Townshend, Pete (1945– )

UK rock musician. He was a founder member of the Who, and guitarist and songwriter for the group 1964–82. His solo albums include Empty Glass (1980) and All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes (1982).

Townshend was born in Chiswick, London. In 1982, he published Horse's Neck, a collection of short stories. In 1989 he released The Iron Man, which featured vocals from John Lee Hooker and Nina Simone, and in 1993 he released a further solo album, Psychoderelict. Reception to this album was mixed, and Townshend concentrated on stage musicals after this – he won a Tony award in 1993 for the Broadway production of his musical The Who's Tommy.