Pete Townshend
Born: 1945-05-19 in Chiswick, London, England, UK
Known For: Acting
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
Filmography
2025
- The Session Man as Self
- Live Aid at 40: When Rock ’n’ Roll Took on the World as Self
2023
2022
- The Who Hits 50! Live
- The Who: One Band's Explosive Story as Self - The Who Member
2021
- Her Majesty ... (Executive Producer)
- Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go! as Self (archive footage)
- Classic Albums: The Who Sell Out as Himself
2020
2019
2018
2017
- The Who: Tommy Live at The Royal Albert Hall as Himself – guitars, vocals
- The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight 2004 Festival as Self
- The Who: Rock in Rio 2017 as guitar
2016
- A Silent Voice: The Movie ... (Main Title Theme Composer)
- Night Flight: Born Again as Self
- Pete Townshend's Deep End - Face The Face as Self
2015
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self
- It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC as Self (archive footage)
- Jean-Michel Jarre: A Journey into Sound as Self
- The Who: Live in Hyde Park as Himself - guitarist, vocals
- Classic Quadrophenia as Self
- The Who: French TV Archives 1965-1967
2014
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self
- Play It Loud: The Story of Marshall as Self
- Led Zeppelin Played Here as Self (archive footage)
- Lennon or McCartney as Self
- Lambert & Stamp as Himself
- Woodstock: Untold Stories Revisited as Self
- The Who: Sensation—The Story of Tommy as Himself
- The Who: Quadrophenia - Live in London
2013
- The Who - The Making of Tommy as Himself
- Quadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me? as Himself
2012
- 12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief as Self
- The Who: Live in Texas '75 as Himself
2009
2008
- VH1 Rock Honors: The Who as Self
- The Who - At Kilburn 1977 as guitar
- Beat Club: The 40th Anniversary Edition
- Smashing Pumpkins: If All Goes Wrong as Himself
- The Who - Live at the London Coliseum 1969 as Himself - guitars, vocals
2007
- Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who as Self
- The Who: Stockholm 7/6/2007
- The Who: Atlantic City 3/9/2007
- The Who: Dublin 6/29/2007
- The Who: Fresno 2/25/2007
- The Who: Fragments Fan Club DVD as Himself
- The Who: Lisbon 5/16/2007
- The Who: Cheshire 6/23/2007
- Dear Mr. Fantasy - A Celebration for Jim Capaldi as Himself
2006
- Cloud Chaser ... (Music)
- The Who: Live at Lyon as Himself (Guitars, Vocals)
- VH1 Rock Honors
- An Ox's Tale: The John Entwistle Story as Himself
- The Who: Grand Rapids 12/5/2006
- The Who: Hampshire 7/3/2006
- The Passing Show: The Life and Music of Ronnie Lane as Himself
- The Who: BBC Electric Proms as Himself
- The Who: Boston 9/16/2006
- The Who: Liverpool 7/5/2006
- The Who: Zaragoza 7/29/2006
- The Who: Werchter 6/30/2006
- The Who – Broadcast In Roundhouse Electric Proms 2006
- The Who: Tommy Live With Special Guests as Self
- The Who: Liverpool 7/6/2006
- The Who: Metz 7/18/2006
- The Who: Monte Carlo 7/15/2006
- The Who: Lyon 7/17/2006
- The Who: Dublin 7/8/2006
- The Who: Glasgow 7/9/2006
- The Who: Bonn 7/11/2006
- The Who: Baltimore 9/23/2006
- The Who: Locarno 7/14/2006
- The Who: Brighton 6/18/2006
- The Who: St. Polten 7/22/2006
- The Who: Madrid 7/27/2006
- The Who: Wantagh 9/13/2006
- The Who: Palm Springs 11/11/2006
- The Who: Ulm 7/23/2006
- The Who: Holmdel 9/21/2006
- The Who: Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests as Pete Townshend
- The Who: Nyon 7/20/2006
- The Who: Philadelphia 9/12/2006
2005
- The Britpop Story 'It Really, Really, Really, Could Happen' as Self (archive footage)
- Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today as Self
- The World's Greatest Gigs
- The Who | Tommy and Quadrophenia Live as Self - Guitar, Vocals
2004
2003
- Mayor of the Sunset Strip as Self
- Brian Wilson: On Tour as Self
2002
- CSI: Miami ... (Theme Song Performance)
- Monterey Pop: The Outtake Performances
- Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse
2001
- Being Mick as Self
2000
- The Who & Special Guests: Live At The Royal Albert Hall as Self - Lead Guitar / Vocals
- The Beatles Revolution as Self
1999
- American Beauty ... (Thanks)
- The Iron Giant ... (Executive Producer)
- Where Are They Now? as Self
- The Who - Who's Next 1971-2023 as Self
- Classic Albums: The Who - Who's Next as Self
- Pete Townshend - Letterman Compilation 1985-1999 as self
1998
1997
- Classic Albums as Self
- Behind the Music as Self
1996
- The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus as Self - Guitar
- 1996 VH1 Honors
- Pete Townshend - Live at Fillmore West, April 30th, 1996 as guitar, vocals
1994
- The Who: Maximum R&B Live as Himself
- A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who as Self
1993
1989
- The Simpsons as Pete Townshend (voice)
- The Who | Live, Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy as Self - Guitars & Vocals / Mr. Walker / Mrs. Walker / Narrator
- MTV Rockumentary
1987
- Jimi Plays Monterey as Self (archive footage)
- Na siehste! as Self
1986
- Dogs in Space ... (Thanks)
1985
- White City as Pete Fountain
- Live Aid as Self
- Pete Townshend - South Bank Show Documentary as self
- The Who at Live Aid
1984
- Miami Vice ... (Songs)
- The Who: Live from Toronto
1983
- The Who Rocks America 1982 as Himself
1982
1981
1979
- The Who: The Kids Are Alright as Self
- The Secret Policeman's Ball as Himself
- Quadrophenia ... (Executive Producer)
1978
- The Kennedy Center Honors as Self
1976
- The Secret Policeman's Ball as Self
- O Parvardigar ... (Music)
1975
- Les Rendez-vous du dimanche as Self - The Who
- Tommy as Himself
1974
- Rockpalast as Self (guitar vocal)
1973
- Jimi Hendrix as Self
- Sound of the City: London 1964-73 as Self
1971
- Great Performances as Self
1970
- Woodstock as Self - The Who
- Double Pisces, Scorpio Rising ... (Music)
- The Who – Live At Tanglewood 1970 as Himself
1969
- Heads as Self
1968
- Monterey Pop as Self - The Who
1967
- Omnibus as Self
- The Lost Paths as Himself
1966
- Carousella as himself
1965
- Seize millions de jeunes: Mods as Interviewee
1964
- Top of the Pops as Self
1956
- Tony Awards as Self - Presenter / Self - Performer