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b. 19 May 1945,
Chiswick, London, England, the son of singer Betty Dennis and respected
saxophonist Cliff Townshend. Having served his apprenticeship playing
banjo in a dixieland jazz band, Pete joined the Detours as rhythm
guitarist. This local attraction, which also featured Roger Daltrey and
John Entwistle, was a vital stepping-stone to the formation of the Who.
Townshend emerged as leader of this turbulent group by virtue of his
compositional skills. Several early songs, notably "I Can't Explain", "The
Kids Are Alright" and "My Generation", encapsulated the trials of
adolescence while a virulent guitar-style which eschewed formal style in
favour of an aggressive, combative approach, underlined a lyrical anger
and frustration. Townshend later expanded his art to embrace character
studies ("Happy Jack" and "Dogs"), but his songs did not translate well in
other hands and singles by the Naturals ("It Was You' - reportedly
Townshend"s first composition), Oscar ("Join My Gang") and the Barron
Knights ("Lazy Fat People") failed to emulate those of the Who. However,
Townshend did find success as a producer when "Something In The Air"
became a million-seller for Thunderclap Newman and he also assisted
manager Kit Lambert with protgs the Crazy World Of Arthur Brown.
Townshend began a solo career in 1970 with contributions to Happy
Birthday, a collection devoted to spiritual guru Meher Baba. A second set,
I Am, appeared in 1972 and although not intended for public consumption,
the albums featured material which also found its way into the Who
lexicon, including "The Seeker" and "Baba O'Riley". Interest was such that
Who Came First, the guitarist's first official solo release, also drew
from this reservoir, and thus reflected a gentler, pastoral side to the
artist's work. Its spirituality and highly personal perspective set the
tone for much of Townshend's later recordings. Rough Mix, a collaboration
with former Small Faces bass player Ronnie Lane, succeeded a third set for
Baba's Universal Spiritual League, and although generally more upbeat than
their predecessors, nonetheless portrayed an air of calm intimacy.
Townshend subsequently founded a record label and publishing company, both
named Eel Pie, and his solo work did not flourish fully until the release
of Empty Glass in 1980. Galvanized by punk, the guitarist re-examined his
musical roots and emerged with a set both personal and compulsive. "Let My
Love Open The Door" reached the US Top 10, while the energetic "Rough
Boys" and caustic "Jools And Jim", a sideswipe at contemporary rock press
journalists, revealed a strength of purpose missing from concurrent Who
recordings. By the early 80s, his drug and alcohol problems were
conquered, which would subsequently lead to a zealous role in anti-drug
campaigning. The abstract All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes was a
marked disappointment, reflecting the personal traumas which had
bedevilled its creator at that time. Scoop, a collection of home-produced
demos, marked time until the release of White City, an ambitious work
which sadly promised more than it fulfilled. During this period Townshend
became a consultant editor at the London publishing house, Faber &
Faber, where he found a new lease of life encouraging the work of young
authors and poets. He ended the 80s with Iron Man, a musical adaptation of
poet laureate Ted Hughes' famous children's story which featured cameos
from several musicians, including John Lee Hooker. Although flawed, there
was no denying the artistic ambition it displayed, as if emphasizing
Townshend's role as one of rock's most literate and pensive talents. In
1993, a stage production of Tommy, re-titled The Who's Tommy, opened on
Broadway, and won five Tony Awards. Also in 1993, he launched his new "pop
opera", Psychoderelict, which played concert venues later in the year. In
1995, he was busily working with the new New York production of Tommy and
resisted the urge to join Roger Daltrey on his tour performing Townshend's
music. In 1999, his infamous Lifehouse project, extracts from which had
appeared on the Who's seminal 1971 collection Who's Next and Who Came
First, finally saw the light of day as a BBC Radio Play. The work's vision
of a future world of virtual living bore certain similarities to the
Internet, a medium which Townshend actively promoted on the interactive
section of the attendant Lifehouse box set, allowing fans to access a
website and leave personal data from which the composer will be able to
construct a song. Whilst his solo work has never matched the quality of
the songs he wrote for the Who, taken as a whole catalogue it is highly
impressive and he joins the likes of Ray Davies as one of the era's best
songwriters.
Discography
Who Came First (Track 1972)***, with Ronnie Lane Rough Mix (Polydor
1977)****, Empty Glass (Atco 1980)***, All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese
Eyes (Atco 1982)**, Scoop (Polydor 1983)**, White City (Atco 1985)**, Pete
Townshend's Deep End - Live (Atco 1986)**, Another Scoop (Atco 1987)**,
Iron Man (Atlantic 1989)**, Psychoderelict (Atlantic 1993)***, Pete
Townshend Live: A Benefit For Maryville Academy (Platinum
1999)***.
Compilations
The Best Of Pete Townshend (East West 1996)***, The Lifehouse
Chronicles 6-CD box set (Eel Pie 2000)***, Lifehouse Elements (Redline
2000)***.
Bibliography
The Horses Neck, Pete Townshend. A Life Of Pete Townshend: Behind Blue
Eyes, Geoffrey Guiliano. Lifehouse, Pete Townshend with Jeff
Young.
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