Acting · Chiswick, London, England, UK · Born May 19, 1945
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
MovieBilly Idol Should Be Dead
2026
as Self
MovieThe Who: Quadrophenia Super Deluxe Edition
2026
TVLive Aid at 40: When Rock ’n’ Roll Took on the World
2025
as Self
MovieThe Rock Prophet: The Story of Link Wray
2025
as Self
MovieThe Session Man
2025
as Self
MovieThe Who: Who's Next - Life House Super Deluxe Edition
2023
MovieHave You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd
2023
as Self
MovieThe Who With Orchestra Live At Wembley
2023
MovieThe Who Hits 50! Live
2022
MovieThe Who: One Band's Explosive Story
2022
as Self - The Who Member
MovieClassic Albums: The Who Sell Out
2021
as Himself
MovieBest of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
2021
as Self (archive footage)
MovieMick Fleetwood and Friends: Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac
2021
as Self
The Shadows At Sixty
2020
as Self
MovieThe Who: The Night That Changed Rock
2019
as Self
MovieThe Night That Changed Rock
2019
MovieWoodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation
2019
as Self
MovieBad Reputation
2018
as Self
MovieCome Together The Rise of the Festival
2018
MovieThe Who: Tommy Live at The Royal Albert Hall
2017
as Himself – guitars, vocals
MovieThe Who: Rock in Rio 2017
2017
as guitar
MovieThe Who: Live at the Isle of Wight 2004 Festival
2017
as Self
MoviePete Townshend's Deep End - Face The Face
2016
as Self
MovieNight Flight: Born Again
2016
as Self
MovieThe Who: Live in Hyde Park
2015
as Himself - guitarist, vocals
MovieJean-Michel Jarre: A Journey into Sound
2015
as Self
TVThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
as Self
MovieIt's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC
2015
as Self (archive footage)
MovieClassic Quadrophenia
2015
as Self
The Who: French TV Archives 1965-1967
2015
MovieLennon or McCartney
2014
as Self
MoviePlay It Loud: The Story of Marshall
2014
as Self
MovieLed Zeppelin Played Here
2014
as Self (archive footage)
MovieWoodstock: Untold Stories Revisited
2014
as Self
MovieThe Who: Quadrophenia - Live in London
2014
MovieThe Who: Sensation—The Story of Tommy
2014
as Himself
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
as Self
MovieLambert & Stamp
2014
as Himself
MovieThe Who: Sensation - The Making of Tommy
2013
as Himself
MovieQuadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me?
2013
as Himself
Movie12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
2012
as Self
MovieLondon 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony: A Symphony of British Music
2012
as Self
MovieThe Who: Live in Texas '75
2012
as Himself
MovieAcoustic at the BBC
2011
as Self
MovieThe Who: Purple Hearts and Power Chords
2011
MovieRock and Roll Hall of Fame Live - The Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
2009
as Self
MovieWoodstock: Untold Stories
2009
MovieRachel Fuller presents: In the Attic with Pete Townshend & Friends
2009
as Self
MovieThe Who: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
2009
as Himselft
MovieThe Who - At Kilburn 1977
2008
as guitar
MovieThe Who: Live at the London Coliseum 1969
2008
as Himself - guitars, vocals
MovieSmashing Pumpkins: If All Goes Wrong
2008
as Self
MovieVH1 Rock Honors: The Who
2008
as Self
Beat Club: The 40th Anniversary Edition
2008
as Self (archive footage)
MovieAmazing Journey: The Story of The Who
2007
as Self
MovieThe Who: Stockholm 7/6/2007
2007
MovieThe Who: Dublin 6/29/2007
2007
MovieThe Who: Cheshire 6/23/2007
2007
MovieThe Who: Lisbon 5/16/2007
2007
MovieThe Who: Atlantic City 3/9/2007
2007
MovieThe Who: Fresno 2/25/2007
2007
MovieDear Mr. Fantasy - A Celebration for Jim Capaldi
2007
as Himself
MovieThe Who: Fragments Fan Club DVD
2007
as Himself
MovieThe Who: Grand Rapids 12/5/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests
2006
as Pete Townshend
The Who: Live at Lyon
2006
as Himself (Guitars, Vocals)
MovieThe Who: Palm Springs 11/11/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: BBC Electric Proms
2006
as Himself
MovieThe Who: Baltimore 9/23/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Holmdel 9/21/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Boston 9/16/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Wantagh 9/13/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Philadelphia 9/12/2006
2006
MovieAn Ox's Tale: The John Entwistle Story
2006
as Himself
MovieThe Who: Zaragoza 7/29/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Madrid 7/27/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Ulm 7/23/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: St. Polten 7/22/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Nyon 7/20/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Metz 7/18/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Lyon 7/17/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Monte Carlo 7/15/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Locarno 7/14/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Bonn 7/11/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Glasgow 7/9/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Dublin 7/8/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Liverpool 7/6/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Liverpool 7/5/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Hampshire 7/3/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Werchter 6/30/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Brighton 6/18/2006
2006
MovieThe Who: Tommy Live With Special Guests
2006
as Self
TVVH1 Rock Honors
2006
MovieThe Passing Show: The Life and Music of Ronnie Lane
2006
as Himself
MovieThe Who – Broadcast In Roundhouse Electric Proms 2006
2006
MovieThe World's Greatest Gigs
2005
MovieThe Who | Tommy and Quadrophenia Live
2005
as Self - Guitar, Vocals
MovieThe Britpop Story 'It Really, Really, Really, Could Happen'
2005
as Self (archive footage)
MovieLive Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
2005
as Self
MovieRemember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
2004
as Self
MovieLive Aid
2004
MovieOne For The Road: Ronnie Lane Memorial Concert
2004
as Self
MovieThe Who: Live in Boston
2004
as Himself
MoviePolice Protecting Children - Internet Paedophilia
2004
as Self
MovieMayor of the Sunset Strip
2003
as Self
MovieBrian Wilson: On Tour
2003
as Self
MovieMonterey Pop - The Outtake Performances
2002
MoviePete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse
2002
MovieBeing Mick
2001
as Self
MovieThe Who & Special Guests: Live At The Royal Albert Hall
2000
as Self - Lead Guitar / Vocals
The Beatles Revolution
2000
as Self
MoviePete Townshend - Letterman Compilation 1985-1999
1999
as self
MovieClassic Albums: The Who - Who's Next
1999
as Self
MovieThe Who - Who's Next 1971-2023
1999
as Self
Where Are They Now?
1999
as Self
MovieListening to You: The Who Live at the Isle of Wight
1998
as Himself
TVBehind the Music
1997
as Self
TVClassic Albums
1997
as Self
MovieThe Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
1996
as Self - Guitar
MoviePete Townshend - Live at Fillmore West, April 30th, 1996
1996
as guitar, vocals
Movie1996 VH1 Honors
1996
MovieA Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who
1994
as Self
MovieThe Who: Maximum R&B Live
1994
as Himself
MovieThe Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb
1993
as Voice
MoviePete Townshend Live in New York Featuring Psychoderelict
1993
as Himself
TVLate Show with David Letterman
1993
as Self - Guest
TVThe Simpsons
1989
as Pete Townshend (voice)
MovieThe Who | Live, Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy
1989
as Self - Guitars & Vocals / Mr. Walker / Mrs. Walker / Narrator
TVMTV Rockumentary
1989
Na siehste!
1987
as Self
MovieJimi Plays Monterey
1987
as Self (archive footage)
MoviePete Townshend - South Bank Show Documentary
1985
as self
MovieThe Who at Live Aid
1985
MovieLive Aid
1985
as Self
MovieWhite City
1985
as Pete Fountain
MovieThe Who: Live from Toronto
1984
MovieThe Who Rocks America 1982
1983
as Himself
MovieVideo EP: Pete Townshend
1982
MovieAll The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes
1982
as Self
MovieThe Secret Policeman's Other Ball
1982
as Self
MovieThe Who: Live at Shea Stadium 1982
1982
as Self
MovieConcerts for the People of Kampuchea
1981
as Self
MovieThe Secret Policeman's Ball
1979
as Himself
MovieThe Who: The Kids Are Alright
1979
as Self
TVThe Kennedy Center Honors
1978
as Self
TVThe BRIT Awards
1977
as Self
TVThe Secret Policeman's Ball
1976
as Self
MovieTommy
1975
as Himself
TVLes Rendez-vous du dimanche
1975
as Self - The Who
TVRockpalast
1974
as Self (guitar vocal)
MovieJimi Hendrix
1973
as Self
MovieSound of the City: London 1964-73
1973
as Self
TVGreat Performances
1971
as Self
MovieThe Who – Live At Tanglewood 1970
1970
as Himself
MovieWoodstock
1970
as Self - The Who
Heads
1969
as Self
MovieMonterey Pop
1968
as Self - The Who
TVOmnibus
1967
as Self
MovieThe Lost Paths
1967
as Himself
MovieCarousella
1966
as himself
MovieSeize millions de jeunes: Mods
1965
as Interviewee
TVSeize millions de jeunes
1964
as Self
TVTop of the Pops
1964
as Self
MovieTHE WHO Live At The Chicago Amphitheater 1979
as Himself
The Who - Live at the Silverdome
as Himself
MovieThe Who: Philadelphia 11/25/2006
MovieThe Who: Vancouver 10/8/2006
The Story of Quadrophenia
as Self
