Excellent!!

Doesnot belong on this list

Pete wasn't the best in his field, but he rates higher then some people have called it. Also, rate the people on the list by how well they grind an axe, not what they do in their spare time. :P

Child pornographer. Proven in a court of law.

The best just barely ahead of page, tipton, and vaughan

Similar to Keith Richards. Simple and basic.

a distasteful guitarist with a distasteful character

A rhythm guitarist

His song writing is unsurpassed, his rhythem playing alive and startling, and for those of you that would suggest Pete was less than a great lead guitar player, I would invite you to pick up a copy of 'Live at Leeds' and see if you gain different perspective. It was not called "heavy metal" when Pete invented it, but it's as heavy here as any that has been put out hence. The Who played loud, hard, and relentlously, and Pete was actually the least accomplished of it's three musicians. John Entwistle played a thundering 'lead' bass and there was simply never a drummer before or since (other than maybe Terry Bozzio during his Zappa years) that could match the fire of Kieth Moon. Pete's words powered by Roger Daltry's voice rounded out the picture. But make no mistake about it, that big nosed guy could play. Nobody ever blew The Who off of the stage. Not Hendrix. Not anybody...and it take a helluva guitar player to make tht statement true.

The best live guitarist - and what I mean by that is - he was the only guitar player in a band (The Who) that's regarded as the best live band ever. He was one of a kind as far as jumping, sliding, windmilling, smashing and entertaining.

slash rules

A legend! I would give him five points for his songwriting, but because it is about playing the guitar its only four points...

PETE TOWNSHEND IS THE GREATEST GUITARIST IN MY EYES AND EARS,HE'S STILL GOING STRONG AT 60 YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!!! I PICK UP MY GUITAR AND PLAY,JUST LIKE YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!! GLITTERGIRL519

My favorite guitar performances by Pete Townshend would be on songs like My Baby Gives it Away and 5:15 and Drowned (acoustic) and anything live like the whole album Live at Leeds.

PETE ROCKS

Are you Kidding me? Don't get me wrong Pete has written some great R&R songs but best guitar player? I don't think so.

Sign the petition to induct Pete Townshend into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist at: http://www.petitiononline.com/garjen

He was the only guitarist in the band that's regarded as the greatest live rock and roll band of all time.