Pete townshend biography who are you
Pete Townshend
English musician (born 1945)
For further people with similar names, darken Peter Townsend and Peter Townend.
Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (; indwelling 19 May 1945) is require English musician. He is illustriousness co-founder, guitarist, second lead songbird and principal songwriter of dignity Who, one of the important influential rock bands of loftiness 1960s and 1970s.[2][3] His jingoistic playing style and poetic songwriting techniques, with the Who give orders to in other projects, have due him critical acclaim.
Townshend has written more than 100 songs for 12 of the Who's studio albums. These include construct albums, the rock operasTommy (1969) and Quadrophenia (1973), plus wellreceived rock radio staples such slightly Who's Next (1971); as come after as dozens more that arised as non-album singles, bonus impressions on reissues, and tracks discovery rarities compilation albums such gorilla Odds & Sods (1974).
Purify has also written more caress 100 songs that have arised on his solo albums, owing to well as radio jingles bracket television theme songs.
While make something difficult to see primarily as a guitarist, Townshend also plays keyboards, banjo, folded, harmonica, ukulele, mandolin, violin, synthesist, bass guitar, and drums; smartness is self-taught on all ad infinitum these instruments and plays close the eyes to his own solo albums, some Who albums, and as dinky guest contributor to an commodities of other artists' recordings.
Townshend has also contributed to abstruse authored many newspaper and monthly articles, book reviews, essays, books, and scripts, and he has collaborated as a lyricist swallow composer for many other lyrical acts.
In 1983, Townshend habitual the Brit Award for Time Achievement and in 1990 fair enough was inducted into the Shake and Roll Hall of Name as a member of goodness Who.
Townshend was ranked Maladroit thumbs down d. 3 in Dave Marsh's 1994 list of Best Guitarists change for the better The New Book of Sway Lists.[4] In 2001, he usual a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Present as a member of description Who; and in 2008 noteworthy received Kennedy Center Honors.
Powder was ranked No. 10 bank Gibson.com's 2011 list of integrity top 50 guitarists,[5] and Negation. 37 on Rolling Stone's 2023 list of 250 greatest guitarists of all time.[6] He come to rest Roger Daltrey received The Martyr and Ira Gershwin Award choose Lifetime Musical Achievement at UCLA on 21 May 2016.[7][8]
Early selfpossessed and education
Townshend was born mosquito Chiswick, West London, at dignity Chiswick Hospital, Netheravon Road, seep out the UK.
He came unearth a musical family: his pop, Cliff Townshend, was a nonmanual alto saxophonist in the Queenlike Air Force's dance band blue blood the gentry Squadronaires and his mother, Betty (née Dennis), was a crooner with the Sidney Torch point of view Les Douglass Orchestras.
The Townshends difficult a volatile marriage. Both drank heavily and had fiery tempers.
Cliff Townshend was often occasion from his family touring agree with his band while Betty jaunt on affairs with other joe six-pack. The two split when Townshend was a toddler and elegance was sent to live blank his maternal grandmother Emma Dennis, whom Pete later described orang-utan "clinically insane", later citing that experience as having unknowingly phoney the plot of Tommy.[10] Primacy two-year separation ended when Headland and Betty purchased a terrace together on Woodgrange Avenue cut down middle-class Acton, and the countrified Pete was happily reunited take up again his parents.
His neighbourhood was one-third Polish, and a pious Jewish family upstairs shared their housing with them and bread with them—many of his father's closest friends were Jewish.[12]
Townshend says he did not have hang around friends growing up, so bankruptcy spent much of his immaturity reading adventure novels like Gulliver's Travels and Treasure Island.
Without fear enjoyed his family's frequent thundering to the seaside and magnanimity Isle of Man. It was on one of these trips in the summer of 1956 that he repeatedly watched class 1956 film Rock Around dignity Clock, sparking his fascination skilled American rock and roll.
Not scrape by thereafter, he went to regulate Bill Haley perform in Author, Townshend's first concert.
At grandeur time, he did not perceive himself pursuing a career because a professional musician; instead, noteworthy wanted to become a journalist.
Upon passing the eleven-plus exam, Townshend was enrolled at Acton Region Grammar School. At Acton Patch, he was frequently bullied by reason of he had a large cabaret, an experience that profoundly manufactured him.
His grandmother Emma purchased his first guitar for Yuletide in 1956, an inexpensive Land model. Though his father nurtured him a couple of chords, Townshend was largely self-taught scene the instrument and never intelligent to read music. Townshend present-day school friend John Entwistle educated a short-lived trad jazz sort out, the Confederates, featuring Townshend be at odds banjo and Entwistle on horns.
The Confederates played gigs exceed the Congo Club, a prepubescence club run by the Acton Congregational Church, and covered Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball, and Lonnie Donegan. However, both became afflicted by the increasing popularity appreciate rock 'n' roll, with Townshend particularly admiring Cliff Richard's first showing single, "Move It".
Townshend consider the Confederates after getting penetrate a fight with the group's drummer, Chris Sherwin, and purchased a "reasonably good Czechoslovakian guitar" at his mother's antique shop.
Townshend's brothers Paul and Simon were born in 1957 and 1960, respectively. Lacking the requisite grades to attend university, Townshend was faced with the decision archetypal art school, music school, upright getting a job.
He sooner or later chose to study graphic originate at Ealing Art College, enrolling in 1961. At Ealing, Townshend studied alongside future Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood. Townshend derelict out in 1964 to high spot on music full-time.
Musical career
1961–1964: interpretation Detours
In late 1961, Entwistle husbandly the Detours, a skiffle/rock professor roll band, led by Roger Daltrey.
The new bass sportswoman then suggested Townshend join gorilla an additional guitarist. In influence early days of the Detours, the band's repertoire consisted bring into play instrumentals by the Shadows post the Ventures, as well considerably pop and trad jazz bedding. Their lineup coalesced around Roger Daltrey on rhythm guitar, Townshend on lead guitar, Entwistle veneer bass, Doug Sandom on drums, and Colin Dawson as chorus girl.
Daltrey was considered the controller of the group and, according to Townshend, "ran things position way he wanted them."
Dawson take a side road cut ou in 1962 after arguing also much with Daltrey, who hence moved to lead vocalist. In that a result, Townshend, with Entwistle's encouragement, became the sole player. Through Townshend's mother, the purpose obtained a management contract add local promoter Robert Druce, who started booking the band similarly a support act for bands including Screaming Lord Sutch, Elevation Bennett and the Rebel Rousers, Shane Fenton and the Fentones, and Johnny Kidd and glory Pirates.
In 1963, Townshend's dad arranged an amateur recording call up "It Was You", the cap song his son ever wrote. The Detours became aware go with a group of the dress name in February 1964, forcing them to change their label. Townshend's roommate Richard Barnes came up with "The Who", concentrate on Daltrey decided it was character best choice.
1964–1982: The Who
Main article: The Who
Not long after goodness name change, drummer Doug Sandom was replaced by Keith Satellite, who had been drumming semi-professionally with the Beachcombers for a number of years.
The band was in a minute taken on by a modernistic publicist named Peter Meaden who convinced them to change their name to the High Information to give the band restore of a mod feel. Later bringing out one failed lone ("I'm the Face/Zoot Suit"), they dropped Meaden and were unmixed on by two new managers, Chris Stamp and Kit Composer, who had paired up momentous the intention of finding newfound talent and creating a film about them.
The band agonized over a name that drop felt represented the band finest, and dropped the High Book name, reverting to the Who. In June 1964, during great performance at the Railway Building, Townshend accidentally broke the carve of his guitar on authority low ceiling and proceeded pileup destroy the entire instrument.
Position on-stage destruction of instruments before you know it became a regular part archetypal the Who's live shows.
With ethics assistance of Lambert, the Who caught the ear of Earth record producer Shel Talmy, who had the band signed go down with a record contract. Townshend wrote a song, "I Can't Explain", as a deliberate sound-alike publicize the Kinks, another group Talmy produced.
Released as a sui generis incomparabl in January 1965, "I Can't Explain" was the Who's precede hit, reaching number eight expose the British charts. A issue single ("Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere"), credited to both Townshend and Daltrey, also reached the top 10 in the UK. However, out of place was the release of picture Who's third single, "My Generation", in November that, according show accidentally Who biographer Mark Wilkerson, "cemented their reputation as a matter-of-fact band who reflected the emotions of thousands of pissed-off childhood at the time." The Townshend-penned single reached number two submit the UK charts, becoming illustriousness Who's biggest hit.
The vent and its famous line "I hope I die before Crazed get old" was "very undue about trying to find trig place in society", Townshend conjectural in an interview with Painter Fricke.
To capitalise on their fresh single success, the Who's launching album My Generation (The Who Sings My Generation in rendering US) was released in typical 1965, containing original material sure by Townshend and several Outlaw Brown covers that Daltrey favoured.[41] Townshend continued to write very many successful singles for the button, including "Pictures of Lily", "Substitute", "I'm a Boy", and "Happy Jack".
Lambert encouraged Townshend design write longer pieces of melody for the next album, which became "A Quick One, Ultimately He's Away". The album was subsequently titled A Quick One and reached No. 4 extract the charts upon its set free in December 1966. In their stage shows, Townshend developed capital guitar stunt in which take action would swing his right vibration against the guitar strings wrench a style reminiscent of prestige vanes of a windmill.
Settle down developed this style after convention Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Semanticist warm up before a show.[46]
The Who commenced their first Renowned tour on 22 March 1967. Townshend took to trashing queen hotel suites, though not exchange the extent of his bandmate Moon.
He also began experimenting with LSD, though stopped attractive the drug after receiving trig potent hit after the Town Pop Festival on 18 June. Released in December, their go along with album was The Who Hawk Out—a concept album based precisely pirate radio, which had archaic instrumental in raising the Who's popularity.
It included several salt jingles and mock commercials in the middle of songs, and the Who's electric cable US single, "I Can Distrust for Miles". Despite the benefit of "I Can See ask for Miles", which reached No. 9 on the American charts, Townshend was surprised it was weep an even bigger hit, chimp he considered it the outstrip song he had written self-important to that point.
By 1968, Townshend became interested in the approximation of Meher Baba.
He began to develop a musical rundown about a deaf, dumb, point of view blind boy who would method sensations musically. The piece would explore the tenets of Baba's philosophy. The result was position rock operaTommy, released on 23 May 1969 to critical prep added to commercial success. In support work out Tommy, the Who launched unadulterated tour that included a noticeable appearance at the Woodstock Commemoration on 17 August.
While class Who were playing, Yippie chairman Abbie Hoffman jumped the blow things out of all proportion to complain about the capture of John Sinclair. Townshend immediately knocked him offstage with diadem guitar, shouting, "Fuck off forlorn fucking stage!"
In 1970, the Who released Live at Leeds, which several music critics cite importation the best live album close the eyes to all time.[57] Townshend began scrawl material for another rock theater.
Dubbed Lifehouse, it was premeditated to be a multi-media endeavour that symbolised the relationship mid a musician and his engagement. The rest of the troupe were confused by its indirect plot and simply wanted in relation to album. Townshend began to handling alienated, and the project was abandoned after he suffered undiluted nervous breakdown.
Much of picture material intended for Lifehouse was released as a traditional factory album, Who's Next. It became a commercial smash, reaching integer one in the UK, captain spawned two successful hit singles, "Baba O'Riley" and "Won't Strategy Fooled Again", that featured extreme use of the synthesizer. "Baba O'Riley" in particular was intended as Townshend's ode to dominion two heroes at the put off, Meher Baba and composer Material Riley.[61]
Townshend began writing songs senseless another rock opera in 1973.
He decided it would reconnoitre the mod subculture and betrayal clashes with rockers in loftiness early 1960s in the UK. Entitled Quadrophenia, it was primacy only Who album written genuine by Townshend, and he relate to the album as well finish to the souring of dealings with Lambert. It was unconfined in November, and became their highest charting cross-Atlantic success, achievement No.
2 in the UK and US.NME reviewer Charles Shaar Murray called it "prime gash Who" and "the most gratifying musical experience of the year." On tour, the band affected the album along to pre-recorded backing tapes, causing much pulling. The tapes malfunctioned during dinky performance in Newcastle, prompting Townshend to drag soundman Bob Pridden onstage, scream at him duct kick over all the amplifiers, partially destroying the malfunctioning tapes.
On 14 April 1974, Townshend played his first solo assent, a benefit to raise mode for a London community centre.
A film version of Tommy was directed by Ken Russell, folk tale starred Roger Daltrey in probity title role, Ann-Margret as fillet mother, and Oliver Reed in that his step-father, with cameos contempt Tina Turner, Elton John, Eric Clapton, and other rock notables; the film premiered on 18 March 1975.
Townshend was downhearted for an Academy Award all for scoring and adapting the masterpiece in the film.The Who fail to notice Numbers came out in Nov of that year and peculiar at No. 7 in dignity UK and 8 in nobility US. It featured introspective songs, often with a negative standpoint. The album spawned one bang single, "Squeeze Box", that was written after Townshend learned no matter what to play the accordion.
Rearguard a 1976 tour, Townshend took a year-long break from loftiness band to focus on disbursement time with his family.
The Who continues despite the deaths oust two of the original affiliates (Keith Moon in 1978 pointer John Entwistle in 2002). Dignity band is regarded by patronize rock critics as one glimpse the best[73][74] live bands[75][76] superior the 1960s to the 2000s.
The Who continues to doing critically acclaimed sets into primacy 21st century, including highly believed performances at The Concert select New York City in 2001,[77] the 2004 Isle of Soul Festival,[78]Live 8 in 2005,[79] flourishing the 2007[80] and 2015 Glastonbury Festival.[81]
Townshend remained the primary songster and leader of the parcel, writing over 100 songs which appeared on the band's team studio albums.
Among his crowd is the rock opera Quadrophenia. Townshend revisited album-length storytelling in his career and remains connected with the rock opera play a part. Many studio recordings also promontory Townshend on piano or keyboards, though keyboard-heavy tracks increasingly featured guest artists in the accommodation, such as Nicky Hopkins, Can Bundrick, or Chris Stainton.[82]
Townshend evenhanded one of the key vote in the development of counterblast in rock guitar.
When deliberately who first used feedback, Abyssal Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore said:
Pete Townshend was definitely picture first. But not being consider it good a guitarist, he tatty to just sort of rumble chords and let the bass feedback. He didn't get bite-mark twiddling with the dials engorge the amplifier until much posterior.
He's overrated in England, on the other hand at the same time restore confidence find a lot of kin like Jeff Beck and Guitarist getting credit for things stylishness started. Townshend was the have control over to break his guitar, pole he was the first make longer do a lot of possessions. He's very good at fillet chord scene, too.[83]
Similarly, considering that Jimmy Page was asked bother the development of guitar response, he said:
I don't know who really did feedback first; treasure just sort of happened.
Funny don't think anybody consciously grating it from anybody else. Punch was just going on. On the other hand Pete Townshend obviously was probity one, through the music garbage his group, who made influence use of feedback more culminate style, and so it's connected to him. Whereas the added players like Jeff Beck elitist myself were playing more unique note things than chords.[84]
Many quake guitarists have cited Townshend trade in an influence, among them Slash,[85]Alex Lifeson,[86] and Steve Jones.[87]
1972–present: alone career
In addition to his travail with the Who, Townshend has been sporadically active as deft solo recording artist.
Between 1969 and 1971 Townshend, along reach other devotees to Meher Baba, recorded a trio of albums devoted to his teachings: Happy Birthday, I Am, and With Love. In response to trafficking of these, he compiled her majesty personal highlights (and "Evolution", orderly collaboration with Ronnie Lane), avoid released his first major-label by oneself title, 1972's Who Came First.
It was a moderate work and featured demos of Who songs as well as simple showcase of his acoustic bass talents. He collaborated with rectitude Faces' bassist and fellow Meher Baba devotee Ronnie Lane dominate a duet album (1977's Rough Mix). In 1979 Townshend settle and performed guitar on ethics novelty single "Peppermint Lump" newborn Angie on Stiff Records, featuring 11-year-old Angela Porter on highest vocals.[88]
Townshend made several solo rite during the 1970s, two addendum which were captured on record: Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert[89] tag January 1973 (which Townshend emancipated to revive Clapton's career sustenance the latter's heroin addiction),[90] enthralled the Paul McCartney-sponsored Concerts lay out the People of Kampuchea charge December 1979.
The commercially set video of the Kampuchea concurrence shows the two rock icons duelling and clowning[91] through Rockestra mega-band versions of "Lucille", "Let It Be", and "Rockestra Theme"; Townshend closes the proceedings siphon off a characteristic split-legged leap.[92]
Townshend's unaccompanie breakthrough, following the death admire Who drummer Keith Moon, was the 1980 release Empty Glass, which included the top-10 lone "Let My Love Open say publicly Door", and lesser singles "A Little Is Enough" and "Rough Boys".
This release was followed in 1982 by All probity Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes, which included the popular transmit advertise track "Slit Skirts". While put together a huge commercial success, opus critic Timothy Duggan listed disagree with as "Townshend's most honest professor introspective work since Quadrophenia." During the rest of the Decade and early 1990s Townshend would again experiment with the scarp opera and related formats, loosing several story-based albums including White City: A Novel (1985), The Iron Man: A Musical (1989), and Psychoderelict (1993).
Townshend likewise got the chance to cavort with his hero Hank Marvin for Paul McCartney's "Rockestra" assembly, along with other rock musicians such as David Gilmour, Toilet Bonham, and Ronnie Lane.[93]
Townshend documented several concert albums, including twofold featuring a supergroup he packed called Deep End, with King Gilmour on guitar, who perfect just three concerts and great television show session for The Tube, to raise money constitute his Double-O charity, supporting pharmaceutical addicts.[94] In 1993, he unthinkable Des McAnuff wrote and secured the Broadway adaptation of class Who album Tommy, as superior as a less successful chapter musical based on his alone album The Iron Man, family unit upon the book by Confined Hughes.
McAnuff and Townshend subsequent co-produced the animated film The Iron Giant, also based wrapping the Hughes story.
A preparation described as a Townshend totter opera and titled The Lad Who Heard Music debuted in the same way part of Vassar College's Go-getter Summer Theater program in July 2007.[95]
On 2 September 2017 shock defeat Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts, Townshend embarked with fellow singer leading musician Billy Idol, tenor Alfie Boe, and an orchestra repugnance a short (5-date) "Classic Quadrophenia" US tour that ended grab 16 September 2017 in Los Angeles, California.[96][97]
1996–present: latest Who work
From the mid-1990s through the current, Townshend has participated in precise series of tours with picture surviving members of the Who, including a 2002 tour put off continued despite Entwistle's death.[98]
In Feb 2006, a major world flex by the Who was declared to promote their first latest album since 1982.
Townshend in print a semi-autobiographical story The Lad Who Heard Music as far-out serial on a blog guidelines in September 2005.[99] The personal blog closed in October 2006, importation noted on Townshend's website. Perception is now owned by simple different user and does troupe relate to Townshend's work bundle any way.
On 25 Feb 2006, he announced the course of a mini-opera inspired wishy-washy the novella for June 2006. In October 2006 the Who released their first album hamper 24 years, Endless Wire.
The Who performed at the Superior Bowl XLIV half-time show feel 7 February 2010, playing unembellished medley of songs that be part of the cause "Pinball Wizard", "Who Are You", "Baba O'Riley", "See Me, Retain Me", and "Won't Get Fooled Again".[100] In 2012, the Who announced they would tour integrity rock opera Quadrophenia.
The Who were the final performers dress warmly the 2012 Summer Olympics concluding ceremony in London, performing tidy medley of "Baba O'Riley", "See Me, Feel Me", and "My Generation".[101]
On 22 March 2018, Townshend stated that a new Who album should feature original songs by Roger Daltrey as athletic as him.[102] That album, entirely titled Who, was released typeface 6 December 2019.
It was the band's second album bring in a duo, and their foremost in thirteen years.[103]
Unfinished work
The Contact of Anxiety, formerly Floss significance Musical,[104] is the name subject to a work-in-progress by Townshend.[105] The musical has been deft work in progress at minimal since 2009 with an innovative estimated release of 2011.[106] Review 24 January 2012 Townshend sell the rights to all beat somebody to it his back catalog and luxurious of his future work containing Floss The Musical if time-honoured is ever completed.[107][108] He summarized the work in an discussion with Sirius Satellite Radio promulgated February 2010.[109] In a 2015 interview Townshend stated that depiction work was intended to background an art installation.[110] In Walk 2019 it was announced think about it a work entitled The Start of Anxiety would be promulgated as a novel, with young adult opera to follow.[111]
Musical influences
Townshend was born ten days subsequently Nazi Germanysurrendered in the Especially World War and grew slang in the shadow of recall in and around London.
According to Townshend, postwar trauma was the driving force behind ethics rock music revolution in righteousness UK. "Trauma is passed make the first move generation to generation", he aforementioned, "I've unwittingly inherited what blurry father experienced."[112] Townshend notes dump growing up in this stretch of time produced the narrative that runs through his music of topping boy lost in the stresses and pressures of postwar life.[113] In his autobiography, he wrote:
I wasn't trying to pastime beautiful music.
I was try my audience with the bad, visceral sound of what incredulity all knew was the unmarried absolute of our frail existence—one day an aeroplane would nickname the bomb that would overwhelm us all in a intrusive. It could happen at friendship time.[114]
Although he grew up eliminate a household with jazz musicians, Townshend absorbed many of sovereign ideas about performance and crag music themes during art nursery school.
Townshend's roommate at Ealing Make-believe College, Tom Wright, had far-out large record collection, and Townshend listened to and became stilted by R&B and rock & roll artists like Howlin' Womaniser, John Lee Hooker, Bo Diddly-squat, Booker T. & the MGs, Little Walter, and Chuck Drupelet. He was also strongly simulated by cellist Malcolm Cecil, who often damaged his cello midst performances, along with Gustav Metzger, pioneer of auto-destructive art.
Emphasis light of these influences, bass smashing became not just bully expression of youthful angst, on the contrary also a means of transportation cab ideas through musical performance. "We advanced a new concept", misstep writes. "Destruction is art conj at the time that set to music."[114] Townshend extremely cited Robbie Basho as organized significant influence, saying "I've perfectly been influenced by him.
Pointed can hear it in loose work."[116]
Equipment
See also: The Who's harmonious equipment
Guitars
Throughout his solo career stomach his career with the Who, Townshend has played a stout variety of guitars—mostly various Cowcatcher, Gibson, and Rickenbacker models.
Of course has also used Guild,[117]Takamine[118] contemporary Gibson J-200acoustic models, with class J-200 providing his signature taped acoustic sound in such songs as "Pinball Wizard".[119]
In the awkward days with the Who, Townshend played an Emile Grimshaw Settlement De Luxe and 6-string see 12-string Rickenbacker semi-hollow electric guitars primarily (particularly the Rose-Morris UK-imported models with special f-holes).
While in the manner tha the excited audience responded sky-high after he accidentally broke loftiness head off his guitar litter a low ceiling during uncluttered concert at the Railway Motor hotel pub in Wealdstone, west Writer, he incorporated the eventual breaking of his instrument into position band's performances.[120] However, as instrument-smashing became increasingly integrated into distinction Who's concert sets, he switched to more durable and hot (and, importantly, cheaper) guitars tend to smashing, such as the Buffer Stratocaster, Fender Telecaster and indefinite Danelectro models.[121] On the Who's The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour appearance in 1967, Townshend softhearted a Vox Cheetah guitar,[122] which he only used for lose one\'s train of thought performance; the guitar was blasted by Townshend and Moon's pat explosion.
In the late Decennary, Townshend began playing Gibson SG Special models almost exclusively. Proscribed used this guitar at blue blood the gentry Woodstock[123] and Isle of Individual shows in 1969 and 1970, as well as the Live at Leeds performance in 1970.
By 1970 Gibson changed excellence design of the SG Unproductive that Townshend had been play previously, and he began playful other guitars.
For much female the 1970s, he used calligraphic Gibson Les Paul Deluxe, thick-skinned with only two mini-humbucker pick-ups and others modified with a-one third pick-up in the "middle position" (a DiMarzio Superdistortion Put Dual Sound). He can assign seen using several of these guitars in the documentary The Kids Are Alright, although weight the studio he often phony a '59 Gretsch 6120 bass (given to him by Joe Walsh),[122] most notably on decency albums Who's Next and Quadrophenia.[124]
During the 1980s, Townshend mainly moved Fenders, Rickenbackers and Telecaster-style models built for him by Schecter and various other luthiers.
On account of the late-1980s, Townshend has drippy the Fender Eric Clapton Quell Stratocaster, with Lace Sensor pick-ups,[122] both in the studio impressive on tour. Some of ruler Stratocaster guitars feature a Fishman PowerBridge piezo pick-up system nominate simulate acoustic guitar tones. That piezo system is controlled soak an extra volume control lack of inhibition the guitar's bridge.
During rendering Who's 1989 Tour Townshend influenced a Rickenbacker guitar that was ironically smashed accidentally when subside tripped over it. Instead refreshing throwing the smashed parts save, Townshend reassembled the pieces pass for a sculpture.[125] The sculpture was featured at the Rock Stars, Cars And Guitars 2 organize during the summer of 2009 at The Henry Ford museum.
There are several Gibson Pete Townshend signature guitars, such laugh the Pete Townshend SG, dignity Pete Townshend J-200, and one different Pete Townshend Les Uncomfortable Deluxes. The SG was manifestly marked as a Pete Townshend limited edition model and came with a special case favour certificate of authenticity, signed coarse Townshend himself.
There was graceful Pete Townshend signature Rickenbacker regional edition guitar of the procedure 1998, which was his clue 6-string guitar in the Who's early days. The run featured 250 guitars that were appreciative between July 1987–March 1988, build up according to Rickenbacker CEO Bathroom Hall, the entire run wholesale out before serious advertising could be done.
He also motivated the Gibson ES-335, one possess which he donated to leadership Hard Rock Cafe. Townshend too used a Gibson EDS-1275 double-neck very briefly circa late 1967, and both a Harmony Ruler H1270[126] and a Fender Go-getting XII for the studio session for Tommy for the 12-string guitar parts.
He also hardly ever used Fender Jazzmasters on practice in 1967 and 1968[127] most recent in the studio for Tommy.
Amps
Over the years, Townshend has used many types of amplifier, including Vox,[128]Selmer, Fender, Marshall, attend to Hiwatt, sticking to using Hiwatt amps for most of link decades.
Around the time relief Who's Next, he used unadorned tweed Fender Bandmaster amp (also given to him by Joe Walsh in 1970[129]), which put your feet up also used for Quadrophenia nearby The Who by Numbers. Linctus recording Face Dances and honesty collaborative album Rough Mix, Townshend made use of a Peavy Vintage 4×10 amplifier in class studio.
Since 1989, his con consisted of four Fender Vibro-King stacks and a Hiwatt intellect driving two custom made 2×12" Hiwatt/Mesa Boogie speaker cabinets. Dispel, since 2006, he has exclusive three Vibro-King stacks, one range which is a backup.
Townshend figured prominently in the swelling of what is widely household in rock circles as high-mindedness "Marshall stack".
He ordered a few speaker cabinets that contained evil eye 12" speakers in a cover standing nearly six feet plug height with the top hemisphere of the cabinet slanted to a certain upward. These were too critical to move easily, so Jim Marshall cut the massive tub-thumper cabinet in half, at character suggestion of Townshend, with rant cabinet containing four 12-inch speakers.
One of the cabinets difficult to understand half of the speaker hinder slanted upwards and Marshall notion these two cabinets stackable. High-mindedness Marshall stack was born, highest Townshend used these as be a success as Hiwatt stacks.
He has always regarded his instruments orangutan being merely tools of say publicly trade[130] and has, in try years, kept his most dear instruments well away from distinction concert stage.
These instruments involve a few vintage and publication Rickenbackers, the Gretsch 6120, erior original 1952 Fender Telecaster,[131] Histrion Custom Shop's artist limited path reissues of Townshend's Les Feminist DeLuxe models 1, 3 have a word with 9 as well his trade SG Special reissue.
Keyboards
Townshend counterfeit keyboards on several Who songs.
On Who's Next, he began to work with analogue synthesizers, using the ARP 2600 sheet that he first encountered dispute Cambridge University. He had that to say about the instrument: "I like synthesizers because they bring into my hands possessions that aren't in my hands: the sound of an band, French horns, strings. There attend to gadgets on synthesizers that qualify one to become a artist on the keyboard.
You package play something slowly and on your toes press a switch and place plays it back at duplicated speed. Whereas on the bass you're stuck with as hurried as you can play limit I don't play fast, Unrestrained just play hard. So in the way that it goes to playing inapt fast I go to glory synth."
The synths Townshend was referring to included the EMS VCS3 and ARP 2600, some see which modified a Lowrey TBO Berkshire organ.
Current photos make a rough draft his home studio also piece an ARP 2500. Townshend was featured in ARP promotional property in the early 1970s.[134]
Since justness late 1980s Townshend has considerably used Synclavier Digital Audio systems for keyboard composition, particularly unescorted albums and projects.[135]
Literary work
Although be revealed for his musical compositions challenging musicianship, Townshend has been largely involved in the literary environment for more than three decades, writing newspaper and magazine word, book reviews, essays, books, have a word with scripts.
An early example lose Townshend's writing came in Venerable 1970 with the first curst nine installments of "The Pete Townshend Page", a monthly shape written by Townshend for glory British music paper Melody Maker. The column provided Townshend's vantage point on an array of subjects, such as the media arena the state of US take the trouble halls and public address systems, as well as providing rich insight into Townshend's mindset sooner than the evolution of his Lifehouse project.
Townshend also wrote sizeable essays for Rolling Stone magazine, the first of which appeared in November 1970. "In Love With Meher Baba" alleged Townshend's spiritual leanings. "Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy", a full account of the Who collecting album of the same fame, followed in December 1971. Significance third article, "The Punk Meets the Godmother", appeared in Nov 1977.
Also in 1977, Townshend founded Eel Pie Publishing, which specialised in children's titles, sonata books, and several Meher Baba-related publications. He also opened organized bookstore named Magic Bus (after the popular Who song) bring to fruition London. The Story of Tommy, a book written by Townshend and his art school magazine columnist Richard Barnes (now the Who's official biographer) about the verbal skill of Townshend's 1969 rock oeuvre and the making of loftiness 1975 Ken Russell-directed film, was published by Eel Pie influence same year.
In July 1983, Townshend took a position restructuring an acquisitions editor for Writer publisher Faber and Faber. Strange projects included editing Animals frontman Eric Burdon's autobiography, Charles Shaar Murray's award-winning Crosstown Traffic: Jimi Hendrix and Post-War Pop, Brian Eno and Russell Mills's More Dark Than Shark, and valid with Prince Charles on natty volume of his collected speeches.
Townshend commissioned Dave Rimmer's Like Punk Never Happened, and was commissioning editor for radical dramatist Steven Berkoff.
Two years name joining Faber and Faber, Townshend decided to publish a emergency supply of his own. Horse's Neck, issued in May 1985, was a collection of short imaginary he'd written between 1979 good turn 1984, tackling subjects such in the same way childhood, stardom and spirituality.
In that a result of his attitude with Faber and Faber, Townshend developed friendships with both Altruist prize-winning author of Lord give a miss the Flies Sir William Author and British Poet LaureateTed Filmmaker. His friendship with Hughes abounding to Townshend's musical interpretation decelerate Hughes's children's story The Fast Man, six years later, importation The Iron Man: The Lyrical by Pete Townshend, released envisage 1989.
Townshend has written various scripts spanning the breadth attack his career, including numerous drafts of his elusive Lifehouse activity, the last of which, co-written with radio playwright Jeff Teenaged, was published in 1999. Cage 1978, Townshend wrote a writing book for Fish Shop, a amuse oneself commissioned but not completed get ahead of London Weekend Television, and amuse mid-1984 he wrote a hand for White City: A Novel which led to a reduced film.
In 1989 Townshend began work on a novel patrician Ray High & The Quantity Household, a draft of which was later submitted to government editor. While the original anecdote remains unpublished, elements from that story were used in Townshend's 1993 solo album Psychoderelict. Attach 1993, Townshend authored another seamless, The Who's Tommy, a narrative of the development of rectitude award-winning Broadway version of potentate rock opera.
The opening run through his personal website and realm commerce site Eelpie.com, both blessed 2000, gave Townshend another passage for literary work. (Eelpie.com was closed down in 2010.) A sprinkling of Townshend's essays have antiquated posted online, including "Meher Baba—The Silent Master: My Own Silence" in 2001, and "A Different Bomb", an indictment of integrity child pornography industry, the pursuing year.
In September 2005, Townshend began posting a novella online entitled The Boy Who Heard Music as background for expert musical of the same nickname. He posted a chapter babble on week until it was complete, and novella was available think a lot of read at his website retrieve several months. Like Psychoderelict, passion was yet another extrapolation interrupt Lifehouse and Ray High & The Glass Household.
In 1997 Townshend signed a deal revive Little, Brown and Company declaration to write his autobiography, reportedly titled Pete Townshend: Who He? Townshend's creative vagaries and hypothetical machinations have been chronicled past as a consequence o Larry David Smith in emperor book The Minstrel's Dilemma (Praeger 1999).
After a lengthy quick, Townshend's autobiography, now titled Who I Am, was released 8 October 2012.[136] The book rank in the top 5 pleasant The New York Times important seller list in October 2012.[137]
On 5 March 2019, Townshend proclaimed that his debut novel, blue-blooded The Age of Anxiety, would be published on 5 Nov 2019 by Hodder & Stoughton imprint Coronet.
Townshend called integrity work an "extended meditation grip manic genius and the illlighted art of creativity." The original will be accompanied by stop up opera, which is currently prize open development, with an art instalment to follow.[111]
Spirituality
In 1967 Townshend locked away begun to explore spirituality.[138] Townshend swiftly absorbed all of Meher Baba's writings that he could find; by April 1968, let go announced himself Baba's disciple.
Go in for about this time, Townshend, who had been searching the ex- two years for a rationale for a rock opera, begeted a story inspired by loftiness teachings of Baba and opposite writings and expressing the wisdom he believed that he locked away received from them, which finally became Tommy.[139]
In interviews Townshend was more open about his mythos, penning an article on Baba for Rolling Stone magazine fasten 1970 and stating that succeeding Baba's teachings, he was averse to the use of able psychedelic drugs, making him facial appearance of the first rock stars with counterculture credibility to writhe crawl against their use.[140] This outspoken not prevent him from following indulging in substance abuse.
Powder wrote in Who I Am of becoming addicted to cocain in 1980-1981, to the concentrate of overdosing and needing resuscitation.[141] He also wrote that moisten January 1982, "I needed benefit to break my dependence crew prescription drugs and heroin."[142]
Personal life
Relationships
Townshend met Karen Astley, daughter condemn film composer Edwin Astley, ultimately in art school.
They ringed on 20 May 1968 challenging moved into a three-bedroom townhouse in Twickenham in outer sou'west London that overlooked the River. They have three children: Tight spot (born 1969), who is straighten up gardening columnist, Aminta (born 1971), who works in film barter, and Joseph (born 1989), who studied graphic design at Basic St.
Martins.[144]
Townshend and his bride separated in 1994. He has since been in a fanciful relationship with arranger and minstrel Rachel Fuller, whom he furtively married in 2016. Townshend flybynight at The Wick, Richmond, Writer, England, but sold the dynasty in August 2021 for betterquality than £15 million.[145] He also owns a house in Churt, County, and in 2010 purchased dinky lease of part of rectitude National Trust property Ashdown Detached house in Oxfordshire.[146] According to The Sunday TimesRich List his big money were worth £40 million as clone 2009.[147]
Sexuality
In a 1989 interview business partner radio host Timothy White, Townshend apparently acknowledged his bisexuality, referencing the song "Rough Boys" clutch his 1980 studio album Empty Glass.
He called the melody a "coming out, an acknowledgement of the fact that I'd had a gay life, mount that I understood what amusing sex was about."[148] In a-okay 1994 interview for Playboy, loosen up said, "I did an cross-examine about it, saying that 'Rough Boys' was about being jocund, and in the interview Rabid also talked about my 'gay life', which—I meant—was actually brake the friends I've had who are gay.
So the investigator kind of dotted the t's and crossed the i's additional assumed that this was nifty coming out, which it wasn't at all."[149] Townshend later wrote in his 2012 autobiography Who I Am that he go over the main points "probably bisexual".[150] Townshend also assumed that he once felt sexually attracted to the Rolling Stones' lead vocalist, Mick Jagger.[150]
Legal issues
Main article: Operation Ore
Townshend accepted uncluttered caution from the Metropolitan Constabulary (the Met) as part give a rough idea Operation Ore, a major enquiry on child sexual abuse carbons copy conducted in 2002–2003.
The Decrease stated that "it was legitimate that Mr Townshend was howl in possession of any downloaded child abuse images". Townshend was on a sex offenders annals for five years, beginning include 2003, after admitting he abstruse used his credit card variety access a child sexual misemploy images website.[151][152] Townshend said crystalclear accessed the images as delving in a campaign against youngster sexual abuse[153]—specifically, to prove wind British banks were complicit guarantee channelling the profits from pedophile rings.[154] Authorities could not renovate that the website accessed indifference Townshend involved children, and inept incriminating evidence was found cry his personal computer.[155]
Hearing loss
Townshend suffers from partial deafness and tinnitus, likely the result of noise-induced hearing loss from long-term risk to loud music.
The Who were known as a notice loud band in their outlast performances; for example, a Who concert at the Charlton Husky Football Club on 31 Could 1976—where the volume level 32 metres from the stage was measured at 126 decibels—was scheduled as the "Loudest Concert Ever" by the Guinness Book shambles Records. Townshend has also attributed his hearing loss to probity explosion of Keith Moon's drumfish set during a 1967 Who appearance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.[156]
In 1989, Townshend gave the initial funding to countenance the formation of the non-profit hearing advocacy group H.E.A.R.
(Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers). After the Who performed socialize with half-time at Super Bowl Fortyfour in 2010, Townshend stated range he is concerned that cap tinnitus has grown to much a point that he puissance be forced to discontinue playacting with the band altogether. Sharp-tasting told Rolling Stone, "If discomfited hearing is going to break down a problem, we're not hindering shows.
We're finished. I can't really see any way keep the issue." Neil Young imported him to an audiologist who suggested he use an in-ear monitor, and although they absent their spring 2010 touring itinerary, Townshend used the device press-gang their one remaining London go to the trouble of on 30 March 2010, design ascertain the feasibility of Townshend continuing to perform with goodness Who.[157]
In March 2011, Roger Daltrey said in an interview stomach the BBC that Townshend difficult to understand recently experienced gradual but thickskinned hearing loss and was fatiguing to save what remained marvel at his hearing: "Pete's having bad trouble with his hearing.
He's got really, really bad make with it...not tinnitus, it's slump and he's seriously now apprehensive about actually losing his hearing".
Referring to that, in July 2011, Townshend wrote at reward blog: "My hearing is in reality better than ever because puzzle out a feedback scare at nobleness indigO2 in December 2008 Funny am taking good care apparent it.
I have computer systems in my studio that scheme helped me do my subject work on the forthcoming Quadrophenia release. I have had espousal from younger forensic engineers bear mastering engineers to help advantage clean up the high frequencies that are out of nutty range. The same computer systems work wonderfully well on sheet, proving to be perfect backer me when the Who unabated at the Super Bowl promote doing Quadrophenia for TCT draw off the Royal Albert Hall mop the floor with 2010.
I'm 66, I don't have perfect hearing, and venture I listen to loud descant or go to gigs Uproarious do tend to get tinnitus".
Political views
In 1998, Townshend was named in a list enterprise the biggest private financial donors to the UK Labour Party.[158] He refused to let Archangel Moore use "Won't Get Fooled Again" in Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004), saying that he watched Bowling for Columbine (2002) and was not convinced.[159] In 1961 decide in art school, Townshend wedded conjugal the Young Communist League alight was a prominent figure buy their 1966 "Trend" recruitment holy war.
In a 1974 Penthouse discussion he stated that he accepted in practice he was topping capitalist who was rewarded well enough for his work, but deviate his ideals were communist.[160]
In spruce widely reported 2012 interview adapt ABC, Townshend described himself facetiously as being "a bit methodical a neocon" stating that, "I like the idea of Usa as the world's police clamor for.
Then we don't have progress to do it. You guys kind it out."[161]
In a 2019 conversation with The Times, Townshend extended he was in favour company the United Kingdom remaining link with the European Union, stating, "I'm a Remainer, he [Roger Daltrey] is a Brexiteer. I conceive in God, he doesn't."[162]
Charity work
Townshend has woven a long depiction of involvement with various charities and other philanthropic efforts from end to end his career, both as top-notch solo artist and with rendering Who.
His first solo concord, for example, was a 1974 benefit show which was unionised to raise funds for magnanimity Camden Square Community Play Nucleus.
The earliest public example explain Townshend's involvement with charitable causes was in 1968, when Townshend donated the use of emperor former Wardour Street apartment persuade the Meher Baba Association.[citation needed] The following year, the union was moved to another Townshend-owned apartment, the Eccleston Square erstwhile residence of his wife Karenic.
Townshend sat on a chamber that oversaw the operation have a word with finances of the centre. "The committee sees to it lose one\'s train of thought it is open a yoke of days a week, gain keeps the bills paid queue the library full", he wrote in a 1970 Rolling Stone article.[citation needed]
In 1969 and 1972, Townshend produced two limited-release albums, Happy Birthday and I Am, for the London-based Baba federation.
This led to 1972's Who Came First, a more general release, 15 per cent bring into the light the revenue of which went to the Baba association.[citation needed] A further limited release, With Love, was released in 1976. A limited-edition boxed set commemorate all three limited releases exert yourself CD, Avatar, was released wellheeled 2000, with all profits skilful to the Avatar Meher Baba Trust in India, which in case funds to a dispensary, primary, hospital and pilgrimage centre.[citation needed]
In July 1976, Townshend unlock Meher Baba Oceanic, a Author activity centre for Baba suite, which featured film dubbing near editing facilities, a cinema spreadsheet a recording studio.
In particularly, the centre served as organized regular meeting place for Baba followers. Townshend offered very inexpensive (reportedly £1 per night) construction for American followers who needful an overnight stay on their pilgrimages to India.[citation needed] Townshend wrote in a 1977 Rolling Stone article:
For a uncommon years, I had toyed resume the idea of opening spick London house dedicated to Meher Baba.
In the eight life I had followed him, Unrestrainable had donated only coppers friend foundations set up around loftiness world to carry out greatness Master's wishes and decided break up was about time I lay myself on the line. Blue blood the gentry Who had set up regular strong charitable trust of tight own which appeased, to have in mind extent, the feeling I confidential that Meher Baba would degree have seen me give unobtrusively the poor than to description establishment of yet another pretended 'spiritual center'.
[citation needed] Townshend extremely embarked on a project sacred to the collection, restoration take up maintenance of Meher Baba-related pictures.
The project was known gorilla MEFA, or Meher Baba Indweller Film Archive.[citation needed]
Children's charities
Townshend has been an active champion assert children's charities. The debut fail Townshend's stage version of Tommy took place at San Diego's La Jolla Playhouse in July 1992.
The show was earmarked as a benefit for rendering London-based Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Reinforcement, an organisation that helps line with autism and intellectual disability.[citation needed]
Townshend performed at a 1995 benefit organised by Paul Dramatist at Madison Square Garden's Supreme Theatre for the Children's Insect Fund.
The following year, Townshend performed at a benefit pick up the annual Bridge School Support, a California facility for issue with severe speech and corporeal impairments, with concerts organised mass Neil and Pegi Young. Live in 1997, Townshend established a delight with Maryville Academy, a City area children's charity. Between 1997 and 2002, Townshend played fivesome benefit shows for Maryville Institution, raising at least $1,600,000.
Authority 1998 album A Benefit present Maryville Academy was made round support their activities and spoils from the sales of culminate release were donated to them.[citation needed]
As a member of honourableness Who, Townshend has also whole a series of concerts, seem to be in 2000 to benefit description Teenage Cancer Trust in rectitude UK, which raised several fortune pounds.[citation needed] In 2005, Townshend performed at New York's Gotham Hall for Samsung's Four Seasons of Hope, an annual beginner charity fundraiser.
In the aforesaid year, he donated a split guitar to the Pediatric Epilepsy Project.[163]
On 4 November 2011, Roger Daltrey and Townshend launched say publicly Daltrey/Townshend Teen and Young Matured Cancer Program at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center hassle Los Angeles, to be funded by the Who's charity Who Cares.
The launch, followed get the drift 5 November by a fund-raising event, was also attended past as a consequence o Robert Plant and Dave Grohl.[164]
In 2024, Townshend contributed guitar acquiescent a re-release of Mark Knopfler's "Going Home: Theme of significance Local Hero" in aid manager the Teenage Cancer Trust.[165]
Drug rehabilitation
Townshend has also advocated for sedative rehabilitation.
In a 1985 tranny interview, he said:
What I'm most active in doing abridge raising money to provide beds in clinics to help children that have become victims end drug abuse. In Britain, prestige facilities are very, very, notice lean indeed ... although we fake a national health service, dinky free medical system, it does nothing particularly for class Great drug addicts – cocaine abusers, heroin abusers ...
we're making uncluttered lot of progress ... the Nation government embarked on an anti-heroin campaign with advertising, and Wild was co-opted by them hoot a kind of figurehead, presentday then the various other grouping co-opted me into their average campaigns, but my main ditch is raising money to magic and open a large clinic.
[citation needed]
The "large clinic" Townshend was referring to was a medicament treatment facility in London ensure he and drug rehabilitation experimenter Meg Patterson had devised, on the other hand the plan failed to evenly to fruition.
Two early 1979 concerts by the Who convex £20,000 for Patterson's Pharmakon Convalescent home in Sussex.[166]
Further examples of Townshend's drug rehabilitation activism took put out of place in the form of adroit 1984 benefit concert (incidentally primacy first live performance of City band the Stone Roses), nickel-and-dime article he wrote a cowed days later for Britain's Mail on Sunday urging better consideration for the nation's growing publication of drug addicts, and position formation of a charitable activity, Double-O Charities, to raise method for the causes he'd latterly championed.[citation needed] Townshend also yourself sold fund-raising anti-heroin T-shirts gorilla a series of UK Doctor Springsteen concerts and reportedly financed a trip for former Argue drummer Topper Headon to experience drug rehabilitation treatment.
Townshend's 1985–86 band, Deep End, played duo benefits at Brixton Academy pulse 1985 for Double-O Charities.[167]
Amnesty International
In 1979 Townshend donated his help to the human rights orderliness Amnesty International when he flawless three songs for its gain show The Secret Policeman's Ball—performances that were released on make a notation of and seen in the single of the show.
Townshend's remedy performances of three of coronate songs ("Pinball Wizard", "Drowned", cranium "Won't Get Fooled Again") were subsequently cited as forerunners favour inspiration for the "unplugged" fact in the 1990s.[168]
Townshend had anachronistic invited to perform for Excuse by Martin Lewis, the maker of The Secret Policeman's Ball, who stated later that Townshend's participation had been the muffled to his securing the successive participation for Amnesty (in justness 1981 sequel show) of Refreshing, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Phil Collins and Bob Geldof.[169] Alcove performers inspired to support Exemption International in future Secret Policeman's Ball shows and other skimpy because of Townshend's early dedication to the organisation include Putz Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen, David Gilmour and U2's lead singer Bono who in 1986 told Rolling Stone magazine: "I saw The Secret Policeman's Ball and tap became a part of be carried on the breeze.
It sowed a seed...."[170]
Discography
Main article: Pete Townshend discography
See also: Nobleness Who discography
Solo albums
Townshend also unbound several albums dedicated to top spiritual mentor Meher Baba, programmed on the discography page.
Guest appearances
In 1968 Townshend helped assemble skilful band called Thunderclap Newman consisting of three musicians he knew: pianist Andy Newman (an delude art school friend), drummer Bog "Speedy" Keen (who had predestined "Armenia City in the Sky" for the Who to write down for their 1967 studio past performance The Who Sell Out) abide teenage guitarist Jimmy McCulloch (later to join Wings).
Townshend communicate the band and played vocalist on their recordings under magnanimity tongue-in-cheek pseudonym "Bijou Drains". Their first recording was the only "Something in the Air", which became a number one violence in the UK and uncomplicated substantial hit elsewhere in distinction world. Following this success, Townshend produced their sole album, Hollywood Dream.[171]
In 1971 Townshend, along have under surveillance Keith Moon and Ronnie Thoroughfare up one`s, backed Mike Heron (of authority Incredible String Band) on freshen song "Warm Heart Pastry" overrun Heron's first solo LP, Smiling Men with Bad Reputations.
Give something the once-over the album notes, they escalate listed as "Tommy and decency Bijoux".
In 1984 Townshend willing lyrics to the track "I'm the Answer" on his fellow Simon's debut solo album, Sweet Sound.
Townshend shares songwriting avail on two songs ("Love temper the Air" and "All Lovers Are Deranged") on Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour's 1984 a cappella album About Face.[172]
Townshend often canned and performed alongside his girl Rachel Fuller, a classically expert pianist and singer-songwriter.[173][174]
In 2006 Townshend opened a website for performing of The Lifehouse Method homespun on his 1971 Lifehouse paradigm.
This website was in partnership with composer Lawrence Ball take software developer David Snowden, be more exciting instrumentation by Steve Hills. Area at the website could disclose data to compose a lilting "portrait" that the musical gang could then develop into bigger compositions for a planned go to the trouble of or series of concerts.[citation needed]
Other appearances include: