Angus Young is known for minimalism, raw energy and the singular mission of rock ’n’ roll: “Make people jump.” So when it comes to solos, flourishes and complex compositions, his judgments are sharp, uncompromising and laced with conviction.
In a recent comment that’s resonating across the rock world, Young took aim at Pete Townshend — the iconic guitarist behind The Who. “I look at it as a band. I think Pete Townshend is rotten without Roger Daltrey and The Who. He’s quite boring actually. To me it’s not the same,” Young said in his characteristic direct style — splitting fans and critics alike between admiration and discomfort.
Why such a stark opinion? Young argues that Townshend’s solo work strips away what made The Who great: the collective tension, the shared focus, the interplay between members that lifts a riff into legend. To Young, a guitar hero is nothing without the unit behind him. “I like it as a band, as a unit,” he said. “You should hear me on my own. It’s horrendous.”
Angus’s critique goes beyond individual taste — it’s emblematic of his rock creed. He’s seldom impressed by musicians who favour complexity, extended solos or self-indulgent production. For Young, the heart of rock lies in the visceral, simple connection between riff, rhythm and audience. He once derided prog-rock icons for being “boring” live, claiming they’d need light shows and gimmicks to distract from what he called static or self-absorbed performances.
If Townshend’s solo records are the context, Young’s verdict becomes clearer — he sees a guitar legend removed from his lifeblood: the band. And while Townshend’s name carries inflated reverence, Young believes the magic of The Who died when the unit became optional.
Yet this isn’t simply a call-out; it’s a philosophical stand. Angus Young’s refusal to re-label rock as elite artistry or technical wizardry keeps his identity untarnished. “Rock ’n’ roll was never meant to go that deep all the time,” he’s said. The job is simpler: make them move. Make them feel. Without losing them in solos or ego.
So when Young dismisses the notion of a solitary Townshend as “boring”, listeners are confronted with the raw question: what truly powers the legend — the man with the guitar or the band that answers him? For Young, the answer is decisive: no support, no magic.
