06 · 02 · 2025
Pete Townshend of The Who is set to launch an 8-CD solo box set later this year.
The Who continue to make an impact, with the iconic British rock band scheduled to perform twice during this year's Teenage Cancer Trust events at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Guitarist and primary songwriter Pete Townshend previously released a live box set in 2024 and is now presenting an elaborate new collection of his solo work.
The box set includes 'Who Came First'—a collection of private pressings and 'Lifehouse' demos—his collaboration with Ronnie Lane titled 'Rough Mix', and ambitious solo projects such as 'White City (A Novel)', 'The Iron Man: The Musical by Pete Townshend', and 'Psychoderelict'.
'Townshend The Studio Albums' compiles these works in one collection, with Townshend stating: “I find it impossible to separate the two careers. When you’re holding a pen, you can only write one letter at a time."
The box set has been newly remastered by Jon Astley and will be presented in deluxe packaging, featuring new artwork by long-time collaborator Richard Evans, liner notes from band archivist Matt Kent, an exclusive new foreword by Pete Townshend, and rare photographs and memorabilia in a 28-page booklet.
Spanning 25 years of creative output, this box set brings Pete Townshend’s solo works into the spotlight. He remarks, “I have always written first for myself. Not as an artist but for play, for fun, for joy, for self-expression. For therapy? In a way, of course. These solo songs are not exclusions or out-takes from The Who; they are part of a narrative that might have unfolded very differently had I not made some poor choices in the early ’80s. I have stories to share about every song, and one day I may write a book to detail that journey, but I find greater joy in creating new music today rather than explaining how the older pieces came to be."
The box set can be ordered online.
Related: Pete Townshend Discusses Lifehouse, The Who, and Modern Technology
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Pete Townshend of The Who will launch an 8-CD solo box set later this year. The Who continue to be a powerful presence, with the British rock icons scheduled to perform.