Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend (born 19 May 1945) is an English rock musician, songwriter and author best known as the founder of the band The Who.
Pete Townshend | |||||||||
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.jpg) Townshend in 2012 | |||||||||
| Background information | |||||||||
| Birth name | Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend | ||||||||
| Also known as | Bijou Drains | ||||||||
| Born | 19 May 1945 Chiswick, London, England | ||||||||
| Genres | Rock, hard rock, power pop, progressive rock, British beat, jazz | ||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter, composer, musical arranger, author | ||||||||
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, bass, harmonica, keyboards | ||||||||
| Years active | 1962–present | ||||||||
| Labels | Track, Polydor, Atlantic, Atco, Decca, Rykodisc, Warner Bros. | ||||||||
| Associated acts | The Who, Deep End, Ronnie Lane, Thunderclap Newman | ||||||||
| Website | The Who's official webpage | ||||||||
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Beginning in 1961, he studied graphic design at Ealing Art College. At Ealing, Townshend studied with future Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood and future Queen singer Freddie Mercury.
Townshend is the primary songwriter for The Who and has written over one hundred songs for the band's eleven studio albums including the rock operas "Tommy" and "Quadrophenia" and the popular rock radio staple "Who's Next." Although known mainly as a guitarist he is also an accomplished singer and keyboard player and has played many other instruments including: banjo, accordion, bass guitar and drums.
Townshend has also written many newspaper and magazine articles, books, book reviews, essays and scripts. Townshend was ranked #3 in Dave Marsh's list of best guitarists in "The New Book of Rock Lists" and #50 in Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."
Pete Townshend Media
Townshend (with Moon, rear right) backstage before a gig at Friedrich-Ebert-Halle in Ludwigshafen, Germany on 12 April 1967
Townshend's "windmill" technique
Townshend performing in Hamburg, Germany in August 1972
Townshend in concert, 2008
Townshend leaping into air in concert
Townshend playing a Fender Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster
Townshend performing in Austin, Texas, as a supporting guest of friend and former Small Faces/Faces musician, Ian McLagan in 2007
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References
- ↑ "Pete Townshend". Front Row.