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Pete Townshend is celebrated as one of the most influential rhythm guitarists in rock history. He confidently stated in a 1980 interview with Sound International, “in that particular area, I don’t think I’m topped.”
Tho,when it comes to lead guitar,Townshend has openly acknowledged his limitations as an improviser. Many of his iconic solos, including those in tracks like ”I Can’t Explain” and “Love Reign O’er Me,” were meticulously crafted before recording.
“I began my journey as a rhythm guitarist, and a few of my lead phrases emerged during recording sessions,” he shared with Guitar Player in May 1972. “I’ll never achieve the kind of leads I aspire to. Listening to Jimi Hendrix was pure bliss for me.”
From the outset, Townshend concentrated on rhythm guitar, delivering powerful chords with his signature windmill strumming technique. By the late 1960s, he had honed a distinctive style characterized by 16th-note strumming, exemplified in “Pinball wizard,” which he performed on a Gibson J-200 acoustic guitar from the 1969 rock opera Tommy.
The release of Live at Leeds in 1970 showcased glimpses of his lead guitar prowess. His explosive solo on Mose Allison’s “Young Man’s Blues” and the dynamic lines in Johnny Kidd’s “Shakin’ All Over” highlighted his growth as a lead guitarist. Tracks like “Join Together” and the lesser-known “Slow Burn” from David Bowie’s 2002 album Heathen further illustrate his evolution. Even when his solos are pre-composed, their emotional resonance is undeniable, as Townshend connects with audiences on a deeper level rather than relying solely on technical skill.
Yet, the true lead guitarist of The Who has always been John Entwistle, the band’s bassist. It is indeed Entwistle who delivers the iconic lead break in “My Generation,” showcasing his remarkable bass skills from Tommy onward, even as Townshend refined his own lead guitar abilities.
“What’s captivating is that in our group, the roles are somewhat reversed.John is the lead guitarist, and while I’m not the bassist, he contributes significantly to the lead work,” Townshend remarked in the 1980 Sound International interview.
“It’s amusing to think about songs like ‘Dreaming From the waist'[from1975’s[from1975’s[from1975’s[from1975’sThe Who by Numbers], where John performs an amazing bass solo that makes Alvin Lee seem slow, while I’m just standing there strumming a chord. The audience looks at me, bewildered, wondering how he produces that sound.”
Entwistle’s stealthy presence on stage,frequently enough dressed in dark colors and remaining relatively still,contributed to this confusion.
“For years, nobody even noticed john was there,” Townshend continued. “He wore all black, and during TV appearances, the camera rarely focused on him unless it was switching between roger and Keith.”
As Entwistle himself stated in a November 1975 interview with Guitar Player, “I’ve never truly seen myself as just a bass player. I consider myself a lead/rhythm bass player. Since The Who was a trio, we aimed to replicate our studio sound live, which often meant I played rhythm figures on the bass using a pick.”
“As we began to explore more complex arrangements with Tommy, I started incorporating lead figures.There were times when I had to take over a solo when the guitar went silent, cranking everything up to deliver a solo.”
entwistle explained how he achieved a distinctive sound by switching to a Rickenbacker 4001 bass for live performances, always maximizing treble to ensure his bass cut through the mix, allowing the audience to hear his playing clearly.
He also confirmed Townshend’s observations about the confusion his live bass work caused among fans.
“It happens quite often,” he shared with Guitar Player.”When ‘my Generation’ first hit the airwaves, many believed Pete was playing the bass solo. During live performances, they would look at Pete during the solo, and once it ended, they would applaud him.”
“I use a very guitar-like tone, so if the audience isn’t familiar with the instruments, it’s understandable they might get confused. It’s frustrating when they assume it’s Pete playing, yet they can’t comprehend why he’s just strumming a chord while a lead figure is coming from the bass.”
recently, Townshend and Daltrey announced that The Who’s legendary performance era is nearing its conclusion. On May 8, the duo-now the only surviving members of the original lineup-unveiled The Song Is Over North America Farewell Tour, named after their 1971 classic. the tour kicks off on August 16 in Sunrise, Florida, and concludes on September 28 in Las Vegas.
Tickets will be available starting with a Citi presale and through The Who Fan Club (details below) beginning on Tuesday, May 13.
This announcement comes as no surprise, as Townshend has expressed his desire to step back from performing. “I don’t dislike it, but it doesn’t fulfill my soul the way it does for some performers-those who thrive on being on stage. That’s not me.”
