Pete Townshend discusses The Who and Led Zeppelin

Pete Townshend, guitarist for The Who, recently shared reflections on the band's musical legacy and his changing perspective on Led Zeppelin. In an interview with Classic Album Review, Townshend addressed whether The Who helped pioneer heavy metal. While singer Roger Daltrey has previously suggested the band was the first heavy metal group, Townshend stated, “No, I don’t necessarily think so,” noting that their 1970 album, Live At Leeds, was perhaps as explosive as they became. He added that the only heavy metal act he truly listened to was AC/DC.

Townshend also discussed his historical indifference toward Led Zeppelin, explaining that he previously disliked the group because he felt they were attempting to “pinch” The Who's audience. He compared this experience to the arrival of Jimi Hendrix. However, Townshend noted a shift in his views, stating that he has recently been listening to Led Zeppelin's albums again and finding “some fucking great stuff there.” He revealed that he recently sent a note to guitarist Jimmy Page to express this newfound appreciation and has attempted to arrange a lunch with him.