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Pete Townshend

Pete Townshend

Actor · Born May 19, 1945 · Chiswick, London, England, UK

IMDb

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​

Acted in 83

2020s

  1. 2026

    The Who: Quadrophenia Super Deluxe Edition

    Movie

  2. 2023

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

    Movie

  3. The Who With Orchestra Live At Wembley

    Movie

  4. 2022

    The Who Hits 50! Live

    Movie

2010s

  1. 2019

    The Night That Changed Rock

    Movie

  2. 2018

    Come Together The Rise of the Festival

    Movie

  3. 2017

    The Who: Rock in Rio 2017

    guitar

  4. 2014

    The Who: Quadrophenia - Live in London

    Movie

  5. 2013

    12-12-12

    Movie

  6. 2011

    The Who: Purple Hearts and Power Chords

    Movie

2000s

  1. 2009

    Woodstock: Untold Stories

    Movie

  2. The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970

    Himselft

  3. 2008

    The Who: At Kilburn 1977

    guitar

  4. 2007

    The Who: Stockholm 7/6/2007

    Movie

  5. The Who: Dublin 6/29/2007

    Movie

  6. The Who: Cheshire 6/23/2007

    Movie

  7. The Who: Lisbon 5/16/2007

    Movie

  8. The Who: Atlantic City 3/9/2007

    Movie

  9. The Who: Fresno 2/25/2007

    Movie

  10. 2006

    The Who: Columbus 12/11/2006

    Movie

  11. The Who: St. Paul 12/8/2006

    Movie

  12. The Who: Omaha 12/7/2006

    Movie

  13. The Who: Grand Rapids 12/5/2006

    Movie

  14. The Who: Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests

    Pete Townshend

  15. The Who: Uncasville 12/1/2006

    Movie

  16. The Who: Bridgeport 11/28/2006

    Movie

  17. The Who: Hershey 11/27/2006

    Movie

  18. The Who: Philadelphia 11/25/2006

    Movie

  19. The Who: Fort Lauderdale 11/20/2006

    Movie

  20. The Who: Houston 11/18/2006

    Movie

  21. The Who: Dallas 11/17/2006

    Movie

  22. The Who: Salt Lake City 11/13/2006

    Movie

  23. The Who: Palm Springs 11/11/2006

    Movie

  24. The Who: Las Vegas 11/10/2006

    Movie

  25. The Who: San Jose 11/8/2006

    Movie

  26. The Who: Hollywood 11/5/2006

    Movie

  27. The Who: Seattle 10/11/2006

    Movie

  28. The Who: Portland 10/10/2006

    Movie

  29. The Who: Winnipeg 10/3/2006

    Movie

  30. The Who: London 9/30/2006

    Movie

  31. The Who: Des Moines 9/26/2006

    Movie

  32. The Who: Baltimore 9/23/2006

    Movie

  33. The Who: Holmdel 9/21/2006

    Movie

  34. The Who: Boston 9/16/2006

    Movie

  35. The Who: Wantagh 9/13/2006

    Movie

  36. The Who: Philadelphia 9/12/2006

    Movie

  37. The Who: Zaragoza 7/29/2006

    Movie

  38. The Who: Madrid 7/27/2006

    Movie

  39. The Who: Ulm 7/23/2006

    Movie

  40. The Who: St. Polten 7/22/2006

    Movie

  41. The Who: Nyon 7/20/2006

    Movie

  42. The Who: Metz 7/18/2006

    Movie

  43. The Who: Lyon 7/17/2006

    Movie

  44. The Who: Monte Carlo 7/15/2006

    Movie

  45. The Who: Locarno 7/14/2006

    Movie

  46. The Who: Bonn 7/11/2006

    Movie

  47. The Who: Glasgow 7/9/2006

    Movie

  48. The Who: Dublin 7/8/2006

    Movie

  49. The Who: Liverpool 7/6/2006

    Movie

  50. The Who: Liverpool 7/5/2006

    Movie

  51. The Who: Hampshire 7/3/2006

    Movie

  52. The Who: Werchter 6/30/2006

    Movie

  53. The Who: Brighton 6/18/2006

    Movie

  54. VH1 Rock Honors

    TV

  55. The Who – Broadcast In Roundhouse Electric Proms 2006

    Movie

  56. 2005

    The World's Greatest Gigs

    Movie

  57. 2004

    Live Aid

    Movie

  58. 2002

    Monterey Pop - The Outtake Performances

    The Who

  59. Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse

    Movie

1990s

  1. 1996

    Pete Townshend - Live at Fillmore West, April 30th, 1996

    guitar, vocals

  2. 1996 VH1 Honors

    Movie

  3. 1993

    The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb

    Voice

  4. 1992

1980s

  1. 1989
  2. MTV Rockumentary

    TV

  3. 1985

    The Who at Live Aid

    Movie

  4. White City

    Pete Fountain

  5. 1984

    The Who: Live from Toronto

    Movie

  6. 1982

    Video EP: Pete Townshend

    Movie

1960s

  1. 1965

    Seize millions de jeunes: Mods

    Interviewee

No release date

  1. The Who: Vancouver 10/8/2006

    Movie

Sound 10

2020s

  1. 2021

    Her Majesty

    Music

  2. 2020

    The Hat

    Original Music Composer

2000s

  1. 2006

    Cloud Chaser

    Music

  2. 2002
  3. Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse

    Music

1980s

  1. 1984

1970s

  1. 1979
  2. 1975
  3. 1970

    Double Pisces, Scorpio Rising

    Music

Wrote 6

2000s

  1. 2008

    The Who: Live at the London Coliseum 1969

    Writer

  2. 2006

    The Who: Tommy Live With Special Guests

    Writer

1980s

  1. 1985

    White City

    Writer

  2. 1982

    All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes

    Writer

Produced 3

2020s

  1. 2021

    Her Majesty

    Executive Producer

Appearances102

2020s

  1. 2026

    The Who - Live at the Silverdome

    Himself

  2. Pete Townshend: Behind Blue Eyes

    Self

  3. 2025
  4. The Rock Prophet: The Story of Link Wray

    Self

  5. Townshend

    Self

  6. 2023

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

    Self

  7. 2022

    The Who: One Band's Explosive Story

    Self - The Who Member

  8. 2021

    Classic Albums: The Who Sell Out

    Himself

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

    Self (archive footage)

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

    Self

2010s

  1. 2019

    The Who: The Night That Changed Rock

    Self

  2. Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation

    Self

  3. 2018

    Bad Reputation

    Self

  4. 2017
  5. The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight 2004 Festival

    Self

  6. 2016

    Pete Townshend's Deep End - Face The Face

    Self

  7. Night Flight: Born Again

    Self

  8. 2015

    The Who: Live in Hyde Park

    Himself - guitarist, vocals

  9. Jean-Michel Jarre: A Journey into Sound

    Self

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

    Self (archive footage)

  11. Classic Quadrophenia

    Self

  12. 2014

    Lennon or McCartney

    Self

  13. Play It Loud: The Story of Marshall

    Self

  14. Led Zeppelin Played Here

    Self (archive footage)

  15. Woodstock: Untold Stories Revisited

    Self

  16. The Who: Sensation—The Story of Tommy

    Himself

  17. Lambert & Stamp

    Himself

  18. 2013

    The Who: Sensation - The Making of Tommy

    Himself

  19. Quadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me?

    Himself

  20. 2012

    12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief

    Self

  21. London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony: A Symphony of British Music

    Self

  22. The Who: Live in Texas '75

    Himself

  23. 2011

    Acoustic at the BBC

    Self

2000s

  1. 2009

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

    Self

  2. Rachel Fuller presents: In the Attic with Pete Townshend & Friends

    Self

  3. 2008

    The Who: Live at the London Coliseum 1969

    Himself - guitars, vocals

  4. Smashing Pumpkins: If All Goes Wrong

    Self

  5. VH1 Rock Honors: The Who

    Self

  6. 2007

    Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who

    Self

  7. Dear Mr. Fantasy - A Celebration for Jim Capaldi

    Himself

  8. The Who: Fragments Fan Club DVD

    Himself

  9. 2006

    The Who: BBC Electric Proms

    Himself

  10. The Who: In Their Own Words

    Himself

  11. An Ox's Tale: The John Entwistle Story

    Himself

  12. The Who: Tommy Live With Special Guests

    Self

  13. The Passing Show: The Life and Music of Ronnie Lane

    Himself

  14. 2005

    The Who | Tommy and Quadrophenia Live

    Self - Guitar, Vocals

  15. The Britpop Story 'It Really, Really, Really, Could Happen'

    Self (archive footage)

  16. Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today

    Self

  17. 2004

    Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?

    Self

  18. One For The Road: Ronnie Lane Memorial Concert

    Self

  19. The Who: Live in Boston

    Himself

  20. Police Protecting Children - Internet Paedophilia

    Self

  21. 2003

    Mayor of the Sunset Strip

    Self

  22. Brian Wilson: On Tour

    Self

  23. 2001
  24. The Concert for New York City

    Self-The Who

  25. 2000

    The Who & Special Guests: Live At The Royal Albert Hall

    Self - Lead Guitar / Vocals

1990s

  1. 1999

    Pete Townshend - Letterman Compilation 1985-1999

    self

  2. Classic Albums: The Who - Who's Next

    Self

  3. The Who - Who's Next 1971-2023

    Self

  4. 1998

    Listening to You: The Who Live at the Isle of Wight

    Himself

  5. 1997
  6. 1996

    The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus

    Self - Guitar

  7. 1994

    A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who

    Self

  8. The Who: Maximum R&B Live

    Himself

  9. 1993

    Pete Townshend Live in New York Featuring Psychoderelict

    Himself

1980s

  1. 1989

    The Who | Live, Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy

    Self - Guitars & Vocals / Mr. Walker / Mrs. Walker / Narrator

  2. 1987
  3. 1985

    Pete Townshend - South Bank Show Documentary

    self

  4. Live Aid

    Self

  5. 1983

    The Who Rocks America 1982

    Himself

  6. 1982

    All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes

    Self

  7. The Secret Policeman's Other Ball

    Self

  8. The Who: Live at Shea Stadium 1982

    Self

  9. 1981

    Concerts for the People of Kampuchea

    Self

1970s

  1. 1979

    The Secret Policeman's Ball

    Himself

  2. The Who: The Kids Are Alright

    Self

  3. 1978
  4. 1977
  5. 1976

    The Secret Policeman's Ball

    Self · 15 episodes

  6. 1975
  7. 1974
  8. 1973

    Jimi Hendrix

    Self

  9. Sound of the City: London 1964-73

    Self

  10. 1971
  11. 1970

    The Who ‎– Live At Tanglewood 1970

    Himself

  12. Woodstock

    Self - The Who

1960s

  1. 1968
  2. 1967
  3. The Lost Paths

    Himself

  4. 1966

    Carousella

    himself

  5. 1964

    Seize millions de jeunes

    Self · 1 episode

No release date

  1. THE WHO Live At The Chicago Amphitheater 1979

    Himself

Thanked in the credits2

1980s

  1. 1986

    Dogs in Space

    Thanks