The Who wouldn’t be The Who without Pete Townshend. He co-founded the outfit, wrote most of their songs, and has served as the band’s guitarist for decades. Plenty of guitarists from Townshend’s heyday are praised for their contributions to the craft, but I don’t think he gets enough love for just how good of a guitarist he actually is. Let’s look at just a few standout songs from The Who that prove that Pete Townshend knows his way around guitar riffs!
“Overture”
This song kicks off The Who’s legendary concept album Tommy, and what a way to start an iconic album. The instrumentals on this song are on another level, and the attention-grabber in this song is definitely Keith Moon with his insane drum track.
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However, Pete Townshend’s acoustic guitar parts are nothing to sneeze at, and he even steals the show from Moon at one point in the song. Not only can Townshend shred his heart out, but he can also be quite gentle with his instrument as well.
“Won’t Get Fooled Again”
“Won’t Get Fooled Again” is another great example of what Townshend is capable of with the guitar. On this song, he blasts through power chords and battles it out with a synthesizer for a good portion of the song. The way he plays is vital to the song’s overall communion of sound, and he keeps it punchy without losing the preciseness he’s known for.
“Drowned”
“Drowned” is one of the most anthemic songs of Quadrophenia. Townshend’s guitar riff in this song isn’t particularly groundbreaking in the recorded version. However, if you’ve ever had the privilege of hearing him play this song live, you’ll know why it makes this list of next-level Pete Townshend guitar riffs. He’s an absolute wizard with the guitar on stage.
“Behind Blue Eyes”
“Behind Blue Eyes” is mostly memorable for Roger Daltrey’s soaring vocals. However, Townshend’s guitar riff comes in about two and a half minutes or so into the song, and he steals the show yet again. He simply strums a few chords before diving into a chaotic, thrashing masterpiece. Yet again, Townshend’s guitar-playing style is simple, yet completely captivating.
Photo by David Redfern/Redferns
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