17.03.07

~ Pete Townsend guests with Fratellis ~

Pete Townsend yesterday appeared with Scottish band, "The Fratellis", at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, US. Dressed in his usual black attire, and sporting his Red Stratocaster, and dark shades, he came on towards the end of their set, and performed with the band. Songs included the WHO classic "the Seeker", that finished the afternoon gig off nicely. Attendees rushed to the fore, as soon as it was apparent that the great guitar legend had appeared.

Townsend was also the key note speaker for the SXSW music conference 2007, at the Hilton, Austin, Texas. He also featured with girlfriend Rachel Fuller, earlier in the week, where the couple presented a special "Attic jam" concert at La Zona Rosa, featuring "REM" guitarist Peter Buck. Townsend also performed himself, with song "Drowned", taken from the WHO’s "Quadrophenia", and finished up with a solo of new album track, "In the Ether", from the new Who release album, "Endless wire".

The Fratellis have previously recorded at Townsend’s studio, and have also featured for his "Attic Jam", webcasts and album, (available at iTunes), along with "the Kooks", and "the Flaming Lips".

The "South by South West", (SXSW), festival is held in Austin, Texas, this month, March 9th to 18th. It features a host of events, including trade shows, film and interactive conferences, as well as live bands. Tipped as the biggest festival in the world, and boasting a diverse catalogue of musical genres, with fresh young bands eager to scoop the prize of a record deal. The event features podcasts of interviews, workshops, as well as live acts broadcast live on DIRECTV’s channel 101, from Austin’s new showcase club, the "Lone Star lounge" and "Bat bar".

Top acts include the mighty "Razorlight", local Texas rockers, "Polyphonic Spree", Rickie Lee Jones, and ex-punksters "the Buzzcocks", as well as "the Automatic", and also Lily Allen, (now she does get around?)

The WHO will be touring this year in the UK, including tour dates at the Wembley Arena, June 26th - They also have a new album entitled, "Endless wire", which was released at the end of October 2006. This is the band’s first studio release for nearly a quarter century - well done guys! You can check it out here ~ Endless Wire

Pete also has his own blog, which is worth a good look here at..
Pete Townsend - who is he?