Pete Townshend Livres

Featuring personal, never-before-published photographs, fan memorabilia and anecdotes, captions from Pete, newly discovered gems from The Who archive, an introduction by legendary Who manager Bill Curbishley and further contributions from friends, colleagues and family, this landmark illustrated book celebrates 50 years of anthemic, era-defining music and an extraordinary career.

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 Townshend's 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 man's 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 world's most respected musicians - being in one of rock's 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.

Noting that Pete Townshend has sold over 100 million records over a fifty-year period only partly quantifies his accomplishments. During his career, this legendary musician 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. In one of the most eagerly awaited autobiographies of recent times, singer, songwriter and lead guitarist of The Who tells his story for the first time. From the sex, drugs and smashing guitars, to the death of Keith Moon, the inspiration behind his acclaimed music, and wanting to give it all up, this is a frank and eloquently written story of ambition, relentless perfectionism and rock 'n' roll excess. One of the greatest rock stories yet to be told, Pete Townshend: Who I Am is destined to become a landmark music memoir.

The legendary lead guitarist and principal songwriter for the Who, one of the most influential rock-and-roll bands of all time, pens his own story.

Townshend explores life's razor-edged pathways in this bold, impressionistic work of autobiographical fiction, with intriguing experimental writing packed with vivid imagery (Library Journal) that strikingly mirrors the musical compositions Tommy and Quadrophenia. As he recalls his childhood, the decadent indulgences of success, and a new discovery of life itself, Townshend re-creates in fiction a powerful personal odyssey from the inside out.

The debut novel by Pete Townshend, one of the world's greatest rock stars

Pete Townshend, gitarzysta, autor tekstów i kompozytor, wydawca i redaktor, jeden z najbardziej błyskotliwych muzyków rockowych, w swojej bardzo osobistej książce relacjonuje początki wybitnego zespołu The Who, szczerze opowiada o karierze twórcy i wykonawcy, o swym niespokojnym życiu prywatnym i publicznym. W latach sześćdziesiątych XX w. znalazł się w czołówce rocka, i to nie tylko dlatego, że na estradzie niszczył gitary. Pisał i komponował utwory, które rzucały wyzwanie muzyce pop: jako pierwszy zaproponował zamiast zbioru trzyminutowych piosenek dłuższe, złożone formy muzyczne, takie jak albumy Tommy i Quadrophenia. Pokazał, że muzyka rockowa może być odrębną formą sztuki. W wieku 67 lat Townshend wydał opowieść o swoim życiu. Nie szczędzi w niej poruszających opisów trudnego dzieciństwa i jego późniejszych skutków. Kim jestem – kronika ambicji, kontrowersji, nieustannego perfekcjonizmu, rockandrollowych przygód i wewnętrznych rozterek, a także dochodzenia do równowagi – jest nie tylko klasyką literatury rockowej i źródłem wiedzy o najważniejszej epoce w dziejach muzyki popularnej, ale też świadectwem artysty naszych czasów. Najbardziej wyczekiwany pamiętnik muzyczny ostatnich dziesięcioleci Słynny gitarzysta i tekściarz THE WHO, legenda rocka o sobie i swojej epoce „Do głębi osobisty (…) szczery, samobiczujący (…) ton [Townshenda] jest mniej wzniosły, niżby można oczekiwać, książka zaś jest uczciwsza niż fani mogliby się spodziewać”. „Rolling Stone” „Jako kronikarz dziejów zespołu, który kształtował się w Londynie lat 60., w kręgu subkultury modsów, a potem stał się uosobieniem buntu dojrzewania i głośnego, anarchicznego rock and rolla, pan Townshend namalował autoportret surowy i bezlitosny (…) osobisty i bolesny jak odwyk”. Michiko Kakutani, „New York Times”