First published 2012
Pete Townshend opens his life without reservation in this candid autobiography. The Who's guitarist and primary songwriter chronicles how the band emerged from London's Mod scene in the 1960s to become the voice of adolescent rebellion through loud, anarchic rock music. Townshend examines his dual existence as both public performer and private artist, wrestling with fame's demands while pursuing his creative vision. He details the band's formation, their rise to prominence, and the personal costs of life in the spotlight. The book reads like an extended therapy session, with Townshend confronting his demons and contradictions with brutal honesty. Through decades of musical history, he returns repeatedly to the central question that has driven his art: Who are you? This memoir serves as both personal reckoning and historical document of rock music's most significant era.
Genres: 20th-century, autobiography, biography-memoir, music
Vibes: candid, emotional, intimate
Tropes: personal-reckoning, public-performer-private-artist
Setting: London
Period: 1960s
538 pages · Hardcover · Harper