Editing Pete Townshend (section)

== Musical career ==
=== 1961–1964: the Detours ===
In late 1961, Entwistle joined the Detours, a [[skiffle]]/[[rock and roll]] band, led by Roger Daltrey. The new bass player then suggested Townshend join as an additional guitarist.{{sfn|Neill|Kent|2009|p=18}} In the early days of the Detours, the band's repertoire consisted of instrumentals by [[the Shadows]] and [[the Ventures]], as well as pop and trad jazz covers. Their lineup coalesced around [[Roger Daltrey]] on rhythm guitar, Townshend on lead guitar, Entwistle on bass, [[Doug Sandom]] on drums, and Colin Dawson as vocalist.{{sfn|Giuliano|2002|p=22}} Daltrey was considered the leader of the group and, according to Townshend, "ran things the way he wanted them".{{sfn|Neill|Kent|2009|p=22}}

Dawson quit in 1962 after arguing too much with Daltrey, who subsequently moved to lead vocalist. As a result, Townshend, with Entwistle's encouragement, became the sole guitarist. Through Townshend's mother, the group obtained a management contract with local promoter Robert Druce, who started booking the band as a support act for bands including [[Screaming Lord Sutch]], [[Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers]], [[Shane Fenton and the Fentones]], and [[Johnny Kidd (singer)|Johnny Kidd]] and the Pirates.{{sfn|Neill|Kent|2009|pp=21,24}} In 1963, Townshend's father arranged an amateur recording of "It Was You", the first song his son ever wrote.{{sfn|Giuliano|2002|p=40}} The Detours became aware of a group of the same name in February 1964, forcing them to change their name.{{sfn|Neill|Kent|2009|p=26}} Townshend's roommate [[Richard Barnes (author)|Richard Barnes]] came up with "The Who", and Daltrey decided it was the best choice.{{sfn|Marsh|1983|p=66}}

=== 1964–1982: The Who ===
{{main|The Who}}
[[File:Pete Townshend and Keith Moon 1967.jpg|thumb|upright|Townshend (with Moon, rear right) backstage before a gig at [[Friedrich-Ebert-Halle]] in [[Ludwigshafen]], Germany on 12 April 1967]]
Not long after the name change, drummer [[Doug Sandom]] was replaced by [[Keith Moon]], who had been drumming semi-professionally with the Beachcombers for several years.{{sfn|Marsh|1983|p=80}} The band was soon taken on by a [[Mod (subculture)|mod]] publicist named [[Peter Meaden]] who convinced them to change their name to the High Numbers to give the band more of a mod feel. After bringing out one failed single ("I'm the Face/Zoot Suit"), they dropped Meaden and were signed on by two new managers, [[Chris Stamp]] and [[Kit Lambert]], who had paired up with the intention of finding new talent and creating a documentary about them.{{sfn|Neill|Kent|2009|p=55}} The band anguished over a name that all felt represented the band best, and dropped the High Numbers name, reverting to the Who.{{sfn|Neill|Kent|2009|p=60}} In June 1964, during a performance at the Railway Tavern, Townshend accidentally broke the top of his guitar on the low ceiling and [[Instrument destruction|proceeded to destroy the entire instrument]]. The on-stage destruction of instruments soon became a regular part of the Who's live shows.{{sfn|Marsh|1983|pp=125-126}}

With the assistance of Lambert, the Who caught the ear of American record producer [[Shel Talmy]], who had the band signed to a record contract. Townshend wrote a song, "[[I Can't Explain]]", as a deliberate sound-alike of [[the Kinks]], another group Talmy produced. Released as a single in January 1965, "I Can't Explain" was the Who's first hit, reaching number eight on the British charts.{{sfn|Wilkerson|2006|p=40}} A follow-up single ("[[Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere]]"), credited to both Townshend and Daltrey, also reached the top 10 in the UK.{{sfn|Howard|2004|pp=107–108}} However, it was the release of the Who's third single, "[[My Generation]]", in November that, according to Who biographer Mark Wilkerson, "cemented their reputation as a hard-nosed band who reflected the feelings of thousands of pissed-off adolescents at the time."{{sfn|Wilkerson|2006|p=52}} The Townshend-penned single reached number two on the UK charts, becoming the Who's biggest hit. The song and its famous line "I hope I die before I get old" was "very much about trying to find a place in society", Townshend stated in an interview with [[David Fricke]].{{sfn|Wilkerson|2006|p=53}}

To capitalise on their recent single success, the Who's debut album ''[[My Generation (album)|My Generation]]'' (''The Who Sings My Generation'' in the US) was released in late 1965, containing original material written by Townshend and several [[James Brown]] covers that Daltrey favoured.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-who-sings-my-generation-mw0000020578|title=My Generation&nbsp;– review|first=Richie|last=Unterberger|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=19 September 2013}}</ref> Townshend continued to write several successful singles for the band, including "[[Pictures of Lily]]", "[[Substitute (The Who song)|Substitute]]", "[[I'm a Boy]]", and "[[Happy Jack (song)|Happy Jack]]".{{sfn|Giuliano|2002|p=63}} Lambert encouraged Townshend to write longer pieces of music for the next album, which became "[[A Quick One, While He's Away]]". The album was subsequently titled ''[[A Quick One]]''{{sfn|Marsh|1983|p=227}} and reached No. 4 in the charts upon its release in December 1966.{{sfn|Marsh|1983|p=229}} In their stage shows, Townshend developed a [[guitar stunt]] in which he would [[Guitar showmanship#Peter Townshend|swing his right arm against the guitar strings]] in a style reminiscent of the vanes of a windmill.{{sfn|Giuliano|2002|p=37}} He developed this style after watching [[Rolling Stones]] guitarist [[Keith Richards]] warm up before a show.<ref name=Daly>{{cite news |url=https://www.tampabay.com/features/books/review-pete-townshend-memoir-who-i-am-gloomy-yet-addictive/1259585/ |title=Review: Pete Townshend memoir 'Who I Am' gloomy yet addictive |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |first=Sean |last=Daly |date=4 November 2012 |access-date=5 March 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Pete Townshend Windmill-(jha).jpg|thumb|upright|Townshend's "windmill" technique]]
The Who commenced their first US tour on 22 March 1967.{{sfn|Wilkerson|2006|p=76}} Townshend took to trashing his hotel suites, though not to the extent of his bandmate Moon.{{sfn|Giuliano|2002|p=76}} He also began experimenting with [[LSD]], though stopped taking the drug after receiving a potent hit after the [[Monterey Pop Festival]] on 18 June.{{sfn|Giuliano|2002|p=77}} Released in December, their next album was ''[[The Who Sell Out]]''—a [[concept album]] based on pirate radio, which had been instrumental in raising the Who's popularity. It included several humorous jingles and mock commercials between songs,{{sfn|Neill|Kent|2009|p=148}} and the Who's biggest US single, "[[I Can See for Miles]]".{{sfn|Neill|Kent|2009|p=149}} Despite the success of "[[I Can See for Miles]]", which reached No. 9 on the American charts, Townshend was surprised it was not an even bigger hit, as he considered it the best song he had written up to that point.{{sfn|Wilkerson|2006|p=93}}

By 1968, Townshend became interested in the teachings of [[Meher Baba]].{{sfn|Marsh|1983|p=294}} He began to develop a musical piece about a deaf, dumb, and blind boy who would experience sensations musically.{{sfn|Wilkerson|2006|p=113}} The piece would explore the tenets of Baba's philosophy.{{sfn|Giuliano|2002|p=89}} The result was the [[rock opera]] ''[[Tommy (The Who album)|Tommy]]'', released on 23 May 1969 to critical and commercial success. In support of ''Tommy'', the Who launched a tour that included a memorable appearance at the [[Woodstock Festival]] on 17 August. While the Who were playing, [[Yippie]] leader [[Abbie Hoffman]] jumped the stage to complain about the arrest of [[John Sinclair (poet)|John Sinclair]]. Townshend promptly knocked him offstage with his guitar, shouting, "Fuck off my fucking stage!"{{sfn|Neill|Kent|2009|p=224}}

In 1970, the Who released ''[[Live at Leeds]]'', which several music critics cite as the best live album of all time.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandjazzmusic/3653281/Hope-I-dont-have-a-heart-attack.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandjazzmusic/3653281/Hope-I-dont-have-a-heart-attack.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Hope I don't have a heart attack |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London|date=22 June 2006 |access-date=22 January 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Townshend began writing material for another rock opera. Dubbed ''[[Lifehouse (rock opera)|Lifehouse]]'', it was designed to be a multi-media project that symbolised the relationship between a musician and his audience.{{sfn|Marsh|1983|p=368}} The rest of the band were confused by its convoluted plot and simply wanted another album. Townshend began to feel alienated, and the project was abandoned after he suffered a nervous breakdown.{{sfn|Marsh|1983|p=378}} Much of the material intended for ''Lifehouse'' was released as a traditional studio album, ''[[Who's Next]]''. It became a commercial smash, reaching number one in the UK, and spawned two successful hit singles, "[[Baba O'Riley]]" and "[[Won't Get Fooled Again]]", that featured pioneering use of the synthesizer.{{sfn|Neill|Kent|2009|p=275}} "Baba O'Riley" in particular was written as Townshend's ode to his two heroes at the time, Meher Baba and composer [[Terry Riley]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Suddath|first=Claire|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2011/10/24/the-all-time-100-songs/slide/baba-o-reilly-the-who/ |title='Baba O'Riley' |newspaper=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=21 October 2011 |access-date=22 January 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Pete Townshend in Hamburg.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Townshend performing in Hamburg, Germany in August 1972]]
Townshend began writing songs for another rock opera in 1973. He decided it would explore the mod subculture and its clashes with [[rocker (subculture)|rocker]]s in the early 1960s in the UK.{{sfn|Marsh|1983|p=412}} Entitled ''[[Quadrophenia]]'', it was the only Who album written entirely by Townshend, and he produced the album as well due to the souring of relations with Lambert.{{sfn|Wilkerson|2006|p=211}} It was released in November, and became their highest charting cross-Atlantic success, reaching No. 2 in the UK and US.{{sfn|Neill|Kent|2009|p=428}} ''[[NME]]'' reviewer [[Charles Shaar Murray]] called it "prime cut Who" and "the most rewarding musical experience of the year."{{sfn|Wilkerson|2006|p=213}} On tour, the band played the album along to pre-recorded backing tapes, causing much friction. The tapes malfunctioned during a performance in Newcastle, prompting Townshend to drag soundman [[Bob Pridden]] onstage, scream at him and kick over all the amplifiers, partially destroying the malfunctioning tapes.{{sfn|Neill|Kent|2009|p=336}} On 14 April 1974, Townshend played his first solo concert, a benefit to raise funds for a London community centre.{{sfn|Wilkerson|2006|p=222}}

A [[Tommy (1975 film)|film version of ''Tommy'']] was directed by [[Ken Russell]], and starred [[Roger Daltrey]] in the title role, [[Ann-Margret]] as his mother, and [[Oliver Reed]] as his step-father, with cameos by [[Tina Turner]], [[Elton John]], [[Eric Clapton]], and other rock notables; the film premiered on 18 March 1975.{{sfn|Neill|Kent|2009|p=369}}{{sfn|Marsh|1983|p=439}} Townshend was nominated for an Academy Award for scoring and adapting the music in the film.{{sfn|Marsh|1983|p=451}} ''[[The Who by Numbers]]'' came out in November of that year and peaked at No. 7 in the UK and 8 in the US. It featured introspective songs, often with a negative slant. The album spawned one hit single, "[[Squeeze Box (song)|Squeeze Box]]", that was written after Townshend learned how to play the accordion.{{sfn|Wilkerson|2006|p=240}} After a 1976 tour, Townshend took a year-long break from the band to focus on spending time with his family.{{sfn|Neill|Kent|2009|p=394}}

The Who continues despite the deaths of two of the original members ([[Keith Moon]] in 1978 and [[John Entwistle]] in 2002). The band is regarded by many rock critics as one of the best<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/the-who/bio/ |title=The Who Biography |newspaper=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame |access-date=3 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/642975/the-Who# |title=The Who |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=15 May 2011}}</ref> live bands<ref>[[Eddie Vedder|Vedder, Eddie]]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060512074813/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939229/29_the_who "The Immortals – The Greatest Artists of All Time: 29) The Who"] ''Rolling Stone'', 15 April 2004.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vodafonemusic.co.uk/index.cfm?action=tba_event/awards2006/12b_tba_news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927202524/http://www.vodafonemusic.co.uk/index.cfm?action=tba_event%2Fawards2006%2F12b_tba_news |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 September 2007 |title=First Annual Lifetime Achievement Award in Live Music |website=Vodafonemusic.co.uk |access-date=15 May 2011  }}</ref> from the 1960s to the 2000s. The Who continues to perform critically acclaimed sets into the 21st century, including highly regarded performances at [[The Concert for New York City]] in 2001,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Watson |first=Tom |title=The Night The Who Saved New York |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomwatson/2012/12/07/the-night-the-who-saved-new-york/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> the 2004 [[Isle of Wight Festival 2004|Isle of Wight Festival]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 2004 {{!}} WHSmith |url=https://www.whsmith.co.uk/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website='WHSmith |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Live 8]] in 2005,<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - The Live 8 Event - Live 8 Running Order |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/thelive8event/lineupandartists/running_order.shtml |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> and the 2007<ref>{{Cite web |last=NME |date=2007-06-24 |title=The Who close Glastonbury 2007 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/glastonbury-345-1348278 |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref> and 2015 [[Glastonbury Festival]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=music |first=Guardian |date=2015-07-10 |title=The Who say they were sabotaged at Glastonbury |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jul/10/the-who-say-they-were-sabotaged-at-glastonbury |access-date=2024-06-14 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Townshend remained the primary songwriter and leader of the group, writing over 100 songs which appeared on the band's eleven studio albums. Among his creations is the rock opera ''[[Quadrophenia]]''. Townshend revisited album-length storytelling throughout his career and remains associated with the rock opera form. Many studio recordings also feature Townshend on piano or keyboards, though keyboard-heavy tracks increasingly featured guest artists in the studio, such as [[Nicky Hopkins]], [[John Bundrick]], or [[Chris Stainton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thewho.net/linernotes/ |title=The Who liner notes |website=Thewho.net |date=16 October 2007 |access-date=15 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514060731/http://www.thewho.net/linernotes/ |archive-date=14 May 2011 }}</ref>

Townshend is one of the key figures in the development of feedback in rock guitar. When asked who first used feedback, [[Deep Purple]] guitarist [[Ritchie Blackmore]] said:

{{blockquote|Pete Townshend was definitely the first. But not being that good a guitarist, he used to just sort of crash chords and let the guitar feedback. He didn't get into twiddling with the dials on the amplifier until much later. He's overrated in England, but at the same time you find a lot of people like [[Jeff Beck]] and [[Hendrix]] getting credit for things he started. Townshend was the first to break his guitar, and he was the first to do a lot of things. He's very good at his chord scene, too.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehighwaystar.com/interviews/blackmore/rb1973xxxx.html |title=Ritchie Blackmore interview |website=Thehighwaystar.com |access-date=15 May 2011}}</ref>}}

Similarly, when [[Jimmy Page]] was asked about the development of guitar feedback, he said:{{blockquote|I don't know who really did feedback first; it just sort of happened. I don't think anybody consciously nicked it from anybody else. It was just going on. But Pete Townshend obviously was the one, through the music of his group, who made the use of feedback more his style, and so it's related to him. Whereas the other players like Jeff Beck and myself were playing more single note things than chords.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zepagain.com/page_rosen.html |title=Steven Rosen's Jimmy Page Interview |website=Zepagain.com |year=1977 |access-date=15 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124114142/http://www.zepagain.com/page_rosen.html |archive-date=24 January 2011 }}</ref>}}

Many rock guitarists have cited Townshend as an influence, among them [[Slash (musician)|Slash]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Fan Questions/SLASH Answers – 2003 |url=http://www.snakepit.org/answers03.html |website=Snakepit.org|access-date=10 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115100119/http://www.snakepit.org/answers03.html |archive-date=15 January 2018 |year=2003 |quote=Brian, there are a lot of guitarist that have stage presence that I like, but I also like their playing. To give you some examples: Joe Perry, Pete Townsend, Jimmy Page...}}</ref> [[Alex Lifeson]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epiphone.com/news.asp?NewsID=137 |title=Alex Lifeson interview |website=Epiphone.com |date=29 July 2004 |access-date=15 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928151801/http://www.epiphone.com/news.asp?NewsID=137 |archive-date=28 September 2011  }}</ref> and [[Steve Jones (musician)|Steve Jones]].<ref>[http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/The%20Sex%20Pistols_%20Steve%20Jones_/ The Sex Pistols' Steve Jones: 'I lost everything, hit bottom, and had to work my way back up'] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324183836/http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/The%20Sex%20Pistols_%20Steve%20Jones_/ |date=24 March 2012 }}. ''[[Gibson Guitar Corporation|Gibson]]''.</ref>

=== 1972–present: solo career ===
In addition to his work with the Who, Townshend has been sporadically active as a solo recording artist. Between 1969 and 1971 Townshend, along with other devotees to [[Meher Baba]], recorded a trio of albums devoted to his teachings: ''[[Happy Birthday (1970 album)|Happy Birthday]]'', ''[[I Am (Pete Townshend album)|I Am]]'', and ''[[With Love (1976 album)|With Love]]''. In response to bootlegging of these, he compiled his personal highlights (and "Evolution", a collaboration with [[Ronnie Lane]]), and released his first major-label solo title, 1972's ''[[Who Came First]]''. It was a moderate success and featured demos of Who songs as well as a showcase of his acoustic guitar talents. He collaborated with [[the Faces]]' bassist and fellow Meher Baba devotee [[Ronnie Lane]] on a duet album (1977's ''[[Rough Mix]]''). In 1979 Townshend produced and performed guitar on the novelty single "Peppermint Lump" by Angie on [[Stiff Records]], featuring 11-year-old Angela Porter on lead vocals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/pete-townshend-peppermint-lump.226955/ |title= Steve Hoffman Music Forums: Pete Townshend – Peppermint Lump |access-date= 8 May 2018}}</ref>

Townshend made several solo appearances during the 1970s, two of which were captured on record: [[Eric Clapton]]'s Rainbow Concert<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/eric-clapton-rainbow-concert/|title=When Eric Clapton Staged His Rainbow Concert Comeback|first=Eduardo|last=Rivadavia|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=13 January 2016 |access-date=12 May 2019}}</ref> in January 1973 (which Townshend organized to revive Clapton's career after the latter's heroin addiction),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bestclassicbands.com/eric-clapton-rainbow-concert-review-1-17-18/|title=Eric Clapton's Lifesaving 'Rainbow Concert' Revisited|last=Kopp |first=Bill |date=12 August 2015|website=Best Classic Bands |access-date=4 April 2025}}</ref> and the [[Paul McCartney]]-sponsored Concerts for the People of Kampuchea in December 1979. The commercially available video of the Kampuchea concert shows the two rock icons duelling and clowning<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/john-lennons-coolness-to-pete-townshend.653256/|title=John Lennon's Coolness to Pete Townshend|website=Steve Hoffman Music Forums|access-date=12 May 2019}}</ref> through [[Rockestra]] mega-band versions of "Lucille", "Let It Be", and "Rockestra Theme"; Townshend closes the proceedings with a characteristic split-legged leap.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/12/watch-paul-mccartney-lead-all-star-band-with-pete.html|title=Watch Paul McCartney Lead an All-Star Band with Pete Townshend, Robert Plant (on Bass!) and John Bonham|newspaper=Paste Magazine|date=28 December 2017|access-date=12 May 2019}}</ref>

Townshend's solo breakthrough, following the death of Who drummer [[Keith Moon]], was the 1980 release ''[[Empty Glass]]'', which included the top-10 single "[[Let My Love Open the Door]]", and lesser singles "[[A Little Is Enough]]" and "[[Rough Boys]]". This release was followed in 1982 by ''[[All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes]]'', which included the popular radio track "[[Slit Skirts]]". While not a huge commercial success, music critic Timothy Duggan listed it as "Townshend's most honest and introspective work since Quadrophenia." Through the rest of the 1980s and early 1990s Townshend would again experiment with the [[rock opera]] and related formats, releasing several story-based albums including ''[[White City: A Novel]]'' (1985), ''[[The Iron Man: A Musical]]'' (1989), and ''[[Psychoderelict]]'' (1993). Townshend also got the chance to play with his hero [[Hank Marvin]] for [[Paul McCartney]]'s "[[Rockestra]]" sessions, along with other rock musicians such as [[David Gilmour]], [[John Bonham]], and [[Ronnie Lane]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-28 |title=Pete Townshend |url=https://www.geni.com/people/Pete-Townshend/6000000040346272468 |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=geni_family_tree |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Pete Townshend - Phyllis Keating.jpg|thumb|upright|Townshend in concert, 2008]]
Townshend recorded several concert albums, including one featuring a [[supergroup (music)|supergroup]] he assembled called [[Deep End (band)|Deep End]], with David Gilmour on guitar, who performed just three concerts and a television show session for ''[[The Tube (television program)|The Tube]]'', to raise money for his Double-O charity, supporting drug addicts.<ref>{{Cite book| publisher = Omnibus| isbn = 0-7119-4109-2| last1 = Miles| first1 = Barry| last2 = Mabbett| first2 = Andy| title = Pink Floyd – The Visual Documentary| location = London| date = 1994}}</ref> In 1993, he and [[Des McAnuff]] wrote and directed the Broadway adaptation of the Who album ''[[Tommy (rock opera)|Tommy]]'', as well as a less successful [[The Iron Man: The Musical by Pete Townshend|stage musical]] based on his solo album ''The Iron Man'', based upon the book by [[Ted Hughes]]. McAnuff and Townshend later co-produced the animated film ''[[The Iron Giant]]'', also based on the Hughes story.

A production described as a Townshend rock opera and titled ''[[The Boy Who Heard Music]]'' debuted as part of [[Vassar College]]'s Powerhouse Summer Theater program in July 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Who - Album by Album by Song |url=https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/the-who-album-by-album-by-song.944089/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Steve Hoffman Music Forums |language=en-US}}</ref>

On 2 September 2017 at [[Tanglewood]] in [[Lenox, Massachusetts]], Townshend embarked with fellow singer and musician [[Billy Idol]], tenor [[Alfie Boe]], and an orchestra on a short (5-date) "Classic Quadrophenia" US tour that ended on 16 September 2017 in Los Angeles, California.<ref name="ultimateclassicrock.com Pete Townshend Classic Quadrophenia">{{cite web |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/pete-townshends-classic-quadrophenia-tour/ |title=Pete Townshend's Classic Quadrophenia With Billy Idol Announces U.S. Tour Dates (by Michael Gallucci) |date= 6 June 2017 |website=Ultimateclassicrock.com |access-date= 8 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="rollingstone.com Pete Townshend Classic Quadrophenia">{{cite magazine |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/pete-townshend-plots-short-classic-quadrophenia-tour-w486025 |title= Pete Townshend Plots Short 'Classic Quadrophenia' Tour – Townshend will revisit the Who's famous double album with an orchestra to reach "classical and pop music lovers alike" (by Elias Leight) |date= 6 June 2017 |magazine= Rolling Stone |access-date= 8 October 2017 |archive-date= 8 October 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171008231440/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/pete-townshend-plots-short-classic-quadrophenia-tour-w486025 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

=== 1996–present: latest Who work ===
From the mid-1990s through the present, Townshend has participated in a series of tours with the surviving members of the Who, including a 2002 tour that continued despite Entwistle's death.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/petetownshend/articles/story/5939827/pete_townshend_the_rs_interview |title=Pete Townshend: The Rolling Stone Interview |first=Chris |last=Heath |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=July 2002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505214145/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/petetownshend/articles/story/5939827/pete_townshend_the_rs_interview |archive-date=5 May 2009 }}</ref>

In February 2006, a major world tour by the Who was announced to promote their first new album since 1982. Townshend published a semi-autobiographical story ''[[The Boy Who Heard Music]]'' as a serial on a blog beginning in September 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.petetownshend.co.uk/projects |title=The Who Official Band Website – Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon, Home |website=Petetownshend.co.uk |access-date=15 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070127080528/http://www.petetownshend.co.uk/projects/ |archive-date=27 January 2007 }}</ref> The blog closed in October 2006, as noted on Townshend's website. It is now owned by a different user and does not relate to Townshend's work in any way. On 25 February 2006, he announced the issue of a mini-opera inspired by the novella for June 2006. In October 2006 the Who released their first album in 24 years, ''[[Endless Wire (The Who album)|Endless Wire]]''.

The Who performed at the [[Super Bowl XLIV]] half-time show on 7 February 2010, playing a medley of songs that included "Pinball Wizard", "[[Who Are You (The Who song)|Who Are You]]", "Baba O'Riley", "[[See Me, Feel Me]]", and "Won't Get Fooled Again".<ref>{{cite news|last=Belson |first=Ken |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/sports/football/03halftime.html |title=The Who, and the Super Bowl's Evolving Halftime Show |newspaper=The New York Times |date=2 February 2010 |access-date=8 February 2010}}</ref> In 2012, the Who announced they would tour the rock opera ''Quadrophenia''.

The Who were the final performers at the [[2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony]] in London, performing a medley of "Baba O'Riley", "See Me, Feel Me", and "My Generation".<ref>{{cite web|title=Closing Ceremony|url=http://www.london2012.com/spectators/ceremonies/closing-ceremony/|publisher=London 2012|access-date=20 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718061942/http://www.london2012.com/spectators/ceremonies/closing-ceremony/|archive-date=18 July 2012}}</ref>

On 22 March 2018, Townshend stated that a new Who album should feature original songs by [[Roger Daltrey]] as well as him.<ref name="kshe95 Townshend Daltrey new Who album">{{cite web |url=http://www.kshe95.com/news/real-rock-news/pete-townshend-thinks-roger-daltrey-should-write-songs-next-who-album |title=Roger Daltrey should write songs for next Who album |date=21 March 2018 |website=Kshe95.com |access-date=22 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323031215/http://www.kshe95.com/news/real-rock-news/pete-townshend-thinks-roger-daltrey-should-write-songs-next-who-album |archive-date=23 March 2018 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> That album, simply titled ''[[Who (album)|Who]],'' was released on 6 December 2019. It was the band's second album as a duo, and their first in thirteen years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2019/11/album-review-the-who-who/|title=Album Review: The Who Remain Blunt as Ever on Uneven WHO|date=29 November 2019}}</ref>

=== Unfinished work ===
''The Age of Anxiety'', formerly ''Floss the Musical'',<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pete-townshend-on-the-future-of-the-who-237511/|title=Pete Townshend on the Future of the Who|first=Patrick|last=Doyle|date=10 October 2012|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=12 May 2019}}</ref> is the name given to a work-in-progress by Townshend.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://wror.com/2015/06/01/townshend-offers-update-new-solo-project/|title=Townshend Offers Update On New Solo Project – WROR|date=1 June 2015|publisher=WROR|access-date=18 December 2017|language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=July 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The musical has been a work in progress at least since 2009 with an original estimated release of 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-08-26/the-whos-pete-townshend-plans-new-musical/1405472|title=The Who's Pete Townshend plans new musical|date=26 August 2009|website=ABC News|access-date=12 May 2019}}</ref> On 24 January 2012 Townshend sold the rights to all of his back catalog and much of his future work including ''Floss The Musical'' if it is ever completed.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-who-sell-out-pete-townshend-gets-millions-for-back-catalog-96537/|title=The Who Sell Out: Pete Townshend Gets Millions for Back Catalog|first=Andy|last=Greene|date=17 February 2012|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=12 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spiritmusicgroup.com/news/spirit-music-acquires-classic-song-catalog-pete-townshend-and-who-partners-rock-icon-promoting|title=Spirit Music Group press release|website=Spiritmusicgroup.com|access-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304183741/http://www.spiritmusicgroup.com/news/spirit-music-acquires-classic-song-catalog-pete-townshend-and-who-partners-rock-icon-promoting|archive-date=4 March 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> He summarized the work in an interview with [[Sirius Satellite Radio]] published February 2010.<ref>{{Citation|last=SiriusXM|title=The Who's Pete Townshends New Stage Production "Floss" // SiriusXM|date=9 February 2010|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzmZmpYd6O0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/HzmZmpYd6O0| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=18 December 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In a 2015 interview Townshend stated that the work was intended to be an art installation.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/blog/the-view-from-here/an-interview-with-pete-townshend-i-might-retire-from-making-money-69223/7 | title=An interview with Pete Townshend: 'I might retire... from making money...' | date=24 June 2015 | first=Michael | last=Bonner | work=Uncut | access-date=28 July 2019 }}</ref> In March 2019 it was announced that a work entitled ''The Age of Anxiety'' would be published as a novel, with an opera to follow.<ref name=Guardian0319/>