Brian May, the legendary guitarist of Queen, recently took to Instagram to express his deep admiration for Pete Townshend, co-founder of The Who. In a heartfelt post on May 20, May, 76, praised Townshend, 79, for his monumental contributions to rock music and guitar playing.
Upon seeing a past comment where he described Townshend as “a god of guitar,” May felt compelled to elaborate further. “I’m glad I said this — I probably don’t say it enough,” he wrote, sharing a photo of himself with Townshend. “I can’t imagine Rock Guitar without Pete Townshend. Looking back, it seems to me he basically invented it! I was lucky enough to be there watching. My playing owes so much to him.”
May’s admiration for Townshend’s innovative style was clear as he detailed the guitarist’s influence. “Townshend brought to the scene a blistering clang of super-amplified but not over-saturated chords — razor-edged monoliths crashing angrily through our brains, biting rhythmic hammer blows which would change the likes of me forever,” he explained.
Directing his followers to some of The Who’s iconic tracks, May highlighted “My Generation,” praising Keith Moon’s drumming, John Entwistle’s bass playing, and Roger Daltrey’s vocals. He also recommended listening to “I’m a Boy,” “Substitute,” “Can’t Explain,” and “Summertime Blues,” noting how these tracks “transformed Rock and Roll into ROCK!”
“Good Morning folks!! You have your assignment for the day,” May concluded, urging fans to appreciate Townshend’s musicianship.
In related news, Townshend recently clarified on the Sound Up! podcast that The Who will not be embarking on a farewell tour, despite previous comments suggesting otherwise. “I’m not doing a farewell tour. I think I was being sarcastic about it,” he said.
May’s tribute serves as a powerful reminder of Townshend’s lasting impact on rock music and his influence on generations of musicians.
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