Pete Townshend (born Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend on 19 May 1945 in Chiswick, London), is an award-winning English rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, composer, and writer.

Townshend made his name as the guitarist and principal songwriter for rock band The Who. His career with them spans more than 40 years, during which time the band grew to be considered one of the greatest and most influential rock bands of all time, in addition to being "possibly the greatest live band ever." Townshend is the primary songwriter for the group, writing over 100 songs on the band's twelve studio albums, including the rock operas Tommy and Quadrophenia, plus dozens of additional songs that appeared as non-album singles, bonus tracks on reissues, and tracks on rarities compilations such as Odds and Sods. Although known mainly for being a guitarist, he is also an accomplished singer and keyboard player, and has played many other instruments on his solo albums, and on some Who albums (such as banjo, bass guitar, drums).

Townshend has also written newspaper and magazine articles, book reviews, essays, books, and scripts.

‘Guitar smashing, amp trashing, arms flailing, English songwriter famous for anthemic tunes and bittersweet ballads. Composer of Rock Operas, film soundtracks and theatrical musical pieces. A spokesman for his generation’. If this definition were to be given in a famous U.S quiz show the answer to it would undoubtedly be, “Who Is Pete Townshend?” Pete Townshend, the driving force behind The Who, is a man synonymous with all of the above and much, much more. Above all though, behind all t