/2007
2007
Dear Mr. Fantasy - A Celebration for Jim Capaldi
2007 · Himself
The Who: Fragments Fan Club DVD
2007 · Himself
The Who: Columbus 12/11/2006
2006
The Who: St. Paul 12/8/2006
2006
The Who: Omaha 12/7/2006
2006
The Who: Grand Rapids 12/5/2006
2006
The Who: Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests
2006 · Pete Townshend
The Who: Uncasville 12/1/2006
2006
The Who: Bridgeport 11/28/2006
2006
The Who: Hershey 11/27/2006
2006
The Who: Philadelphia 11/25/2006
2006
The Who: Live at Lyon
2006 · Himself (Guitars, Vocals)
The Who: Fort Lauderdale 11/20/2006
2006
The Who: Houston 11/18/2006
2006
The Who: Dallas 11/17/2006
2006
The Who: Salt Lake City 11/13/2006
2006
The Who: Palm Springs 11/11/2006
2006
The Who: Las Vegas 11/10/2006
2006
The Who: San Jose 11/8/2006
2006
The Who: Hollywood 11/5/2006
2006
The Who: BBC Electric Proms
2006 · Himself
The Who: Seattle 10/11/2006
2006
The Who: Portland 10/10/2006
2006
The Who: In Their Own Words
2006 · Himself
The Who: Winnipeg 10/3/2006
2006
The Who: London 9/30/2006
2006
The Who: Des Moines 9/26/2006
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
2006 · Himself
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
2006 · Self, Writer
Cloud Chaser
2006 · Music
The Passing Show: The Life and Music of Ronnie Lane
2006 · Himself
The Who – Broadcast In Roundhouse Electric Proms 2006
2006
The World's Greatest Gigs
2005
The Who | Tommy and Quadrophenia Live
2005 · Self - Guitar, Vocals
The Britpop Story 'It Really, Really, Really, Could Happen'
2005 · Self (archive footage)
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
2005 · Self
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
2004 · Self
Live Aid
2004
One For The Road: Ronnie Lane Memorial Concert
2004 · Self
The Who: Live in Boston
2004 · Himself
Police Protecting Children - Internet Paedophilia
2004 · Self
Mayor of the Sunset Strip
2003 · Self
Brian Wilson: On Tour
2003 · Self
Monterey Pop - The Outtake Performances
2002 · The Who
Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse
2002 · Music
Being Mick
2001 · Self
The Concert for New York City
2001 · Self-The Who
The Who & Special Guests: Live At The Royal Albert Hall
2000 · Self - Lead Guitar / Vocals
The Beatles Revolution
2000 · Self
Pete Townshend - Letterman Compilation 1985-1999
1999 · self
Classic Albums: The Who - Who's Next
1999 · Self
The Who - Who's Next 1971-2023
1999 · Self
American Beauty
1999 · Thanks
The Iron Giant
1999 · Executive Producer
Listening to You: The Who Live at the Isle of Wight
1998 · Himself
The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
1996 · Self - Guitar
Pete Townshend - Live at Fillmore West, April 30th, 1996
1996 · guitar, vocals
1996 VH1 Honors
1996
A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who
1994 · Self
The Who: Maximum R&B Live
1994 · Himself
The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb
1993 · Voice
Pete Townshend Live in New York Featuring Psychoderelict
1993 · Himself
The Who | Live, Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy
1989 · Self - Guitars & Vocals / Mr. Walker / Mrs. Walker / Narrator
Jimi Plays Monterey
1987 · Self (archive footage)
Dogs in Space
1986 · Thanks
Pete Townshend - South Bank Show Documentary
1985 · self
The Who at Live Aid
1985
Live Aid
1985 · Self
White City
1985 · Pete Fountain, Writer
The Who: Live from Toronto
1984
The Who Rocks America 1982
1983 · Himself
Video EP: Pete Townshend
1982
All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes
1982 · Self, Writer
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
1982 · Self
The Who: Live at Shea Stadium 1982
1982 · Self
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
1981 · Self
The Secret Policeman's Ball
1979 · Himself
Quadrophenia
1979 · Executive Producer, Music Director, Story Consultant
The Who: The Kids Are Alright
1979 · Self
O Parvardigar
1976 · Music
Tommy
1975 · Himself, Original Story, Original Concept, Original Music Composer
Jimi Hendrix
1973 · Self
Sound of the City: London 1964-73
1973 · Self
Double Pisces, Scorpio Rising
1970 · Music
The Who – Live At Tanglewood 1970
1970 · Himself
Woodstock
1970 · Self - The Who
Heads
1969 · Self
Monterey Pop
1968 · Self - The Who
The Lost Paths
1967 · Himself
Carousella
1966 · himself
Seize millions de jeunes: Mods
1965 · Interviewee
THE WHO Live At The Chicago Amphitheater 1979
· Himself
The Who: Vancouver 10/8/2006
The Story of Quadrophenia
· Self
Mad Dad
· Self
TV shows (25)
Live Aid at 40: When Rock ’n’ Roll Took on the World
2025 · Self
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015 · Self, Self - Musical Guest
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014 · Self
VH1 Rock Honors
2006
CSI: Miami
2002 · Theme Song Performance
Where Are They Now?
1999 · Self
Behind the Music
1997 · Self
Classic Albums
1997 · Self
TFI Friday
1996
Late Show with David Letterman
1993 · Self - Guest
Later... with Jools Holland
1992
Los Simpson
1989 · Pete Townshend (voice)
MTV Rockumentary
1989
Na siehste!
1987 · Self
Miami Vice
1984 · Songs
The Kennedy Center Honors
1978 · Self
The South Bank Show
1978
The BRIT Awards
1977 · Self
The Secret Policeman's Ball
1976 · Self
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
1975 · Self - The Who
Rockpalast
1974 · Self (guitar vocal)
Great Performances
1971 · Self
Omnibus
1967 · Self
Seize millions de jeunes
1964 · Self
Top of the Pops
1964 · Self