Pete Townshend
Acting • Born 1945-05-19
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
161 credits
Pete Townshend's Deep End - Face The Face
Movie • 2016
Self
The Who: The Kids Are Alright
Movie • 1979
Self
Tommy
Movie • 1975
Himself
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
Movie • 2021
Self (archive footage)
The Who - At Kilburn 1977
Movie • 2008
guitar
THE WHO Live At The Chicago Amphitheater 1979
Movie
Himself
Monterey Pop
Movie • 1968
Self - The Who
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
Movie • 2004
Self
Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd
Movie • 2023
Self
The Who: Maximum R&B Live
Movie • 1994
Himself
Classic Albums: The Who - Who's Next
Movie • 1999
Self
The Who: Live in Boston
Movie • 2004
Himself
Led Zeppelin Played Here
Movie • 2014
Self (archive footage)
The Who: Rock in Rio 2017
Movie • 2017
guitar
Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
Movie • 2007
Self
Acoustic at the BBC
Movie • 2011
Self
Listening to You: The Who Live at the Isle of Wight
Movie • 1998
Himself
Classic Albums: The Who Sell Out
Movie • 2021
Himself
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live - The Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Movie • 2009
Self
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Movie • 1979
Himself
Beat Club: The 40th Anniversary Edition
Movie • 2008
Self (archive footage)
Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation
Movie • 2019
Self
Quadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me?
Movie • 2013
Himself
The Who: One Band's Explosive Story
Movie • 2022
Self - The Who Member
The Beatles Revolution
Movie • 2000
Self
Carousella
Movie • 1966
himself
The Who: Live in Texas '75
Movie • 2012
Himself
The Passing Show: The Life and Music of Ronnie Lane
Movie • 2006
Himself
The Who & Special Guests: Live At The Royal Albert Hall
Movie • 2000
Self - Lead Guitar / Vocals
The Who: BBC Electric Proms
Movie • 2006
Himself
White City
Movie • 1985
Pete Fountain
The Who - The Making of Tommy
Movie • 2013
Himself
The Who: Sensation—The Story of Tommy
Movie • 2014
Himself
Night Flight: Born Again
Movie • 2016
Self
The Who: Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests
Movie • 2006
Pete Townshend
The Who - Who's Next 1971-2023
Movie • 1999
Self
The Who: French TV Archives 1965-1967
Movie • 2015
A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who
Movie • 1994
Self
The Who – Broadcast In Roundhouse Electric Proms 2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
Movie • 2009
Himselft
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
Movie • 1982
Self
One For The Road: Ronnie Lane Memorial Concert
Movie • 2004
Self
Dear Mr. Fantasy - A Celebration for Jim Capaldi
Movie • 2007
Himself
Pete Townshend - South Bank Show Documentary
Movie • 1985
self
Pete Townshend - Letterman Compilation 1985-1999
Movie • 1999
self
Brian Wilson: On Tour
Movie • 2003
Self
The Lost Paths
Movie • 1967
Himself
Pete Townshend - Live at Fillmore West, April 30th, 1996
Movie • 1996
guitar, vocals
The Who Hits 50! Live
Movie • 2022
Classic Quadrophenia
Movie • 2015
Self
The Who: Live at Shea Stadium 1982
Movie • 1982
Self
Lambert & Stamp
Movie • 2014
Himself
Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse
Movie • 2002
Jimi Hendrix
Movie • 1973
Self
Woodstock: Untold Stories Revisited
Movie • 2014
Self
Woodstock: Untold Stories
Movie • 2009
Monterey Pop - The Outtake Performances
Movie • 2002
The Who at Live Aid
Movie • 1985
The Britpop Story 'It Really, Really, Really, Could Happen'
Movie • 2005
Self (archive footage)
Video EP: Pete Townshend
Movie • 1982
The Who: Live in Hyde Park
Movie • 2015
Himself - guitarist, vocals
Lennon or McCartney
Movie • 2014
Self
The Who: Live at Lyon
Movie • 2006
Himself (Guitars, Vocals)
The Who – With Orchestra Live At Wembley
Movie • 2023
Police Protecting Children - Internet Paedophilia
Movie • 2004
Self
Heads
Movie • 1969
Self
The Who: Live from Toronto
Movie • 1984
Play It Loud: The Story of Marshall
Movie • 2014
Self
Mayor of the Sunset Strip
Movie • 2003
Self
The Who - Live at the London Coliseum 1969
Movie • 2008
Himself - guitars, vocals
The Who: Tommy Live With Special Guests
Movie • 2006
Self
Rachel Fuller presents: In the Attic with Pete Townshend & Friends
Movie • 2009
Self
An Ox's Tale: The John Entwistle Story
Movie • 2006
Himself
The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight 2004 Festival
Movie • 2017
Self
Being Mick
Movie • 2001
Self
The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
Movie • 1996
Self - Guitar
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
Movie • 1981
Self
Seize millions de jeunes: Mods
Movie • 1965
Interviewee
The Who: Tommy Live at The Royal Albert Hall
Movie • 2017
Himself – guitars, vocals
Jean-Michel Jarre: A Journey into Sound
Movie • 2015
Self
Live Aid
Movie • 1985
Self
The Who Rocks America 1982
Movie • 1983
Himself
Bad Reputation
Movie • 2018
Self
The Who – Live At Tanglewood 1970
Movie • 1970
Himself
The Who - Live at the Silverdome
Movie
Himself
The Who: Quadrophenia - Live in London
Movie • 2014
Sound of the City: London 1964-73
Movie • 1973
Self
Smashing Pumpkins: If All Goes Wrong
Movie • 2008
Himself
Woodstock
Movie • 1970
Self - The Who
The Night That Changed Rock
Movie • 2019
The Who: Fragments Fan Club DVD
Movie • 2007
Himself
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
Movie • 2005
Self
Pete Townshend Live in New York Featuring Psychoderelict
Movie • 1993
Himself
The Who: Philadelphia 11/25/2006
Movie
The Who: Vancouver 10/8/2006
Movie
The Who: Philadelphia 9/12/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Werchter 6/30/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Monte Carlo 7/15/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Nyon 7/20/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Palm Springs 11/11/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Grand Rapids 12/5/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Fresno 2/25/2007
Movie • 2007
The Who: Atlantic City 3/9/2007
Movie • 2007
The Who: Lisbon 5/16/2007
Movie • 2007
The Who: Cheshire 6/23/2007
Movie • 2007
The Who: Dublin 6/29/2007
Movie • 2007
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
Movie • 2012
Self
The World's Greatest Gigs
Movie • 2005
The Who: Brighton 6/18/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Hampshire 7/3/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Liverpool 7/5/2006
Movie • 2006
VH1 Rock Honors: The Who
Movie • 2008
Self
The Who: Liverpool 7/6/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Glasgow 7/9/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Bonn 7/11/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Lyon 7/17/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Metz 7/18/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: St. Polten 7/22/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Ulm 7/23/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Dublin 7/8/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Locarno 7/14/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Purple Hearts and Power Chords
Movie • 2011
The Who | Live, Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy
Movie • 1989
Self - Guitars & Vocals / Mr. Walker / Mrs. Walker / Narrator
The Who | Tommy and Quadrophenia Live
Movie • 2005
Self - Guitar, Vocals
Live Aid
Movie • 2004
Mick Fleetwood and Friends: Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac
Movie • 2021
Self
The Who: The Night That Changed Rock
Movie • 2019
Self
The Who: Madrid 7/27/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Zaragoza 7/29/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Wantagh 9/13/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Baltimore 9/23/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Boston 9/16/2006
Movie • 2006
The Who: Holmdel 9/21/2006
Movie • 2006
The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb
Movie • 1993
Voice
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC
Movie • 2015
Self (archive footage)
Jimi Plays Monterey
Movie • 1987
Self (archive footage)
The Who: Stockholm 7/6/2007
Movie • 2007
The Session Man
Movie • 2025
Self
1996 VH1 Honors
Movie • 1996
Come Together The Rise of the Festival
Movie • 2018
All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes
Movie • 1982
Self
The Simpsons
TV • 1989
Pete Townshend (voice)
Top of the Pops
TV • 1964
Self
The Secret Policeman's Ball
TV • 1976
Self
VH1 Rock Honors
TV • 2006
Where Are They Now?
TV • 1999
Self
The Kennedy Center Honors
TV • 1978
Self
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
TV • 1975
Self - The Who
Omnibus
TV • 1967
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
TV • 2014
Self
Rockpalast
TV • 1974
Self (guitar vocal)
Na siehste!
TV • 1987
Self
Behind the Music
TV • 1997
Self
Classic Albums
TV • 1997
Self
Great Performances
TV • 1971
Self
MTV Rockumentary
TV • 1989
Rockpalast
TV • 1974
Live Aid at 40: When Rock ’n’ Roll Took on the World
TV • 2025
Self
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
TV • 2015
Self
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
TV • 2015
Self - Musical Guest
The BRIT Awards
TV • 1977
Self