

Pete Townshend
Actor · Writer · ProducerPeter 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.
More details at TMDB
KNOWN FOR
FILMOGRAPHY
ACTOR148

Billy Idol Should Be Dead
2026
Self

The Who: Quadrophenia Super Deluxe Edition
2026

The Session Man
2025
Self

The Rock Prophet: The Story of Link Wray
2025
Self

Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd
2023
Self

The Who With Orchestra Live At Wembley
2023

The Who: Who's Next - Life House Super Deluxe Edition
2023

The Who: One Band's Explosive Story
2022
Self - The Who Member

The Who Hits 50! Live
2022

Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
2021
Self (archive footage)

Classic Albums: The Who Sell Out
2021
Himself

Mick Fleetwood and Friends: Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac
2021
Self
- The Shadows At Sixty
The Shadows At Sixty
2020
Self

Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation
2019
Self

The Night That Changed Rock
2019

The Who: The Night That Changed Rock
2019
Self

Bad Reputation
2018
Self

Come Together The Rise of the Festival
2018

The Who: Rock in Rio 2017
2017
guitar

The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight 2004 Festival
2017
Self

The Who: Tommy Live at The Royal Albert Hall
2017
Himself – guitars, vocals

Pete Townshend's Deep End - Face The Face
2016
Self

Night Flight: Born Again
2016
Self
- The Who: French TV Archives 1965-1967
The Who: French TV Archives 1965-1967
2015

Classic Quadrophenia
2015
Self

The Who: Live in Hyde Park
2015
Himself - guitarist, vocals

Jean-Michel Jarre: A Journey into Sound
2015
Self

It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC
2015
Self (archive footage)

Led Zeppelin Played Here
2014
Self (archive footage)

The Who: Sensation—The Story of Tommy
2014
Himself

Lambert & Stamp
2014
Himself

Woodstock: Untold Stories Revisited
2014
Self

Lennon or McCartney
2014
Self

Play It Loud: The Story of Marshall
2014
Self

The Who: Quadrophenia - Live in London
2014

Quadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me?
2013
Himself

The Who: Sensation - The Making of Tommy
2013
Himself

The Who: Live in Texas '75
2012
Himself

12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
2012
Self

London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony: A Symphony of British Music
2012
Self

Acoustic at the BBC
2011
Self

The Who: Purple Hearts and Power Chords
2011

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live - The Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
2009
Self

The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
2009
Himselft

Woodstock: Untold Stories
2009

Rachel Fuller presents: In the Attic with Pete Townshend & Friends
2009
Self

The Who - At Kilburn 1977
2008
guitar
- Beat Club: The 40th Anniversary Edition
Beat Club: The 40th Anniversary Edition
2008
Self (archive footage)

The Who: Live at the London Coliseum 1969
2008
Himself - guitars, vocals

VH1 Rock Honors: The Who
2008
Self

Smashing Pumpkins: If All Goes Wrong
2008
Self

Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
2007
Self

Dear Mr. Fantasy - A Celebration for Jim Capaldi
2007
Himself

The Who: Fragments Fan Club DVD
2007
Himself

The Who: Fresno 2/25/2007
2007

The Who: Cheshire 6/23/2007
2007

The Who: Atlantic City 3/9/2007
2007

The Who: Lisbon 5/16/2007
2007

The Who: Dublin 6/29/2007
2007

The Who: Stockholm 7/6/2007
2007

The Passing Show: The Life and Music of Ronnie Lane
2006
Himself

The Who: BBC Electric Proms
2006
Himself

The Who: Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests
2006
Pete Townshend

The Who – Broadcast In Roundhouse Electric Proms 2006
2006
- The Who: Live at Lyon
The Who: Live at Lyon
2006
Himself (Guitars, Vocals)

The Who: Tommy Live With Special Guests
2006
Self

An Ox's Tale: The John Entwistle Story
2006
Himself

The Who: Philadelphia 9/12/2006
2006

The Who: Grand Rapids 12/5/2006
2006

The Who: Monte Carlo 7/15/2006
2006

The Who: Nyon 7/20/2006
2006

The Who: Palm Springs 11/11/2006
2006

The Who: Werchter 6/30/2006
2006

The Who: Brighton 6/18/2006
2006

The Who: Hampshire 7/3/2006
2006

The Who: Liverpool 7/5/2006
2006

The Who: Liverpool 7/6/2006
2006

The Who: Glasgow 7/9/2006
2006

The Who: Bonn 7/11/2006
2006

The Who: Lyon 7/17/2006
2006

The Who: St. Polten 7/22/2006
2006

The Who: Ulm 7/23/2006
2006

The Who: Metz 7/18/2006
2006

The Who: Dublin 7/8/2006
2006

The Who: Locarno 7/14/2006
2006

The Who: Zaragoza 7/29/2006
2006

The Who: Madrid 7/27/2006
2006

The Who: Wantagh 9/13/2006
2006

The Who: Baltimore 9/23/2006
2006

The Who: Holmdel 9/21/2006
2006

The Who: Boston 9/16/2006
2006

The Britpop Story 'It Really, Really, Really, Could Happen'
2005
Self (archive footage)

Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
2005
Self

The World's Greatest Gigs
2005

The Who | Tommy and Quadrophenia Live
2005
Self - Guitar, Vocals

Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
2004
Self

The Who: Live in Boston
2004
Himself

One For The Road: Ronnie Lane Memorial Concert
2004
Self

Police Protecting Children - Internet Paedophilia
2004
Self

Live Aid
2004

Brian Wilson: On Tour
2003
Self

Mayor of the Sunset Strip
2003
Self

Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse
2002

Monterey Pop - The Outtake Performances
2002

Being Mick
2001
Self
- The Beatles Revolution
The Beatles Revolution
2000
Self

The Who & Special Guests: Live At The Royal Albert Hall
2000
Self - Lead Guitar / Vocals

Classic Albums: The Who - Who's Next
1999
Self

The Who - Who's Next 1971-2023
1999
Self

Pete Townshend - Letterman Compilation 1985-1999
1999
self

Listening to You: The Who Live at the Isle of Wight
1998
Himself

Pete Townshend - Live at Fillmore West, April 30th, 1996
1996
guitar, vocals

The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
1996
Self - Guitar

1996 VH1 Honors
1996

The Who: Maximum R&B Live
1994
Himself

A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who
1994
Self

Pete Townshend Live in New York Featuring Psychoderelict
1993
Himself

The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb
1993
Voice

The Who | Live, Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy
1989
Self - Guitars & Vocals / Mr. Walker / Mrs. Walker / Narrator

Jimi Plays Monterey
1987
Self (archive footage)

White City
1985
Pete Fountain

Pete Townshend - South Bank Show Documentary
1985
self

The Who at Live Aid
1985

Live Aid
1985
Self

The Who: Live from Toronto
1984

The Who Rocks America 1982
1983
Himself

The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
1982
Self

The Who: Live at Shea Stadium 1982
1982
Self

Video EP: Pete Townshend
1982

All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes
1982
Self

Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
1981
Self

The Who: The Kids Are Alright
1979
Self

The Secret Policeman's Ball
1979
Himself

Tommy
1975
Himself

Jimi Hendrix
1973
Self

Sound of the City: London 1964-73
1973
Self

The Who – Live At Tanglewood 1970
1970
Himself

Woodstock
1970
Self - The Who
- Heads
Heads
1969
Self

Monterey Pop
1968
Self - The Who

The Lost Paths
1967
Himself

Carousella
1966
himself

Seize millions de jeunes: Mods
1965
Interviewee

THE WHO Live At The Chicago Amphitheater 1979
Himself
- The Who - Live at the Silverdome
The Who - Live at the Silverdome
Himself

The Who: Philadelphia 11/25/2006

The Who: Vancouver 10/8/2006
- The Story of Quadrophenia
The Story of Quadrophenia
Self
WRITER6
PRODUCER3
SOUND10

Her Majesty
2021
Music

The Hat
2020
Original Music Composer

A Silent Voice: The Movie
2016
Main Title Theme Composer, Theme Song Performance

Cloud Chaser
2006
Music

Limp Bizkit: Behind Blue Eyes
2003
Music, Original Music Composer

Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse
2002
Music

Quadrophenia
1979
Music Director
- O Parvardigar
O Parvardigar
1976
Music

Tommy
1975
Original Music Composer

Double Pisces, Scorpio Rising
1970
Music








