Pete Townshend is a British musician, singer-songwriter, and producer born on May 19, 1945, in Chiswick, London. He is best known as the guitarist and principal songwriter of the rock band The Who. He has also had a successful solo career and released several concept albums. In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked him as the 50th greatest guitarist of all time. Raised in a musical environment, Townshend was exposed to various genres such as jazz, classical music, and skiffle. He began playing guitar at the age of 12 and quickly joined a local band, The Detours. In 1964, he formed The Who with singer Roger Daltrey, bassist John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. The band found great success with their first single, "I Can't Explain," and released other hits like "My Generation," "Substitute," and "Happy Jack." Townshend's style, characterized by powerful riffs and energetic solos, has influenced many rock guitarists. He was also a pioneer in using the electric guitar to create unique sound effects, such as "feedback" and "wah-wah." In 1970, he released his first solo album, "Who Came First," which was a commercial and critical success. He later published several concept albums like "Quadrophenia" (1973) and "The Who by Numbers" (1975). Townshend has also written and produced several films and theater pieces, including the musical "Tommy" (1969), adapted into a film in 1975. In 1982, he published "White City: A Novel," a semi-autobiographical novel also adapted into a film in 1985. In 1993, he founded The Who's Who Charity Foundation, a charitable organization aimed at helping disadvantaged children and young people. Townshend is considered one of the most influential and respected musicians of his generation. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2008, he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to music.

Pete Townshend - Face The Face Extract :