Retour

Pete Townshend

Date de naissance : 19-05-1945

Lieu de naissance : Chiswick, London, England, UK

Biographie :

Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend, né le 19 mai 1945 à Chiswick (Londres), est un guitariste, chanteur et auteur-compositeur rock britannique, membre fondateur, leader et principal compositeur du groupe Who.

Il fut dans les années 1960, avec Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton et Jimi Hendrix, par son style et son jeu de scène, l'un des guitaristes les plus novateurs du rock. Compositeur de la plupart des chansons des Who, il fut l'un des premiers guitaristes à utiliser des effets comme le larsen et la technique des accords dite en power chords dans un style qui préfigurera le hard rock et le punk. Pete Townshend a été aussi le premier à placer des boucles sonores de synthétiseurs sur des chansons rock (album Who's Next en 1971, Won't Get Fooled Again et Baba O'Riley) et à écrire des opéras rock (la chanson A Quick One, While He's Away en 1966, préfigurant Tommy en 1969). Il s'est aussi rendu célèbre en exécutant des "moulinets" (rotation de son bras droit pour frapper ses accords) et en brisant ses guitares sur scène. Musicien accompli, Peter Townshend joue aussi du piano, du synthétiseur (ARP 2500 et 2600), du banjo, de la basse, de la batterie et même de l'accordéon, et a parfois enregistré ces instruments sur certains titres de ses albums solo ou avec The Who. En 2003, le magazine Rolling Stone l'a classé 50e meilleur guitariste de tous les temps1. En 2011, il passe à la 10e place de ce même classement.

Les décès du batteur Keith Moon en 1978 puis du bassiste John Entwistle en 2002 n'ont pas mis fin aux activités des Who, Townshend et le chanteur Roger Daltrey ont continué dans les décennies suivantes à se produire dans le monde entier avec de nouveaux musiciens comme le batteur Zak Starkey (le fils de Ringo Starr des Beatles) et le bassiste Pino Palladino et sortent notamment un douzième album studio des Who en 2019 qui rencontre un beau succès commercial

Filmographie

Pete Townshend's Deep End - Face The Face

Pete Townshend's Deep End - Face The Face

The Who : The Kids Are Alright

The Who : The Kids Are Alright

Tommy

Tommy

Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!

Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!

The Who - At Kilburn 1977

The Who - At Kilburn 1977

THE WHO Live At The Chicago Amphitheater 1979

THE WHO Live At The Chicago Amphitheater 1979

Monterey Pop Festival 1967

Monterey Pop Festival 1967

Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?

Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?

L'Histoire de Syd Barrett des Pink Floyd : Have You Got It Yet?

L'Histoire de Syd Barrett des Pink Floyd : Have You Got It Yet?

The Who: Maximum R&B Live

The Who: Maximum R&B Live

Classic Albums: The Who - Who's Next

Classic Albums: The Who - Who's Next

The Who: Live in Boston

The Who: Live in Boston

Led Zeppelin Played Here

Led Zeppelin Played Here

The History of Rock 'n' Roll

The History of Rock 'n' Roll

The Who: Rock in Rio 2017

The Who: Rock in Rio 2017

Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who

Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who

Acoustic at the BBC

Acoustic at the BBC

The Who : Live At the Isle of Wight

The Who : Live At the Isle of Wight

Classic Albums: The Who Sell Out

Classic Albums: The Who Sell Out

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

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

The Secret Policeman's Ball

The Secret Policeman's Ball

Woodstock, ils voulaient changer le monde

Woodstock, ils voulaient changer le monde

Quadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me?

Quadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me?

The Who : pile et faces – La double vie d'un groupe anglais de légende

The Who : pile et faces – La double vie d'un groupe anglais de légende

Carousella

Carousella

The Who: Live in Texas '75

The Who: Live in Texas '75

The Passing Show: The Life and Music of Ronnie Lane

The Passing Show: The Life and Music of Ronnie Lane

The Who & Special Guests: Live At The Royal Albert Hall

The Who & Special Guests: Live At The Royal Albert Hall

The Who: BBC Electric Proms

The Who: BBC Electric Proms

White City

White City

The Who - The Making of Tommy

The Who - The Making of Tommy

The Who: Sensation—The Story of Tommy

The Who: Sensation—The Story of Tommy

Night Flight: Born Again

Night Flight: Born Again

The Who: Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests

The Who: Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests

The Who - Who's Next

The Who - Who's Next

A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who

A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who

The Who – Broadcast In Roundhouse Electric Proms 2006

The Who – Broadcast In Roundhouse Electric Proms 2006

The Who:  Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970

The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970

The Secret Policeman's Other Ball

The Secret Policeman's Other Ball

Dear Mr. Fantasy - A Celebration for Jim Capaldi

Dear Mr. Fantasy - A Celebration for Jim Capaldi

Pete Townshend - South Bank Show Documentary

Pete Townshend - South Bank Show Documentary

Pete Townshend - Letterman Compilation 1985-1999

Pete Townshend - Letterman Compilation 1985-1999

Brian Wilson: On Tour

Brian Wilson: On Tour

Les Chemins perdus

Les Chemins perdus

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

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

The Who Hits 50! Live

The Who Hits 50! Live

Classic Quadrophenia

Classic Quadrophenia

The Who - Live At Shea Stadium

The Who - Live At Shea Stadium

Lambert & Stamp

Lambert & Stamp

Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse

Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix

Woodstock: Untold Stories Revisited

Woodstock: Untold Stories Revisited

Woodstock: Untold Stories

Woodstock: Untold Stories

Monterey Pop: The Outtake Performances

Monterey Pop: The Outtake Performances

The Who at Live Aid

The Who at Live Aid

The Britpop Story 'It Really, Really, Really, Could Happen'

The Britpop Story 'It Really, Really, Really, Could Happen'

Video EP: Pete Townshend

Video EP: Pete Townshend

The Who - Live In Hyde Park

The Who - Live In Hyde Park

Lennon or McCartney

Lennon or McCartney

The Who – With Orchestra Live At Wembley

The Who – With Orchestra Live At Wembley

Police Protecting Children - Internet Paedophilia

Police Protecting Children - Internet Paedophilia

The Who: Live from Toronto

The Who: Live from Toronto

Play It Loud: The Story of Marshall

Play It Loud: The Story of Marshall

Mayor of the Sunset Strip

Mayor of the Sunset Strip

The Who - Live at the London Coliseum 1969

The Who - Live at the London Coliseum 1969

The Who: Tommy Live With Special Guests

The Who: Tommy Live With Special Guests

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

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

An Ox's Tale: The John Entwistle Story

An Ox's Tale: The John Entwistle Story

The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight 2004 Festival

The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight 2004 Festival

Being Mick

Being Mick

The Rolling Stones Rock 'n' Roll Circus

The Rolling Stones Rock 'n' Roll Circus

Concerts for the People of Kampuchea

Concerts for the People of Kampuchea

Seize millions de jeunes: Mods

Seize millions de jeunes: Mods

The Who: Tommy Live at The Royal Albert Hall

The Who: Tommy Live at The Royal Albert Hall

Jean-Michel Jarre: Un voyage à travers le son

Jean-Michel Jarre: Un voyage à travers le son

Live Aid

Live Aid

Bad Reputation

Bad Reputation

The Who ‎– Live At Tanglewood 1970

The Who ‎– Live At Tanglewood 1970

The Who - Quadrophenia Live In London

The Who - Quadrophenia Live In London

Sound of the City: London 1964-73

Sound of the City: London 1964-73

Smashing Pumpkins: If All Goes Wrong

Smashing Pumpkins: If All Goes Wrong

Woodstock

Woodstock

The Night That Changed Rock

The Night That Changed Rock

The Who: Fragments Fan Club DVD

The Who: Fragments Fan Club DVD

Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today

Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today

Pete Townshend Live in New York Featuring Psychoderelict

Pete Townshend Live in New York Featuring Psychoderelict

The Who: Philadelphia 11/25/2006

The Who: Philadelphia 11/25/2006

The Who: Vancouver 10/8/2006

The Who: Vancouver 10/8/2006

The Who: Philadelphia 9/12/2006

The Who: Philadelphia 9/12/2006

The Who: Werchter 6/30/2006

The Who: Werchter 6/30/2006

The Who: Monte Carlo 7/15/2006

The Who: Monte Carlo 7/15/2006

The Who: Nyon 7/20/2006

The Who: Nyon 7/20/2006

The Who: Palm Springs 11/11/2006

The Who: Palm Springs 11/11/2006

The Who: Grand Rapids 12/5/2006

The Who: Grand Rapids 12/5/2006

The Who: Fresno 2/25/2007

The Who: Fresno 2/25/2007

The Who: Atlantic City 3/9/2007

The Who: Atlantic City 3/9/2007

The Who: Lisbon 5/16/2007

The Who: Lisbon 5/16/2007

The Who: Cheshire 6/23/2007

The Who: Cheshire 6/23/2007

The Who: Dublin 6/29/2007

The Who: Dublin 6/29/2007

12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief

12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief

The Who: Brighton 6/18/2006

The Who: Brighton 6/18/2006

The Who: Hampshire 7/3/2006

The Who: Hampshire 7/3/2006

The Who: Liverpool 7/5/2006

The Who: Liverpool 7/5/2006

VH1 Rock Honors: The Who

VH1 Rock Honors: The Who

The Who: Liverpool 7/6/2006

The Who: Liverpool 7/6/2006

The Who: Glasgow 7/9/2006

The Who: Glasgow 7/9/2006

The Who: Bonn 7/11/2006

The Who: Bonn 7/11/2006

The Who: Lyon 7/17/2006

The Who: Lyon 7/17/2006

The Who: Metz 7/18/2006

The Who: Metz 7/18/2006

The Who: St. Polten 7/22/2006

The Who: St. Polten 7/22/2006

The Who: Ulm 7/23/2006

The Who: Ulm 7/23/2006

The Who: Dublin 7/8/2006

The Who: Dublin 7/8/2006

The Who: Locarno 7/14/2006

The Who: Locarno 7/14/2006

The Who:  Purple Hearts and Power Chords

The Who: Purple Hearts and Power Chords

The Who | Live, Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy

The Who | Live, Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy

The Who | Tommy and Quadrophenia Live

The Who | Tommy and Quadrophenia Live

Live Aid

Live Aid

Mick Fleetwood and Friends: Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac

Mick Fleetwood and Friends: Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac

The Who: The Night That Changed Rock

The Who: The Night That Changed Rock

The Who: Madrid 7/27/2006

The Who: Madrid 7/27/2006

The Who: Zaragoza 7/29/2006

The Who: Zaragoza 7/29/2006

The Who: Wantagh 9/13/2006

The Who: Wantagh 9/13/2006

The Who: Baltimore 9/23/2006

The Who: Baltimore 9/23/2006

The Who: Boston 9/16/2006

The Who: Boston 9/16/2006

The Who: Holmdel 9/21/2006

The Who: Holmdel 9/21/2006

The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb

The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb

It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC

It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC

Jimi Plays Monterey

Jimi Plays Monterey

The Who: Stockholm 7/6/2007

The Who: Stockholm 7/6/2007