Personal Info
Birth date
1945-05-19 (80 Years)
Gender
Male
Known for
Acting
Place of birth
Chiswick, London, England, UK
Also known as
The Who
Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend
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
Filmography
Top of the Pops
6.6
Overview:
The biggest stars, the most iconic performances, the most outrageous outfits – it’s Britain’s number one pop show.The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
5.865
Overview:
After Jay Leno's second retirement from the program, Jimmy Fallon stepped in as his permanent replacement. After 42 years in Los Angeles the program was brought back to New York.Great Performances
5.3
Overview:
The best in the performing arts from across America and around the world including a diverse programming portfolio of classical music, opera, popular song, musical theater, dance, drama, and performance documentaries.The Simpsons
8.016
Overview:
Set in Springfield, the average American town, the show focuses on the antics and everyday adventures of the Simpson family; Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, as well as a virtual cast of thousands. Since the beginning, the series has been a pop culture icon, attracting hundreds of celebrities to guest star. The show has also made name for itself in its fearless satirical take on politics, media and American life in general.Behind the Music
7.154
Overview:
An intimate look into the personal lives of pop music's greatest and most influential artists.CSI: Miami
7.711
Overview:
CSI: Miami follows Crime Scene Investigators working for the Miami-Dade Police Department as they use physical evidence, similar to their Las Vegas counterparts, to solve grisly murders. The series mixes deduction, gritty subject matter, and character-driven drama in the same vein as the original series in the CSI franchise, except that the Miami CSIs are cops first, scientists second.Omnibus
7.2
Overview:
Omnibus was an arts-based BBC television documentary series, broadcast mainly on BBC1 in the United Kingdom. The programme was the successor to the long-running arts-based series 'Monitor'. It ran from 1967 until 2003, usually being transmitted on Sunday evenings. During its 35-year history, the programme won 12 Bafta awards. Among the series' best remembered documentaries are Cracked Actor, a profile of David Bowie, and Rene Magritte, a graduate film by David Wheatley, 'Madonna: Behind the American dream', a film produced by Nadia Hagger, and a profile of the British film director Ridley Scott. For a season in 1982, the series was in a magazine format presented by Barry Norman. The series was replaced by 'Imagine' hosted by Alan Yentob.The Kennedy Center Honors
7.4
Overview:
The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual honor given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture.Where Are They Now?
7.5
Overview:
Where Are They Now? was a television series on VH1 that featured past celebrities and updated on their current professional and personal status. Each episode was dedicated to another genre. Though not always in sequence, some episodes were a continuation of the motif of episodes from the past. Those episodes sometimes had Roman numerals in their title to signify their sequel status.MTV Rockumentary
7
Overview:
The 30-minute documentaries feature a series of interviews, archive footage, and music of the most influential rock bands and artists of the century.Classic Albums
7.7
Overview:
A documentary series about pop and rock albums that are considered the best or most distinctive of a well-known band or musician or that exemplify a stage in the history of music.A Silent Voice: The Movie
8.386
Overview:
Shouya Ishida starts bullying the new girl in class, Shouko Nishimiya, because she is deaf. But as the teasing continues, the rest of the class starts to turn on Shouya for his lack of compassion. When they leave elementary school, Shouko and Shouya do not speak to each other again... until an older, wiser Shouya, tormented by his past behaviour, decides he must see Shouko once more. He wants to atone for his sins, but is it already too late...?American Beauty
8.007
Overview:
Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.The Iron Giant
7.949
Overview:
In the small town of Rockwell, Maine in October 1957, a giant metal machine befriends a nine-year-old boy and ultimately finds its humanity by unselfishly saving people from their own fears and prejudices.VH1 Rock Honors
7
Overview:
The VH1 Rock Honors were an annual ceremony paying homage to bands who influenced the sound of rock music. The events began in 2006, and the final event took place in 2008. The general format of each show is for modern bands to "pay tribute" to classic greats of the rock/metal world, after which time the artist being paid tribute to plays multiple songs. The 2006 and 2007 shows featured four inductees each, whereas the 2008 show featured one, albeit with multiple bands paying tribute. The shows were directed by David Mallet and produced by Paul Flattery. Currently, VH1 has no plans for a CD or DVD release of any show.The Secret Policeman's Ball
5
Overview:
A series of benefit shows staged initially in the United Kingdom to raise funds for the human rights organisation Amnesty International. The shows started in 1976 featuring popular British comedians but later included leading musicians and actors. The Secret Policeman's Ball shows are credited by many prominent entertainers with having galvanised them to become involved with Amnesty and other social and political causes in succeeding years.Tommy
6.5
Overview:
After a series of traumatic childhood events, a psychosomatically deaf, dumb and blind boy becomes a master pinball player and the object of a religious cult.Quadrophenia
7.041
Overview:
Based on the 1973 rock opera album of the same name by The Who, this is the story of 60s teenager Jimmy. At work he slaves in a dead-end job. While after, he shops for tailored suits and rides his scooter as part of the London Mod scene.The Who - The Making of Tommy
9
Overview:
1968 was a time of soul searching for the band - with three badly performing singles behind them they needed a big new idea to put them back at the top and crucially to hold them together as a band. Inspired by Indian spiritual master Meher Baba, Pete Townshend created the character of Tommy, the 'deaf, dumb and blind boy'. Broke and fragmenting when they started recording, the album went on to sell over 20 million copies. In this film, the Who speak for the first time about the making of the iconic album and how its success changed their lives.The Sparks Brothers
7.39
Overview:
Take a musical odyssey through five weird and wonderful decades with brothers Ron & Russell Mael, celebrating the inspiring legacy of Sparks: your favorite band’s favorite band.Woodstock
7.533
Overview:
An intimate look at the Woodstock Music & Art Festival held in Bethel, NY in 1969, from preparation through cleanup, with historic access to insiders, blistering concert footage, and portraits of the concertgoers; negative and positive aspects are shown, from drug use by performers to naked fans sliding in the mud, from the collapse of the fences by the unexpected hordes to the surreal arrival of National Guard helicopters with food and medical assistance for the impromptu city of 500,000.Live Aid
7.9
Overview:
Live Aid was held on 13 July 1985, simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, and the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, United States. It was one of the largest scale satellite link-ups and television broadcasts of all time: watched live by an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion, across 150 nations. "It's twelve noon in London, seven AM in Philadelphia, and around the world it's time for Live Aid...!"Lennon or McCartney
5.315
Overview:
550 artists were interviewed over ten years. At some point during those interviews, they were asked a question and told to answer with one word only. Some stuck to one, some said more, some answered quickly, some thought it through, and some didn't answer at all. That question… Lennon or McCartney?Being Mick
NYR
Overview:
For everyone who's always envied the life of the legendary Rolling Stones frontman, this behind-the-scenes documentary lets you in on Mick Jagger's private life, with family home movies and interviews, and also follows him recording and performing songs from his solo Goddess in the Doorway" album. Special appearances by Bono, Pete Townshend, Wyclef Jean, Lenny Kravitz, and others are featured.Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation
7.3
Overview:
50 years after the legendary fest, Barak Goodman’s electric retelling of Woodstock, from the point of view of those who were on the ground, evokes the freedom, passion, community, and joy the three-day music festival created.Mayor of the Sunset Strip
6.821
Overview:
A look at the history of fame in the world through the eyes of pop star impresario, Rodney BingenheimerJimi Plays Monterey
7.4
Overview:
Jimi Hendrix's debut American set at 1967's Monterey Pop Festival is generally considered one of the most radical and legendary live shows ever. Virtually unknown to American audiences at the time, even though he was already an established entity in the UK, Hendrix and his two-piece Experience explode on stage, ripping through blues classics "Rock Me Baby" and Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor," interpreting and electrifying Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone," debuting songs from his yet-to-be-released first album and closing with the now historic sacrificing/burning of his guitar during an unhinged version of "Wild Thing" that even its writer Chip Taylor would never have imagined. Hendrix uses feedback and distortion to enhance the songs in whisper-to-scream intensity, blazing territory that had not been previously explored with as much soul-frazzled power.Acting
TBAThe Who: Vancouver 10/8/2006 as Unknown
TBAThe Who: Philadelphia 11/25/2006 as Unknown
TBAThe Who - Live at the Silverdome as Himself
TBAThe Who – With Orchestra Live At Wembley as Unknown
TBAThe Who at Live Aid as Unknown
TBATHE WHO Live At The Chicago Amphitheater 1979 as Himself
2023Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd as Self
2022The Who Hits 50! Live as Unknown
2022The Who: One Band's Explosive Story as Self - The Who Member
2021The Sparks Brothers as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2021Classic Albums: The Who Sell Out as Himself
2021Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go! as Self (archive footage)
2020Mick Fleetwood and Friends: Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac as Self
2019The Who: The Night That Changed Rock as Self
2019The Night That Changed Rock as Unknown
2019Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation as Self
2018Bad Reputation as Self
2017The Who: Tommy Live at The Royal Albert Hall as Himself – guitars, vocals
2017The Who: Rock in Rio 2017 as guitar
2017The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight 2004 Festival as Self
2016Pete Townshend's Deep End - Face The Face as Self
2016Night Flight: Born Again as Self
2015The Who: Live in Hyde Park as Himself - guitarist, vocals
2015Jean-Michel Jarre: A Journey into Sound as Self
2015It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC as Unknown
2015Classic Quadrophenia as Self
2015The Who: French TV Archives 1965-1967 as Unknown
2014Lennon or McCartney as Self
2014Play It Loud: The Story of Marshall as Self
2014Led Zeppelin Played Here as Self (archive footage)
2014Woodstock: Untold Stories Revisited as Self
2014The Who: Quadrophenia - Live in London as Unknown
2014The Who: Sensation—The Story of Tommy as Himself
2014The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (1 Episode) as Self
2014Lambert & Stamp as Himself
2013The Who - The Making of Tommy as Himself
2013Quadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me? as Himself
201212-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief as Self
2012The Who: Live in Texas '75 as Himself
2011Acoustic at the BBC as Self
2011The Who: Purple Hearts and Power Chords as Unknown
2009Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live - The Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as Self
2009Woodstock: Untold Stories as Unknown
2009Rachel Fuller presents: In the Attic with Pete Townshend & Friends as Self
2009The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 as Himselft
2008The Who - At Kilburn 1977 as guitar
2008The Who - Live at the London Coliseum 1969 as Himself - guitars, vocals
2008Smashing Pumpkins: If All Goes Wrong as Himself
2008VH1 Rock Honors: The Who as Self
2008Beat Club: The 40th Anniversary Edition as Unknown
2007Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who as Self
2007The Who: Dublin 6/29/2007 as Unknown
2007The Who: Cheshire 6/23/2007 as Unknown
2007The Who: Lisbon 5/16/2007 as Unknown
2007The Who: Atlantic City 3/9/2007 as Unknown
2007The Who: Fresno 2/25/2007 as Unknown
2007Dear Mr. Fantasy - A Celebration for Jim Capaldi as Himself
2007The Who: Fragments Fan Club DVD as Himself
2006The Who: Grand Rapids 12/5/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests as Pete Townshend
2006The Who: Live at Lyon as Himself (Guitars, Vocals)
2006The Who: Palm Springs 11/11/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: BBC Electric Proms as Himself
2006The Who: Baltimore 9/23/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Holmdel 9/21/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Boston 9/16/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Wantagh 9/13/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Philadelphia 9/12/2006 as Unknown
2006An Ox's Tale: The John Entwistle Story as Himself
2006The Who: Zaragoza 7/29/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Madrid 7/27/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Ulm 7/23/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: St. Polten 7/22/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Nyon 7/20/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Metz 7/18/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Lyon 7/17/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Monte Carlo 7/15/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Locarno 7/14/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Bonn 7/11/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Glasgow 7/9/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Dublin 7/8/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Liverpool 7/6/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Liverpool 7/5/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Hampshire 7/3/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Werchter 6/30/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Brighton 6/18/2006 as Unknown
2006The Who: Tommy Live With Special Guests as Self
2006VH1 Rock Honors (1 Episode) as Unknown
2006The Passing Show: The Life and Music of Ronnie Lane as Himself
2006The Who – Broadcast In Roundhouse Electric Proms 2006 as Unknown
2005The World's Greatest Gigs as Unknown
2005The Who | Tommy and Quadrophenia Live as Self - Guitar, Vocals
2005The Britpop Story 'It Really, Really, Really, Could Happen' as Self (archive footage)
2005Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today as Self
2004Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball? as Self
2004Live Aid as Unknown
2004One For The Road: Ronnie Lane Memorial Concert as Pete Townshend
2004The Who: Live in Boston as Himself
2004Police Protecting Children - Internet Paedophilia as Self
2003Mayor of the Sunset Strip as Self
2003Brian Wilson: On Tour as Self
2002Monterey Pop: The Outtake Performances as Unknown
2002Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse as Unknown
2001Being Mick as Self
2000The Who & Special Guests: Live At The Royal Albert Hall as Self - Lead Guitar / Vocals
2000The Beatles Revolution as Self
1999Pete Townshend - Letterman Compilation 1985-1999 as self
1999Classic Albums: The Who - Who's Next as Self
1999The Who - Who's Next 1971-2023 as Self
1999Where Are They Now? (1 Episode) as Self
1998Listening to You: The Who Live at the Isle of Wight as Himself
1997Behind the Music (1 Episode) as Self
1997Classic Albums (2 Episodes) as Self
1996The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus as Self - Guitar
1996Pete Townshend - Live at Fillmore West, April 30th, 1996 as guitar, vocals
1995The History of Rock 'n' Roll as Self
1994A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who as Self
1994The Who: Maximum R&B Live as Himself
1993The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb as Voice
1993Pete Townshend Live in New York Featuring Psychoderelict as Himself
1989The Simpsons (1 Episode) as Pete Townshend (voice)
1989The Who | Live, Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy as Self - Guitars & Vocals / Mr. Walker / Mrs. Walker / Narrator
1989MTV Rockumentary (1 Episode) as Unknown
1987Na siehste! (1 Episode) as Self
1987Jimi Plays Monterey as Self (archive footage)
1985Pete Townshend - South Bank Show Documentary as self
1985Live Aid as Self
1985White City as Pete Fountain
1984The Who: Live from Toronto as Unknown
1983The Who Rocks America 1982 as Himself
1982Video EP: Pete Townshend as Unknown
1982The Secret Policeman's Other Ball as Self
1982The Who: Live at Shea Stadium 1982 as Self
1981Concerts for the People of Kampuchea as Self
1979The Secret Policeman's Ball as Himself
1979The Who: The Kids Are Alright as Himself
1978The Kennedy Center Honors (1 Episode) as Self
1976The Secret Policeman's Ball (15 Episodes) as Self
1975Tommy as Himself
1975Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1 Episode) as Self - The Who
1974Rockpalast (1, 1 Episode) as Self (guitar vocal), Unknown
1973Jimi Hendrix as Self
1973Sound of the City: London 1964-73 as Self
1971Great Performances (1 Episode) as Self
1970The Who – Live At Tanglewood 1970 as Himself
1970Woodstock as Self - The Who
1969Heads as Self
1968Monterey Pop as Self - The Who
1967Omnibus (1 Episode) as Self
1967The Lost Paths as Himself
1966Carousella as himself
1965Seize millions de jeunes: Mods as Interviewee
1964Top of the Pops (2 Episodes) as Self
Production
2021Her Majesty ... Executive Producer
1999The Iron Giant ... Executive Producer
1979Quadrophenia ... Executive Producer
Sound
2021Her Majesty ... Music
2016A Silent Voice: The Movie ... Main Title Theme Composer, Theme Song Performance
2006Cloud Chaser ... Music
2002CSI: Miami (1 Episode) ... Theme Song Performance
2002Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse ... Music
1979Quadrophenia ... Music Director
1976O Parvardigar ... Music
1975Tommy ... Original Music Composer
1970Double Pisces, Scorpio Rising ... Music
Writing
2008The Who - Live at the London Coliseum 1969 ... Writer
2006The Who: Tommy Live With Special Guests ... Writer
1985White City ... Writer
1979Quadrophenia ... Story Consultant
1975Tommy ... Original Story, Original Concept