19/05/2022
The Who's Pete Townshend has 77 candles on his birthday cake today. Townshend says he did not have many friends growing up, so he spent much of his boyhood reading adventure novels like Gulliver’s Travels and Treasure Island. He then saw the film "Rock Around the Clock," which sparked his fascination with American rock and roll. Not long thereafter, he went to see Bill Haley perform in London, Townshend's first concert. At the time, he did not see himself pursuing a career as a professional musician; instead, he wanted to become a journalist. He ultimately chose to study graphic design at Ealing Art College, enrolling in 1961. At Ealing, Townshend studied alongside future Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood and future Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury. Pete dropped out in 1964 to focus on music full-time. It was a good choice.
He was ranked No. 3 in Dave Marsh's list of Best Guitarists in The New Book of Rock Lists, No. 10 in Gibson.com's list of the top 50 guitarists, and No. 10 again in Rolling Stone magazine's updated 2011 list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. In 1983, he received the Brit Award for Lifetime Achievement, in 1990 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Who, in 2001 received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award as a member of the Who, and in 2008 received Kennedy Center Honors.
In 2016, he and fellow bandmate Roger Daltrey received The George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement at UCLA.
With all that said, the most important thing, what is your favorite song that Pete has written, played on, etc?
Happy Birthday Pete!! Thank you for the music!!!
Photo: Pete Townshend performs with The Who at the Hollywood Bowl on October 24, 2019, courtesy of Craig Erickson (Mr. Chairman).
