The Iron Man

Pete Townshend is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the guitarist, co-lead vocalist, songwriter, and leader for the rock band The Who. His career with the Who spans over 50 years, during which time the band grew to be considered one of the most influential bands of the 20th century.

Townshend is the main songwriter for The Who, having written well over 100 songs for the band's 11 studio albums. He has also written more than 100 songs that have appeared on his solo albums and other works. Although known primarily as a guitarist, he also plays keyboards, banjo, accordion, harmonica, ukulele, mandolin, violin, synthesiser, bass guitar, and drums on his solo albums. He is self-taught on all of the instruments he plays and has never had any formal training.

Due to his aggressive playing style and innovative songwriting techniques, Townshend's works with The Who and in other projects have earned him critical acclaim. He was ranked No. 3 in Dave Marsh's list of Best Guitarists in The New Book of Rock Lists, No. 10 in Gibson.com's list of the top 50 guitarists, and No. 10 again in Rolling Stone magazine's updated 2011 list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. In 1983, Townshend received the Brit Award for Lifetime Achievement, in 1990 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Who and in 2001 received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award as a member of the Who.