Pete Townshend

Known For

Acting

Born

May 19, 1945

Place of Birth

Chiswick, London, England, UK

Credits

182 titles

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

Filmography

2026

Billy Idol Should Be Dead

Self

Movie
2026

The Who: Quadrophenia Super Deluxe Edition

Movie
2025

Live Aid at 40: When Rock ’n’ Roll Took on the World

Self

Tv
2025

The Rock Prophet: The Story of Link Wray

Self

Movie
2025

The Session Man

Self

Movie
2023

The Who: Who's Next - Life House Super Deluxe Edition

Movie
2023

Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd

Self

Movie
2023

The Who With Orchestra Live At Wembley

Movie
2022

The Who Hits 50! Live

Movie
2022

The Who: One Band's Explosive Story

Self - The Who Member

Movie
2021

Her Majesty

Executive Producer

Movie
2021

Classic Albums: The Who Sell Out

Himself

Movie
2021

Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!

Self (archive footage)

Movie
2021

Mick Fleetwood and Friends: Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac

Self

Movie
2020

The Hat

Original Music Composer

Movie
2020

The Shadows At Sixty

Self

Movie
2019

The Who: The Night That Changed Rock

Self

Movie
2019

The Night That Changed Rock

Movie
2019

Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation

Self

Movie
2018

Bad Reputation

Self

Movie
2018

Come Together The Rise of the Festival

Movie
2017

The Who: Tommy Live at The Royal Albert Hall

Himself – guitars, vocals

Movie
2017

The Who: Rock in Rio 2017

guitar

Movie
2017

The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight 2004 Festival

Self

Movie
2016

A Silent Voice: The Movie

Main Title Theme Composer

Movie
2016

Pete Townshend's Deep End - Face The Face

Self

Movie
2016

Night Flight: Born Again

Self

Movie
2015

The Who: Live in Hyde Park

Himself - guitarist, vocals

Movie
2015

Jean-Michel Jarre: A Journey into Sound

Self

Movie
2015

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Self

Tv
2015

It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC

Self (archive footage)

Movie
2015

Classic Quadrophenia

Self

Movie
2015

The Who: French TV Archives 1965-1967

Movie
2014

Lennon or McCartney

Self

Movie
2014

Play It Loud: The Story of Marshall

Self

Movie
2014

Led Zeppelin Played Here

Self (archive footage)

Movie
2014

Woodstock: Untold Stories Revisited

Self

Movie
2014

The Who: Quadrophenia - Live in London

Movie
2014

The Who: Sensation—The Story of Tommy

Himself

Movie
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Self

Tv
2014

Lambert & Stamp

Himself

Movie
2013

The Who: Sensation - The Making of Tommy

Himself

Movie
2013

Quadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me?

Himself

Movie
2012

12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief

Self

Movie
2012

London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony: A Symphony of British Music

Self

Movie
2012

The Who: Live in Texas '75

Himself

Movie
2011

Acoustic at the BBC

Self

Movie
2011

The Who: Purple Hearts and Power Chords

Movie
2009

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live - The Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Self

Movie
2009

Woodstock: Untold Stories

Movie