Pete Townshend’s Greatest Hits (Guitar Smashes)
This week marks Pete Townshend’s 70th birthday. Born May 19, 1945 Pete Townshend is best known for being the guitar player in the legendary rock group The Who, one of the most influential bands of the 60’s and 70’s. Townshend was also the primary song writer for the band, written over 100 songs for The Who’s 11 studio albums. Although known primarily as a guitarist, Townsend also plays other instruments such as keyboards, banjo, accordion, harmonica, ukulele, mandolin, violin, bass guitar and drums.
Pete Townshend is also very well known for smashing more guitars than probably anyone else in history. The fan site www.thewho.net has a pretty comprehensive list of the guitars he has smashed here
When asked by Premier Guitar Magazine if he ever regretted smashing one of his guitars he said this –
“Once. Just once. It was probably around 1968. We were around Detroit about to play at the Grande Ballroom. I had no guitar. I went to the local pawnshops and bought two Strats. One was recent, the other was much older, probably from the first year of manufacture. They were not expensive. The dealer had no idea what he had. On stage, I started with the older of the two guitars. It was almost certainly a guitar that belonged to Buddy Holly. I sounded like Buddy Holly. I felt like Buddy Holly. The sound was superb, off the map, bell-like, silky, just sublime. When the time came to smash the guitar, I switched it for the newer one, and a boy at the front of the stage protested. “No,” he shouted. “Smash the good one, not some fake.” So I switched back, and to my shame smashed the guitar over his hands. I still wait for him to sue me. He would have a perfect right, but I was pretty angry with him. However, this entire guitar-smashing thing is my fault, my thing, my idea, my artistic statement, my absurdity. I have no doubt that guitar is sitting in someone’s home now, and probably plays okay. I hope the same can be said for that poor guy’s hands. So my regret and shame on this occasion is doubled.”
(Read the full interview here.)
Here’s a video compilation of some of Pete Townshend’s Greatest Hits (guitar smashes)–
https://youtu.be/T2rolE9DlbA
And our Top Ten Pete Townshend / The Who songs-
10.The Seeker (1971)
https://youtu.be/hiSzo82Gbzc
9. Behind Blue Eyes (1971)
https://youtu.be/BfuWXRZe9yA
8. I Can See For Miles (1967)
https://youtu.be/62ZJn0cTASo
7. I Can’t Explain (1965)
https://youtu.be/h3h–K5928M
6. Love Reign O’er Me (1973)
https://youtu.be/gDbAtWpoA6k
5. Pinball Wizard (1969)
https://youtu.be/4AKbUm8GrbM
4. Who Are You (1978)
https://youtu.be/r5kmCgVhADY
3. My Generation (1965)
https://youtu.be/5MnDbWqe_kQ
2. Won’t Get Fooled Again (1971)
https://youtu.be/SHhrZgojY1Q
1. Baba O’ Riley (1971)
https://youtu.be/x2KRpRMSu4g
