Pete Townshend of The Who is known for his candid opinions, particularly regarding his own band’s music. While he has softened with age, his younger self wasn’t afraid to express sharp critiques, not just about iconic bands like The Beatles or Led Zeppelin, but most often about The Who itself, despite being their principal songwriter.
Instead of basking in his success, Townshend has consistently scrutinized his work over the years. This self-reflection has kept him grounded and prevented his ego from inflating, which has undoubtedly contributed to his musical achievements.
However, Townshend has also made some controversial remarks, including regrettable comments about late band members Keith Moon and John Entwistle, as well as his tumultuous relationship with singer Roger Daltrey.
One of Townshend’s most surprising admissions is his strong dislike for ‘Pinball Wizard,’ one of The Who’s most famous songs.
It’s not unusual for artists to come to resent their biggest hits—Neil Young’s ‘Heart of Gold’ and Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ come to mind—but Townshend’s disdain for ‘Pinball Wizard’ is notable because he felt this way almost immediately after writing it.
He has referred to it as an “awful” song and expressed embarrassment about it sounding like a “Music Hall song” in the album’s liner notes.
Originally crafted for The Who’s rock opera Tommy in 1969, Townshend revealed that he wrote ‘Pinball Wizard’ in a bid to impress music critic Nik Cohn, who had previously given the band poor reviews. As a well-known pinball enthusiast, Cohn became the target of the track, and Townshend aimed to win him over.
Despite Townshend’s initial misgivings, ‘Pinball Wizard’ debuted live in 1969 and has since become a staple of The Who’s concerts. While the song fits seamlessly into the Tommy narrative—where the main character, who is deaf, dumb, and blind, can feel the vibrations of a pinball machine—its origin was quite contrived.
Townshend described the songwriting process as rushed, saying, “I knocked it off. I thought, ‘Oh, my God, this is awful, the most clumsy piece of writing I’ve ever done.’ I scribbled it out, and all the verses were the same length, and there was no kind of middle eight. It was going to be a complete dud.”
However, after playing the demo for the band, he was surprised when everyone loved it. Even the recording engineer, Damon Lyon-Shaw, proclaimed it a hit, leading Townshend to wonder if he had indeed written something special.
Although the song impressed Cohn and resonated with fans, Townshend’s feelings about it diverge sharply from those of Daltrey. The frontman praised the track’s production and its ability to emulate the sounds of a pinball machine, noting that producer Kit Lambert deserved more recognition for his work on it.
While ‘Pinball Wizard’ may not be a source of pride for Townshend, its significance in The Who’s catalog is undeniable. It’s a testament to the complex dynamics of creativity and the sometimes unexpected paths to success in music.
