Brian May Hails Pete Townshend as the Inventor of Rock Guitar
Queen’s Brian May has publicly expressed his admiration for The Who’s Pete Townshend, crediting him with the creation of rock guitar. On Instagram, May posted a photo of himself with Townshend, recalling a past quote where he called Townshend ‘the master of mood change, a master of the suspended chord’ and a ‘god of guitar’.
Reflecting on the influence Townshend had on rock music and his own guitar playing, May wrote, “Looking back, it seems to me he basically invented it!” He praised Townshend’s unique style, which differed from the blues-influenced rock of the ’70s and ’80s, describing it as ‘a blistering clang of super-amplified but not over-saturated chords’.
Full volume
Brian May encouraged his fans to experience The Who’s impact by listening to their music at full volume, particularly highlighting the songs My Generation, I’m A Boy, Substitute, and Can’t Explain. He emphasized the power and depth of Townshend’s work and The Who’s role in paving the way for punk rock.
