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Simon Townshend

May 05, 2023

For the Australian journalist, see Simon Townsend.

Simon Townshend (/ˈtaʊnzənd/; born 10 October 1960) is a British guitarist, singer and songwriter.[1] He is the younger brother of the Who's guitarist Pete Townshend,[2][3] and is most associated with The Who and the various side projects of its original members. Simon Townshend has also performed with numerous other acts including Pearl Jam, Dave Grohl and Jeff Beck.[4]

Simon Townshend
Simon Townshend performing with The Who
Philadelphia, 26 October 2008
Background information
Born (1960-10-10) 10 October 1960 (age 62)
Chiswick, Greater London, England
OriginFinchley, Greater London, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instrument(s)
Years active1974–present
LabelsStir Music
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life

Townshend was born in Chiswick, London, the same area and town where older brother Pete Townshend was born. He grew up into a musical family. He was the youngest of three sons born to Cliff Townshend, a professional saxophonist in The Squadronaires, and his wife, Betty Townshend (née Dennis), who had an early career as a singer. By the time he was born, his father's career as a jazz musician was winding down, while Pete became successful as the primary songwriter of the rock band The Who in the mid-1960s.

In 1974 Townshend released his debut single, When I'm a Man, at the age of 13. Nine years later, in 1983, he released his first solo album, Sweet Sound, followed by Moving Target in 1985. In 1989, he also appeared on his brother Pete Townshend's fifth solo album, The Iron Man: The Musical by Pete Townshend, singing on the short song "Man Machines" and an alternative version of "Dig".

In 1994, he toured with The Who's lead vocalist Roger Daltrey on the Daltrey Sings Townshend tour.

Career

 
Townshend performing live with The Who at Manchester Arena in 2014

In 1996, after starting his own record label and production company, Stir Music, Simon Townshend released several other albums including studio and live performances. He joined The Who as a second guitarist for their Quadrophenia Tour in 1996 and 1997.[5] He later rejoined the band as a full touring member in 2002 and has played with them on each of their tours since. Simon Townshend also joined Casbah Club in 2004, which included Bruce Foxton (bass guitarist for The Jam) and Mark Brzezicki (drummer for Big Country) and Bruce Watson (guitarist for Big Country), where he functioned as lead guitarist, lead vocalist and songwriter.[6]

In 2006 Simon Townshend joined the European leg of The Who's tour, playing a support set with Casbah Club as well as performing with The Who (see The Who Tour 2006-2007). Simon Townshend played rhythm guitar, mandolin, and performed backing vocals.

He played a modified Fender Stratocaster with P-90 pick-ups. Simon Townshend also uses a signature guitar designed and developed by JJ Guitars in addition to their Retro Lux model.

His first credited collaboration with The Who involved participation as one of the supporting choralists for Ken Russell's film adaptation of Tommy which was released in 1975.

He also had contributed backing vocals to The Who's Endless Wire album in 2006.

On 11 August 2009 Simon joined Pearl Jam onstage at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London for a performance of "The Real Me" from The Who's Quadrophenia album.

In the fall of 2009, he embarked on a tour of the US with Roger Daltrey and the No Plan B band. The band continued touring in the spring of 2010, playing a number of dates in support of Eric Clapton. Further tours in 2011 and 2012 followed, with the band performing a complete version of Tommy.

In February 2012, he began his own tour of the UK, in support of his new album which has been credited as his most impactful solo recording to date "Looking Out Looking In", which London's Daily Express rated 5/5, calling it "utterly compelling" and naming Simon Townshend "a genuinely original talent."[4]

His live band for this contained Tony Lowe (guitar), Phil Spalding (bass), and Greg Pringle (drums), His live shows have been variously described as "supercharged" (New York Times), "irresistible" (Washington Post) and a "catharsis" (Los Angeles Times). Billboard labelled him "impressive" and Goldmine affirmed, "truly enjoyable listening." In short, as London's Gig Guide said, "you would be a fool to miss him."[4]

In the late summer and fall of 2012, he played with The Who on the Quadrophenia and More tour, which included a performance at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony. In July 2014 at Milton Keynes Bowl he again joined Pearl Jam on stage to perform his song “I'm the Answer.”

From 2014 to 2016, Townshend joined The Who on their 50th anniversary tour, The Who Hits 50!.[7] In 2018, he toured with Roger Daltrey, performing Tommy with local orchestras in the United States.

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

  • Simontownshendis (2002, Stir)
  • Scraps (2000)

Extended plays

  • Ages (2000, Stir)
  • Something New (2011, Stir)

Live albums

  • Bare Bodies Bare Assets (2000, Stir)
  • Animal Soup Live at the Astoria (2005, Stir)

Singles

  • "When I'm a Man" (1974, Warner Bros.)
  • "Janie" (1975, Warner Bros.)
  • "Turn It On" (1976, Warner Bros.)
  • "Ready for Action" (1980, WEA)
  • "Another Planet" (1980, WEA)
  • "I'm the Answer" (1983, Polydor)
  • "So Real" (1983, Polydor)
  • "Sweet Sound" [Promo] (1983, Polydor)
  • "Barriers" (1985, Polydor)
  • "Meet You" (1985, Polydor)
  • "Broken Heart" (1987, Dignity Records)
  • "Walking in Wonderland" (1988, Dignity)
  • "The Way It Is" [Promo] (1996, Rising)
  • "Bare Essence" (2013, Stir)

Personal life

Simon Townshend is married to Janie Townshend,[8] with whom he has three children. His song "Girl in New York" was written for her.

References

  1. ^ "Among Us - Simon Townshend | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. 9 September 1997. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  2. ^ "Home". The Who. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  3. ^ "HP Blogs - The HP Blog Hub - The HP Blog Hub". Communities.hp.com. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  4. ^ a b c "Joe's Pub at The Public". Joespub.com. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  5. ^ [1] 22 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Official Website for Music and News!". Casbah Club. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  7. ^ Knopper, Steve. "Simon Townshend has a brother 'Who' you might know". chicagotribune.com. The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Simon Townshend - Inside and Outside of Quadrophenia".

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Simon Townshend.
  • Official homepage
  • Simon Townshend's weblog
  • JJ Guitars page devoted to Simon Townshend

May 05, 2023
simon, townshend, australian, journalist, simon, townsend, this, biography, living, person, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, adding, reliable, sources, contentious, material, about, living, persons, that, unsourced, poorly, sourced, mu. For the Australian journalist see Simon Townsend This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately especially if potentially libelous or harmful Find sources Simon Townshend news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Simon Townshend ˈ t aʊ n z en d born 10 October 1960 is a British guitarist singer and songwriter 1 He is the younger brother of the Who s guitarist Pete Townshend 2 3 and is most associated with The Who and the various side projects of its original members Simon Townshend has also performed with numerous other acts including Pearl Jam Dave Grohl and Jeff Beck 4 Simon TownshendSimon Townshend performing with The Who Philadelphia 26 October 2008Background informationBorn 1960 10 10 10 October 1960 age 62 Chiswick Greater London EnglandOriginFinchley Greater London EnglandGenresRock new wave hard rock acousticOccupation s Musician songwriter record producerInstrument s Vocals guitar mandolinYears active1974 presentLabelsStir MusicWebsiteOfficial website Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Discography 3 1 Studio albums 3 2 Compilation albums 3 3 Extended plays 3 4 Live albums 3 5 Singles 4 Personal life 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditTownshend was born in Chiswick London the same area and town where older brother Pete Townshend was born He grew up into a musical family He was the youngest of three sons born to Cliff Townshend a professional saxophonist in The Squadronaires and his wife Betty Townshend nee Dennis who had an early career as a singer By the time he was born his father s career as a jazz musician was winding down while Pete became successful as the primary songwriter of the rock band The Who in the mid 1960s In 1974 Townshend released his debut single When I m a Man at the age of 13 Nine years later in 1983 he released his first solo album Sweet Sound followed by Moving Target in 1985 In 1989 he also appeared on his brother Pete Townshend s fifth solo album The Iron Man The Musical by Pete Townshend singing on the short song Man Machines and an alternative version of Dig In 1994 he toured with The Who s lead vocalist Roger Daltrey on the Daltrey Sings Townshend tour Career Edit Townshend performing live with The Who at Manchester Arena in 2014 In 1996 after starting his own record label and production company Stir Music Simon Townshend released several other albums including studio and live performances He joined The Who as a second guitarist for their Quadrophenia Tour in 1996 and 1997 5 He later rejoined the band as a full touring member in 2002 and has played with them on each of their tours since Simon Townshend also joined Casbah Club in 2004 which included Bruce Foxton bass guitarist for The Jam and Mark Brzezicki drummer for Big Country and Bruce Watson guitarist for Big Country where he functioned as lead guitarist lead vocalist and songwriter 6 In 2006 Simon Townshend joined the European leg of The Who s tour playing a support set with Casbah Club as well as performing with The Who see The Who Tour 2006 2007 Simon Townshend played rhythm guitar mandolin and performed backing vocals He played a modified Fender Stratocaster with P 90 pick ups Simon Townshend also uses a signature guitar designed and developed by JJ Guitars in addition to their Retro Lux model His first credited collaboration with The Who involved participation as one of the supporting choralists for Ken Russell s film adaptation of Tommy which was released in 1975 He also had contributed backing vocals to The Who s Endless Wire album in 2006 On 11 August 2009 Simon joined Pearl Jam onstage at the Shepherd s Bush Empire in London for a performance of The Real Me from The Who s Quadrophenia album In the fall of 2009 he embarked on a tour of the US with Roger Daltrey and the No Plan B band The band continued touring in the spring of 2010 playing a number of dates in support of Eric Clapton Further tours in 2011 and 2012 followed with the band performing a complete version of Tommy In February 2012 he began his own tour of the UK in support of his new album which has been credited as his most impactful solo recording to date Looking Out Looking In which London s Daily Express rated 5 5 calling it utterly compelling and naming Simon Townshend a genuinely original talent 4 His live band for this contained Tony Lowe guitar Phil Spalding bass and Greg Pringle drums His live shows have been variously described as supercharged New York Times irresistible Washington Post and a catharsis Los Angeles Times Billboard labelled him impressive and Goldmine affirmed truly enjoyable listening In short as London s Gig Guide said you would be a fool to miss him 4 In the late summer and fall of 2012 he played with The Who on the Quadrophenia and More tour which included a performance at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony In July 2014 at Milton Keynes Bowl he again joined Pearl Jam on stage to perform his song I m the Answer From 2014 to 2016 Townshend joined The Who on their 50th anniversary tour The Who Hits 50 7 In 2018 he toured with Roger Daltrey performing Tommy with local orchestras in the United States Discography EditStudio albums Edit Sweet Sound 1983 Polydor Moving Target 1985 Polydor Among Us 1996 Rising Records Animal Soup 1999 Stir Venustraphobia as Casbah Club 2006 Stir Looking Out Looking In 2012 Eagle Rock Entertainment Denial 2014 Stir Compilation albums Edit Simontownshendis 2002 Stir Scraps 2000 Extended plays Edit Ages 2000 Stir Something New 2011 Stir Live albums Edit Bare Bodies Bare Assets 2000 Stir Animal Soup Live at the Astoria 2005 Stir Singles Edit When I m a Man 1974 Warner Bros Janie 1975 Warner Bros Turn It On 1976 Warner Bros Ready for Action 1980 WEA Another Planet 1980 WEA I m the Answer 1983 Polydor So Real 1983 Polydor Sweet Sound Promo 1983 Polydor Barriers 1985 Polydor Meet You 1985 Polydor Broken Heart 1987 Dignity Records Walking in Wonderland 1988 Dignity The Way It Is Promo 1996 Rising Bare Essence 2013 Stir Personal life EditSimon Townshend is married to Janie Townshend 8 with whom he has three children His song Girl in New York was written for her References Edit Among Us Simon Townshend Songs Reviews Credits Awards AllMusic 9 September 1997 Retrieved 24 July 2014 Home The Who Retrieved 24 July 2014 HP Blogs The HP Blog Hub The HP Blog Hub Communities hp com Retrieved 24 July 2014 a b c Joe s Pub at The Public Joespub com 9 October 2013 Retrieved 24 July 2014 1 Archived 22 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine Official Website for Music and News Casbah Club Retrieved 24 July 2014 Knopper Steve Simon Townshend has a brother Who you might know chicagotribune com The Chicago Tribune Retrieved 26 February 2020 Simon Townshend Inside and Outside of Quadrophenia External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Simon Townshend Official homepage Simon Townshend s weblog JJ Guitars page devoted to Simon Townshend Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Simon Townshend amp oldid 1096470056, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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