Pete Townshend: Who I Am
By (Author) Pete Townshend
HarperCollins Publishers
HarperCollins
7th June 2013
6th June 2013
United Kingdom
General
Non Fiction
Popular music
Musicians, singers, bands and groups
Composers and songwriters
782.42166092
Paperback
544
Width 129mm, Height 198mm, Spine 41mm
470g
He is one of the greatest musical talents Britain has ever produced. But even as the principle songwriter and lead guitarist for The Who, it would be unjust to define Pete Townshends life simply through his achievements with bandmates Daltrey, Moon and Entwistle.
Noting that he has sold over 100 million records over a fifty-year period goes some way to quantifying his accomplishments, but numbers only scratch the surface of his contribution to popular culture.
An avid student of his profession, during his career he has been credited with the creation of the concept album, worked as a literary editor, developed scripts for television and the stage, and written songs that have defined a generation. The thinking mans rock star with a dedication to his craft unlike any other in the business, he continues to inspire new generations of performers and writers with a continuing commitment to his art.
Now, in one of the most eagerly awaited autobiographies of recent times, this icon tells about his incredible life and elaborates on the turbulences of time spent as one of the worlds most respected musicians being in one of rocks greatest ever bands, and wanting to give it all up.
Incredibly, as a man who has achieved so much, this truly unique story of ambition, relentless perfectionism and rock and roll excess will be regarded as one of his greatest achievements.
More honest than any fan would have hoped. Maybe nobody knows what its like to be the bad man, to be the sad man, behind blue eyesbut Who I Am is as close as we are likely to get. Rolling Stone
Astonishingly frank, detailed and heartfelt. The Sun
Whatever the subject, he writes passionately and eloquently. The Times
The defining guitarist of a generation, Pete was the powerful creative force behind The Who, widely regarded as one of the greatest rock bands of all time. His musical knowledge and writing ability was and is unparalleled, and his taste for rebellion renowned. The destruction of the very guitars that resounded with the legendary tracks My Generation and I Cant Explain brought him acclaim and notoriety in equal measure, but his pure passion and talent has guaranteed his status as an icon and authority on rock n roll for decades. Pete has widely been cited as an inspiration to countless musicians, celebrated in their own right, and continues to perform to sell-out audiences across the globe with his fellow band members.