Pete Townshend

The Who were voted the 29th Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artists of all time by Rolling Stone.

Born in Chiswick, London just ten days after the German surrender in 1945, Townshend grows up in a typical middle-class home. His parents, Cliff and Betty Townshend, are both musicians, and as a child he accompanies them on dance band tours. Townshend starts playing guitar at 12.

His father-in-law Edwin Astley composed the theme music for The Saint (1962).

He goes to art school and, after several stints in local semi-professional bands, forms the rock group The Who in 1963 with singer Roger Daltrey, bass player John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. The Who start out as the ultimate, violent anti-establishment band; they soon gain notoriety for ear-splitting live performances, smashing their equipment on stage and wrecking hotel rooms, leaving havoc everywhere they go. As the group's mastermind and main songwriter, Townshend later establishes himself as an eminent musical auteur and the thinking man's rock guitarist after penning such now legendary concept albums as "Tommy", the abandoned "Lifehouse" and "Quadrophenia", which combine the energy of rock'n'roll with the orchestral and thematic ambitions of opera.

Suffered damaged to his hearing, which affected him in later life, after The Who made their first appearance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967), when the smoke powder in Keith Moon's bass drums, intended as an end-of-act stunt, exploded instead of just smoking copiously.

Has been involved with many charities since 1968 including the Meher Baba Association, The Children's Health Fund, the Bridge School, the Teenage Cancer Trust and Samsung's Four Seasons of Hope.

Has three children: Emma (born in 1969), Aminta (born in 1971) and Joseph (born in 1989).

Helped Eric Clapton kick his heroin addiction. To repay Townshend, Clapton agreed to appear in Tommy (1975).

After Keith Moon's accidental death in 1978 and a few unconvincing farewell tours with new drummer Kenney Jones, The Who break up. The 80's find Townshend struggling with his identity as an aging rock godfather, fighting drug problems and increasing hearing troubles.

First noted rock musician to donate his service to Amnesty International, playing three songs at its 1979 benefit show The Secret Policeman's Ball (1979).

Best known solo albums include 'Empty Glass' (1980), 'All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes' (1982), and 'White City - a Novel' (1985).

Overcame serious drug and alchohol addictions in early 1982, in what was called a "miracle cure."

Officially left The Who in late 1983, one year after the band completed its "farewell" tour. At the time of the tour, the band had said they would continue to record and play live sporadically, but after rehearsing new material the following year, Townshend decided it was time to pack it in. They continue to play live and even tour on occasion, as bands often do after breaking up.

His daughter Emma sang on his 1985 song "Face the Face", the first single off his "White City" album. She also appeared in the video.

In 1989, he roars back with a 25th anniversary tour of The Who, later a Broadway revival of "Tommy" (an eventual Tony winner) and several other ambitious musical, theater and film projects. Widely known as the windmilling, leaping about guitarist for The Who, Townshend is also a premier songwriter, accurately self-reflective lyricist and inspired multi-media entrepreneur. Both "Tommy" and "Quadrophenia" were made into energetic films.

Elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of The Who) in 1990.

Won Broadway's 1993 Tony Award as Best Score (Musical) both music and lyrics, for "The Who's Tommy," in a tie with John Kander and Fred Ebb for "Kiss of the Spider Woman--The Musical." For the same show, he was also nominated as Best Book (Musical) with collaborator Des McAnuff.

He was awarded the 1997 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Outstanding Musical Production of 1996 for Tommy performed at the Shaftesbury Theatre with John Entwistle.

The TV series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) and its spin-offs CSI: Miami (2002) and CSI: NY (2004) all use songs by Townshend/The Who as their theme songs: "Who are you", "Won't Get Fooled Again" and "Baba O'Riley".

In 2003, was cautioned by police and placed on the sex offenders register for five years following his admission that he accessed child pornography on the Internet.

Townshend was the winner of the British Phonographic Industry Award for Life Achievement in 1983 and The Who won the British Phonographic Industry Award for Outstanding Contribution in 1988. On 16 November 2005, The Who were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame for their outstanding contribution to British music and integral part of British music culture.

Was, along with Roger Daltrey, honored with a Kennedy Center Award (2008).

His musical, "The Who's Tommy," at the Circle Theatre in Chicago, Illinois was nominated for a 2010 Joseph Jefferson Award (Non-Equity Division) for Production of a Musical.

Roger Daltrey and his musical, "The Who's Tommy," at the Paramount Theatre in Chicago, Illinois was nominated for a 2015 Joseph Jefferson Equity Award for Large Musical Production.