The Best Guitar Solos of Pete Townshend (Part 2 of 6)

[timj41]

are you related the the Monkey Lord?



[46dc9er]

Take some lessons

[ew3639ew]

COOL!!! Love Pete

[Corleonetone]

he may be a great composer...but he's a lousy guitarrist...his playing sucks big time

[TheBeatlefloyd]

PETE TOWNSHEND + DAVID GILMOUR = LIFE

[kypoppa]

you guys are to funny you dont know what your talking about

[robmatlivingstone]

Townshend ues HUGE STRINGS - high E was a 14 gauge almost impossible to play lead but great for explosive rhythm - most guitarists use a 8 or 9 high E

[shayshaythewulfbaby]

@ skinmodhead...i'm a guitarist and you play what? you must be more into joe satriani and Yngwie Monstein's earlier skin head mod stuff..........totally busted! you talk like a virgin who is tiring to describe making love.

up the swagger!....... up the ha-RAng!@# .......up real mods!

the fact that you have Screwdriver and Ray Charles up on your page makes you a very confused pup in my opinion...good sense and taste is free to those who can afford it and very very dear to those that can not.

[shayshaythewulfbaby]

@ skinmodhead...i'm a guitarist and you play what? you must be into more into joe satriani and Yngwie Monstein's earlier skin head mod stuff..........totally busted! you talk like a virgin who is tiring to describe making love.

check out the isolated tracks for young man blues. up the swagger! up the ha-RAng!@# up some mods!

[djgeorgewashington]

Pete's good, your not bottom line.

[themightyharrison]

Anyone who thinks a novice guitarist can play like Pete Townshend

is an idiot, and definitely not a guitar player.

[musicmann1967]

So he hits some bad ntes occasionally... So what? That doesn't make him a bad guitarist in my opinion for two reasons. One: the musical ideas that he reaches for are original and great, so I don't mind an occasional bum note. Two: I would give almost anything to come with and write guitar parts as good as his. Lead playing is only art of the whole package. His musicianship makes him a great guitarist in my view, technical prowess does not.

[modo03]

What show is this version of the Quiet one from?

[warmadscot]

Pete admitted back in the late 60s/ early 70s that he just couldn't do what clapton or hendrix could but he used really difficult chords (I know because I've attempted some who songs and they're bloody difficult) plus HAVE YOU SEEN THOSE WINDMILLS HE DEOS! and it seems most of the time he's playing he's in midair

[Kevinf1125]

Pete's the perfect guitarist for the Who. The band already had a lead drummer and lead bassist. Believe it or not, what they actually needed was not another virtuoso. Pete was fully capable of being a 'guitar hero'. Should that had been his M.O.(to prove to the world that he was a kickass lead), The Who would've been a Cream or Zep clone. The point is, sometimes, less is more. Plus, Pete's music is great for rookie guitar players. The first songs I ever learned were Can't Explain and Substitute.

[mousefloor1]

not a louzy lead guitarist, a mint lead guitarist - lousy lead guitarist is noel fucking ghallager

[RhumOnFire]

I've always thought and I'll always think that Pete is one of the best rock guitarists ever! the way he plays rhytm and lead, the way he writes music and WORDS... a true prophet and a perfect guitarist...

[ume3434]

Pete never claimed to be the best lead and would always state that very fact. Look at who he is compared too! He would be humbled to be mentioned as one of the greats - rhythm or lead. But he plays with passion and bleeds the songs he plays because he wrote them and understands them. It works within the confines of the band.

He has had some brilliant moments on solos but how he plays his songs is what makes him brilliant...in my opinion.

[SKINmodHEAD]

@ume3434

He never claimed he was a good lead player...

But other jackasses do.

[deepmind]

joshua,

It would be great if you listed where these solos were from.

Thanks.

[joshuathemonkeyking]

I actually I did- it's in the credits at the end.

[SKINmodHEAD]

TOP TEN WORST LEAD GUITARISTS OF ALL TIME : 1 - Angus Young 2 - Neil Young 3 - BB King 4 - Robert Fripp 5 - The Edge 6 - Tom Morello 7 - Jack White 8 - Chuck Berry 9 - Pete Townshend 10 - Carlos Santana

[SKINmodHEAD]

TOP TEN BEST RHYTHM GUITARISTS EVER : 1 - Pete Townshend 2- Johnny Ramone 3 - Joe Perry 4 - John Lennon 5 - Izzy Stradlin 6 - Keith Richards 7 - Neil Young 8 - Malcolm Young 9 - John Fogerty 10 - Bob Weir

[Kevinf1125]

BB King, Angus Young, Carlos Santana and Pete on a WORST list? WTF!? You're seriously misguided.

[SKINmodHEAD]

@Kevinf1125

BB King is the easiest to emulate.

His playing is BASIC, BASIC, BASIC.

ANYONE WHO PLAYS GUITAR SHOULD BE ABLE TO PLAY HIS MUSIC, NO PROBLEM.

Angus Young plays two note hammer ons & the crowd goes crazy...it's his image, his BAND, and his credentials that makes people like him...not his lead playing ability.

Santana...whenever I hear one of his songs, it sounds just like the last. He struggles creatively more so than Jimmy Page.

Townshend...read the BB King reply.

[Kevinf1125]

It's not about difficulty, and yes, I know that most of Townshend's repertoire is very easy for even novice guitar players. However, again, it isn't about how hard the music is to play that makes the music beautiful. Townshend was a great organizer of sounds... I know sounds crazy, but he was much more of an ARTIST than EVH or any guitarist who's technically gifted and writes songs that are just more of a challenge to play. Point in case - The Beatles are SUPER easy to play, but beautiful music!

[joshuathemonkeyking]

EXACTLY!!!! Well said dude, I couldn't have said it any better. See SKINmodHead, you're the one that sounds like the jackass not any of us.

[SKINmodHEAD]

He's saying exactly what I'm saying, fuckface.

Pete's a wonderful musician, but a "novice" of a guitarist.

[mousefloor1]

He's a brilliant guitarist. FUCKFACE.

[SKINmodHEAD]

Wonderful...exactly my point.

Good musician...lousy lead guitarist.

Great songwriter, great icon, great "organizer of sounds", great RHYTHM guitarist...not a good lead guitarist.

I'm not taking anything away from him...he's NEVER been, nor ever will be, an elite guitarist.

He's the guitarist in one of my favorite bands...but I have no shame or problem admitting that he's not a good guitarist.

Who fans take themselves too seriously...

[joshuathemonkeyking]

@SKINmodHEAD

He's not completely saying what you're saying, he's saying that Pete's still great for his lead playing as it's not all about the difficulty of songs. Besides, watch My Generation from Camden 2000 and tell me that's "novice" and I have no problem saying he's a great player. Anyone who says otherwise is just an arrogant prick trying to be awkward.

[korgri]

@SKINmodHEAD Except most of you jokers think 'lead' means a certain kind of blues-themed single note picking and 'rhythm' means playing chords. Pete is an excellent lead guitarist. 'Lead' means the main instrument (in a duo or more players) that sets the pace of the music being played. The Who was like a jazz band in that later everyone played lead. The early live video of "I Can't Explain' from the Shindig tv show is amazing because Keith Moon is playing lead through the whole song.

[korgri]

@SKINmodHEAD As for Pete not being an 'elite' guitarist, watch the two songs he did at the Secret Policeman's Ball from 1979. Then listen to the 15 minutes of My Generation from 'Live At Leeds'. That's a 'lead' guitarist. His playing is far more interesting than a thousand single note picking so-called 'lead' players. Most of that 'lead' soloing gets pretty tedious, and often just ends up as 'shredding', which is just calisthenics and not music.

[SKINmodHEAD]

@korgri

"Live at Leeds" is not a good display of lead guitar work. AND - a lot of that 15 minute "solo" is chords, riffs, & licks...which is rhythm guitar.

By 1979, they were fucking terrible, & NO - I'm not gonna listen to any material by them after 1970..."Who's Next" is too much. They sucked by then.

[korgri]

@SKINmodHEAD You are one of many who has the misconception of what the terms 'lead' and 'rhythm'' means. A 'lead' instrument does not by default refer to single note picking, or soloing. A person can play chords in a 'lead' role. A person can play single notes in a rhythmic role. Gibson guitars probably aided in this misconception when they labeled the pickup switches 'Lead' for the bridge pickup and 'rhythm' for the neck pickup. Pete is playing 'lead' on Live at Leeds, the band follows.

[shayshaythewulfbaby]

i'm a guitarist and you play what? you must be more into joe satriani and Yngwie Monstein's earlier skin head mod stuff..........totally busted! you talk like a virgin who is tiring to describe making love.

up the swagger!....... up the ha-RAng!@# .......up real mods!

the fact that you have Screwdriver and Ray Charles up on your page makes you a very confused pup in my opinion...good sense and taste are free to those who can afford it and very very dear to those that can not.

[kurtizzyflush]

@SKINmodHEAD Is he a show off that shreds just to shred? No. Is he a great guitarist? Yes. You need to get over yourself and the fact that not everyone defines things the same way as you. He can crap better songs and melodies and words than 90% of people that call themselves guitar players. What have you composed? Nothing. Being able to reproduce someone else's riffs note for note does not make you a great gutiar player Melvin.

[fig8slomo]

@Kevinf1125 you are so right on about this one, everybody seems to forget the meaning of "ARTIST" when it comes to hearing a well constructed song...spankin stevie has nothing on PT...

[musicmann1967]

@Kevinf1125 I know what you mean, but I don't even think a lot of the songs are that easy. He has a lot more chords up his sleeve than the average rock guitarist, and his voicings are usually a little bit odd and idiosyncratic. I do know what you mean though... : )

[korgri]

@Kevinf1125 Listen to 'My Generation' from 'Live At Leeds'.. I really like EVH, but Eddy can't do that.

[sterl430]

@SKINmodHEAD ... you're leaving out some of the greats. also to put a label on a guy as being a lead or rhythm guitarists is close minded. Where's hendrix, mike mccready, dave mustaine or jerry cantrell just to name a few. These guys were great at both lead and rhythm.

[SKINmodHEAD]

@sterl430

How is labeling a guitarist as a lead or rhythm player close minded?! Are you fucking serious? John Lennon was a rhythm guitarist...George Harrison was a lead guitarist. That's not an opinion...that's how it was.

Hendrix is the best out of who you named, but he still sucks...and the dude from Megadeth is certainly not one of the greats, asshole. Neither is the guy from Alice in Chains...Christ.

[korgri]

@SKINmodHEAD A better example than the Beatles from your perspective is Kiss, who actually put in their promo stuff that Ace was the 'lead' player and Paul was the 'rhythm' player. Kiss's music being what it is, they are really one of the few bands that stuck literally to those roles in almost every song. Probably Metallica sticks to those roles pretty tight, too.

[kurtizzyflush]

@SKINmodHEAD Uh oh! Somebody didn't get enough attention from mum and dad so they need to come on youtube and mess their pants!

[joshuathemonkeyking]

After seeing that list I started rolling on the floor laughing, b/c the thought of most these guitarists to be considered bad is just ridiculous!

[korgri]

@joshuathemonkeyking the funny thing is he has some really excellent favorites on his channel... he may just be joking around with the 'lead guitarist' thing.

[LearnerChess]

@joshuathemonkeyking I wonder why he left out Jimmy Page?

[korgri]

@SKINmodHEAD TOP ONE IMBECILE WHO KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT MUSIC IS JUST A CHUCKLEHEADED KNOW-IT-ALL FAN WHO IS TOO DUMB TO EVEN KNOW THAT THERE ARE THINGS HE DOESN'T KNOW BUT STILL LOUTISHLY DISPLAYS HIS IGNORANCE (which is probably a good thing for the rest of us):

1. SKINmodHEAD

[theasdfpanda]

@SKINmodHEAD Obvious troll is obvious

[oodnac]

@SKINmodHEAD Now thats controversial!

[ischeissdreck]

@SKINmodHEAD agree except for fripp

[TheBeatlefloyd]

@SKINmodHEAD ummm..... lemme guess the last time you screwed yourself.......

2 seconds ago? with a toothbrush? because you must be a girl saying that list or gay

[thephan1113]

@SKINmodHEAD i dont understand... is this a joke? Neil Young isn't even a lead guitarist...

[kevinreedmusic]

@SKINmodHEAD BB King, Chuck Berry, and Carlos Santna...bad guitarists?...HAHAHAHAAHAHA

[cquerales]

I have been listening to most of these bootlegs for the past 28 years - it's nice to listen to them all together, I totally agree with the selection, Thanks for posting

Never had heard Slip Kid live before!!

[iansalus]

Sparks is the dog' s bollocks ...... Love u Pete!!!!

[joshuathemonkeyking]

wtf Angus Young is an amazing guitarist. If you don't think Angus is great then you really have lost all credibility w/ me. All lot of guitar players I know love Angus's playing. I never compared Maiden to Pete, I said they were inspired by them and THEY WERE- their guitarists do the windmill for God's sake.

[joshuathemonkeyking]

First off, it's not an open string. Second so what it's the best one-note solo ever- no one else can make a one-note solo sound so good, and it takes some balls to actually record a solo that's only one note when everyone else was playing fast. It did fit the song, and I can and will claim that Pete is an articulate guitarist.

[iansalus]

simple can be genius can't it mate? that's the fine line.

[rockandroll4life1]

Townshend is my GOD!!!

you know, hes the only GOD!!!

plus he merged the elements of rhythm and lead guitar playing style, he also invented feedback, er.. he converted flamenco/classical/jazz banjo guitar playing into electric guitar, which later sounded more like PUNK lol.

[rockandroll4life1]

...

[mrtamberineman123]

Pretty good solos but they arent mind blowing like Hendixes or Pages.

But i do think some of these solos are pretty wild and crazy and interesting.

[joshuathemonkeyking]

Well you say they're pretty good so that's good :)

You should watch part 3 and 5 though to listen to the solos better than the ones here. Don't watch 4 b/c I think that one's too weak and I'm gonna remake it sometime soon.

[mrtamberineman123]

Hay, do you know how to burn dvds onto windows movie maker.

If you do can you please talk me through on how to do it.

[jennincl]

Whatever. Go listen to Live at Leeds, and then shut your hole.

[joshuathemonkeyking]

Ok well then tell me what exactly is Pete doing wrong here in this vid?

[asmorgan88]

He's trying to play lead...

[joshuathemonkeyking]

What so just b/c he plays lead all of a sudden makes him bad?

He isn't trying....he IS playing lead and playing a very good one at that. Not a valid argument at all.

[asrmfc]

at 0.52 secs hes imprompting over MY GENERATION listen to johns bass line its definatly MY GENERATION towards the end

[sneekman]

What's that second song here? At 0:52 to be exact. Excellent song, I'd love to know what it i and where that happened too if possible. =]

[dogma264]

srry probably just some live improve srry

[sneekman]

Yeah but like. Improv during what song..?

[joshuathemonkeyking]

My Generation Philly 1973. It was mentioned during the credits. Full version also here on YouTube.

[luksmr88]

Wow! Excellent Townshend solos!

Long Live The Who!!

[Harry3G]

great vid tkx for posting

[SlipKid1717]

love how that second picture looks, his hands like a wing

[whotles]

Good selection, but a little too much post Keith Moon for my liking.