Pete Townshend

Latest about Pete Townshend

Pete Townshend of The Who pictured playing an acoustic guitar with his father Cliff Townshend (1916-1986), saxophone player with the Squadronaires, and mother Betty at home in London on 30th March 1966.
Pete Townshend on the first guitar he ever broke — at age 13 — and John Entwistle's hilarious response

By Phil Weller Published

The future Who bassist was present to witness the first of many guitar destructions in Townshend's life

Guitarists
Roger Daltrey (L) and Pete Townshend of British rock band The Who perform on stage during their "The Song Is Over Farewell Tour" at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California on October 1, 2025.
Roger Daltrey on the day he knocked out Pete Townshend

By Elizabeth Swann Published

With the group's final U.S. tour behind them, the singer explains what kept them going through the worst of times

Guitarists
THE WHO UK rock group with Pete Townshend on Ready, Steady, Go, in 1966.
“It sounds like 50 Marshall stacks!” Pete Townshend’s guitar secrets revealed by the Who’s substitute guitarist

By Joe Matera Last updated

Steve Bolton said the Who guitarist taught him the power of using just one guitar for some of his most bombastic tracks

Guitarists
LEFT: Pete Townshend of The Who performs live on stage at the Capitol Theater, Passaic, New Jersey on 10th September 1979. Townshend plays his Wine Red Gibson Les Paul Deluxe guitar number 1. RIGHT: English rock and pop group The Beatles, from left George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney and John Lennon, perform 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' and 'This Boy' on Granada Television's Late Scene Extra programme at Granada television studios in Manchester, England on November 25th 1963. John Lennon is playing his Gibson J-160E guitar.
The time Pete Townshend trashed the Beatles on television

By Phil Weller Published

The Fab Four were selling records like hot cakes, but Townshend wasn’t buying — not until he heard a pair of sides they cut later that same year

Guitarists
LEFT: Pete TOWNSHEND and The Who, Pete Townshend, posed, in Locust valley, Long Island RIGHT: Steve Bolton - Atomic Rooster play a concert at the 2 Days Prog + 1 festival in Italy, September 02, 2022
Pete Townshend’s substitute guitarist reveals the highs and lows of his time in the Who

By Joe Matera Published

Atomic Rooster guitarist Steve “Boltz” Bolton was hired to play on the group’s star-studded 1989 tour — if he could survive the rehearsals

Guitarists
Pete Townshend of The Who performs during the 16th annual Midnight Preserves at Preservation Hall on April 30, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Preservation Hall Foundation's Midnight Preserves benefit series welcomes prominent artists from a variety of genres alongside the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for intimate midnight concerts.
Pete Townshend on the Who’s farewell tour, and the health issues he had to kick to get back on the road

By Phil Weller Published

After a knee operation earlier this year, he fell foul of an issue which “is how rock stars die,” he says

Guitarists
Musician Pete Townshend of The Who during Desert Trip at the Empire Polo Field on October 9, 2016 in Indio, California.
Pete Townshend on his and Roger Daltrey's problems as the Who set out on their final tour

By Elizabeth Swann Published

He admits more shows may be in their future for charity or special projects

Guitarists
LEFT: Randy Bachman speaks at AOL Build Speakers Series: Randy Bachman at AOL Studios In New York on April 22, 2015 in New York City. RIGHT: Pete Townshend performs with The Who in concert at the HP Pavilion on October 19, 1996 in San Jose, California.
Randy Bachman on Pete Townshend's hilarious response when the Guess Who told the Who to change their name

By Christopher Scapelliti Published

Bachman says the Who's hotel-trashing antics caused his band trouble with staff when “we could not convince them we were quiet Canadians”

Guitarists
The Who, Pete Townshend in concert circa 1971 at the Fillmore East Theater, New York City
Pete Townshend on his desperate search for the guitar behind the Who’s status as rock legends   

By Christopher Scapelliti Published

Electric Guitars
LEFT: Eddie Van Halen (plays his custom Frankenstrat guitar at Cobo Arena during Van Halen's "Hide Your Sheep Tour" on August 13, 1982, in Detroit, Michigan. RIGHT: English guitarist Pete Townshend, wearing his trademark white boiler suit, performs live on stage playing a Gibson SG Special guitar, with rock group The Who during the European leg of the band's Tommy Tour at a venue in England in October 1970.
Eddie Van Halen could play this Who album note for note says Michael Anthony

By Christopher Scapelliti Published

Eddie wasn't alone in his appreciation for the disc. Joe Satriani called it his number-one life-changing album

Albums, Singles & New Releases
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