Brian May recently hailed Pete Townshend as the God of Rock Guitar

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As a lifelong admirer of rock music, I can wholeheartedly attest to the profound influence that Pete Townshend has had on my journey as a guitarist and as a fan. The legendary co-founder of The Who has been instrumental in shaping the very sound of rock guitar, pushing boundaries and redefining what was possible with this iconic instrument.

Brian May, renowned guitarist from Queen, openly admires Pete Townshend, co-founder of The Who, acknowledging the significant impact Townshend has made on his own musical journey. On May 20th, May posted on Instagram to express his deep reverence for Townshend, highlighting how this rock pioneer was instrumental in defining the sound of rock guitar. At 77 years old, May reminisced on the profound effect Townshend, also 79, has had on the development of rock music throughout history.

He was responding to a Queen fan who had shared one of May’s earlier statements where he described Townshend as a “god of guitar.” May was prompted to expand on these thoughts, feeling it was important to reiterate his admiration. Alongside a photograph of himself with Townshend, May wrote, “I’m glad I said this — I probably don’t say it enough.”

Pete Townshend is acknowledged as being instrumental in defining the sound of rock guitar, with the sentiment expressed as, “Pete Townshend has been a pivotal figure in shaping rock guitar. Reflecting on it now, he appears to have essentially created it! I was fortunate enough to witness its development firsthand. My own playing has been significantly influenced by him.”

He acknowledged that while blues-influenced guitar playing was integral to rock’s evolution in the 1970s and 1980s, Townshend introduced something radically different. On Dr. Brian May’s website, he says: “We (Queen) wanted to take people off into the stratosphere. It’s always been that way with us. We were inspired by our heroes to do that, and I put The Who way up top of that list. Pete Townshend is the master of mood change, a master of the suspended chord. I owe so much to him…”

Brian May on what Pete Townshend brought to the table

As stated by May, Townshend’s style was characterized by “a piercing, intense resonance of amplified chords that weren’t overly distorted – sharp, massive structures colliding angrily in our minds, rhythmic blows like a relentless hammer shaping me indelibly.” In his post, May encouraged fans to rediscover some iconic tracks by The Who to truly grasp Townshend’s brilliance. He emphasized songs such as “My Generation,” where Keith Moon’s dynamic drumming, John Entwistle’s unique bass lines, and Roger Daltrey’s potent vocals blend together to form the epitome of rock music.

“Entirely fantastic!” declared May, encouraging his fans to delve into other iconic Who tracks such as “I’m a Man,” “Substitute,” “Can’t Explain,” and their rendition of “Summertime Blues.”

May passionately asserted that these tracks “transformed Rock and Roll [into] ROCK!!!” He ended his post with a playful message to his fans: “Good Morning folks!! You have your assignment for the day.” The admiration between these two rock icons is mutual, as Pete Townshend himself has recognized the importance of May’s work with Queen.

The Who are not done…yet.

In related updates, The Who’s frontman, Townshend, spoke about the band’s future during an interview with The New York Times. He suggested that there might be a final world tour, after which they would retire. He admitted that performing with The Who doesn’t excite him much anymore, and he has primarily been touring for financial reasons. His idea of a normal life is quite luxurious, he added.

Contrary to previous rumors suggesting The Who were planning a goodbye tour, Townshend made clear that he was not serious about such a venture, explaining, “I wasn’t intending a farewell tour; I think I might have been joking about it.” This declaration has effectively quashed any speculation regarding an impending and deliberate conclusion to the band’s esteemed musical journey.

Why Pete Townshend deserves those kind words

Over the course of his professional journey, Pete Townshend has garnered acclaim not just for his inventive guitar play but also for his songwriting, record production, and pioneering ideas in rock music. His collaborations with The Who, particularly on albums such as “Tommy” (1969) and “Who’s Next” (1971), have made a significant impact. These albums are regarded as landmarks in rock music history; “Tommy” paved the way for concept albums while “Who’s Next” showcased innovative synthesizer usage and studio technology.

Absolutely, there are those who argue that The Who is the best rock band ever. Brian May’s recent tribute underscores the enduring impact of Pete Townshend and the respect he garners from his musical peers. To this day, both May and Townshend stand as giants in the realm of rock music, their influence still sparking creativity among contemporary artists and admirers alike.

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2024-08-28 15:01