Pete Townshend 1968 Caricature

Pete Townshend 1968 Caricature, illustrated here with his 1966 Fender Electric XII, recording overdubs for the rock opera “Tommy” album, at IBC Studios, London, in 1968, age 23.

Townshend is an English musician and songwriter best known as the lead guitarist, second vocalist, and principal songwriter for the rock band The Who.

Townshend has never had any formal lessons; he is self-taught on all of the instruments he plays: guitar, keyboards, banjo, accordion, harmonica, ukulele, mandolin, violin, synthesizer, bass guitar, and drums.

In late 1961, Townshend’s friend John Entwistle joined the “Detours”, a skiffle/rock and roll band, led by Roger Daltrey. The new bass player then suggested Townshend to join as an additional guitarist.
In May of 1964, they changed their band name to The Who. Not long after the name change, drummer Doug Sandom was replaced by Keith Moon, who had been drumming semi-professionally with the Beachcombers for several years.

In their stage shows, Townshend developed a guitar stunt in which he would swing his right arm against the guitar strings in a style reminiscent of the vanes of a windmill. He developed this style after watching Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards warm up before a show.

The Who’s debut album “My Generation” was released in late 1965, with hits “My Generation” and “The Kids Are Alright”.

By 1968, Townshend became interested in the teachings of Meher Baba. He began to develop a musical piece about a deaf, dumb, and blind boy who would experience sensations musically. The piece would explore the tenets of Baba’s philosophy. The result was the rock opera Tommy, released on May 23, 1969 to critical and commercial success.

“Who’s Next” album was an immediate success when it was released in August 1971. It has since been viewed by many critics as The Who’s best record and one of the greatest albums of all time.
Containing hits such as “Baba O’Riley”, “Bargain”, “The Song Is Over”, “Getting In Tune”, “Going Mobile”, “Behind Blue Eyes” and “Wont’ Get Fooled Again”.

Other Who Hits: “Pinball Wizard”, “I Can See For Miles”, “Magic Bus”, “Substitute”, “Happy Jack”, “I’m Free”. “Quadrophenia”, “Love, Reign Over Me” and “Summertime Blues”.

Townshend has three children: Emma (born 1969), who is a gardening columnist, Aminta (born 1971), who works in film production, and Joseph (born 1989), who studied graphic design at Central St. Martins.

Townshend suffers from partial deafness and tinnitus, believed to be the result of noise-induced hearing loss from his extensive exposure to loud music.

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