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Photo of Pete Townshend

Pete Townshend

Actor, Producer, Composer, Writer, Additional CreditsBorn May 19, 1945 (80 years)
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​

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • Quadrophenia
  • Stingray (1985)
  • The Who: The Moon Years

Known For

  • Tommy
  • Quadrophenia
  • The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb
  • Tommy and Quadrophenia Live: The Who
  • Voice of the Eagle: The Enigma of Robbie Basho
  • The Who: Quadrophenia - Live in London
  • All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes
  • The Who: The Moon Years
  • The Who: Rock Revoltion

Featured Videos

  • 3 Days Of Peace And Music Director's Cut 40th Anniversary Edition (The Who)
    3 Days Of Peace And Music Director's Cut 40th Anniversary Edition (The Who)WoodstockScene

Pete Townshend Filmography

2025
2025
2024
Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple · as Self - Artists United Against Apartheid
2024
The 77th Annual Tony Awards · as Self - Presenter
2023
The Session Man · as Self
2023
2021
2021
Count Me In · as Self
2021
2021
Classic Albums on PBS (2021) (TV Series) · as Self
2021
2021
2021
2019
2019
2019
2018
Bad Reputation · as Self
2018
2017
2017
2017
2017
2016
2015
The Who Live in Hyde Park · as Himself - Guitarist, Vocals
2015
2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (TV Series) · as Self - Musical Guest
2015
2014
2014
Led Zeppelin Played Here · as Self (archive Footage)
2014
2014
2014
Lambert & Stamp · as Himself
2013
12-12-12 · as Self
2013
2012
2012
2012
2011
2011
2011
Pearl Jam Twenty · as Self
2009
2009
2009
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2008
2008
2008
2008
2008
2008
Martino Unstrung · as Self
2008
Beat Club: The 40th Anniversary Edition · as Self (archive Footage)
2007
2007
Morning Joe (TV Series) · as Self
2006
2006
2006
2006
2005
Tommy and Quadrophenia Live: The Who · as Self - Guitar, Vocals
2005
Sunday Morning (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2005
Kept (TV Series) · as Self
2005
Brit Awards 2005 · as Self - Congratulating Bob Geldof
2004
2003
2003
2002
Top Gear (TV Series) · as Self
2002
2001
Being Mick · as Self
2000
2000
2000
My Generation · as Self - The Who
1999
1999
Where Are They Now? (TV Series) · as Self
1998
1997
Behind the Music (TV Series) · as Self
1997
Classic Albums (TV Series) · as Self
1996
1996
The Daily Show (TV Series) · as Self
1996
VH1 Storytellers (TV Series) · as Self
1996
1996
TFI Friday (TV Series) · as Self
1995
The History of Rock 'n' Roll (TV Series) · as Self
1994
1994
Woodstock Diary · as Self
1993
1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
1993
1992
Late Show with David Letterman (TV Series) · as Self
1992
Later... with Jools Holland (TV Series) · as Self
1992
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV Series) · as Self - Musical Guest
1989
The Who Live, Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy · as Self - Guitars & Vocals / Mr. Walker / Mrs. Walker / Narrator
1988
1988
1987
1986
Jimi Plays Monterey · as Self (archive Footage)
1985
1985
Live Aid · as Self
1983
The Who Rocks America · as Himself
1983
1982
1982
1982
Wogan (TV Series) · as Self
1982
Late Night With David Letterman (TV Series) · as Self
1982
1982
1981
Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self
1980
Solid Gold (TV Series) · as Self
1979
1979
1979
1978
The Kennedy Center Honors (TV Series) · as Self
1978
The Kenny Everett Video Show (TV Series) · as Self
1978
The South Bank Show (TV Series) · as Self
1975
Tommy · as Himself
1975
Sunday meetings (TV Series) · as Self - The Who
1974
Harty (TV Series) · as Self
1974
Rockpalast (TV Series) · as Self (guitar Vocal)
1973
Jimi Hendrix · as Self
1973
Rock City · as Self
1972
The Midnight Special (TV Series) · as Self
1971
Great Performances (TV Series) · as Self
1970
Woodstock · as Self - The Who
1969
This is Tom Jones (TV Series) · as Self
1968
Monterey Pop · as Self - The Who
1967
TTT (TV Series) · as Self
1967
Omnibus (1967) (TV Series) · as Self
1967
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (TV Series) · as Self
1966
Carousella · as Himself
1965
Beat Club (TV Series) · as Self - Musician
1965
Where The Action Is (TV Series) · as Self - The Who
1964
Top of the Pops (TV Series) · as Self
1963
Ready Steady Go! (TV Series) · as Self
1962
1956
Tony Awards (TV Series) · as Self - Presenter / Self - Performer
1952
Today (TV Series) · as Self - Guest

2021
Her Majesty · as Executive Producer
2009
1999
The Iron Giant · as Executive Producer
1979
Quadrophenia · as Executive Producer

2021
2016
A Silent Voice: The Movie · as Main Title Theme Composer
2006
2005
1985
White City · as Composer
1975
Tommy · as Original Music Composer

2005
2002
CSI: Miami (TV Series) · as Theme Song Performance
1993
1984
Miami Vice (TV Series) · as Songs
1979
Quadrophenia · as Music Director
1979
Quadrophenia · as Story Consultant
1975
Tommy · as Original Story
1971
Great Performances (TV Series) · as Written By

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