Pete Townshend - Pinball Wizard (Live Secret Policemans Ball 1979).avi

[@kaymuldoon3575]

I love Pete’s guitar playing. One of the best rhythm guitarists of all time, in my opinion.

[@velvetbees]

Hands down, the most melodic and clear and beautiful version of this song. Pete wrote it and he sang it. The universe feels in balance. Thank you for posting it.

[@iluvj50]

Best. Rhythm. Guitarist. Ever.

[@marsharupe8112]

Agreed. Saw The Who twice. Townshend is a guitar god.

[@cleawox]

If we find a guy better I'm gonna invite Pete over for the jam just in case he's not.

[@TheFleidermaus]

@@marsharupe8112 The king of the gods.

[@waynenorthspacebuoy3529]

Superbe & Brilliant ICON .... so much talent ... I can only hope that my song by Space Boy ... hang on ... someone's at the door ......

[@markv.5962]

Debateable

[@scottwaszak698]

That right hand...one of the best ever.

[@davidstafford846]

Agreed

[@tommy8058]

@Scott Waszak ...Never See it fall. 😉

[@markregan8907]

I too believe this is the best version of this song. Pete is amazing, simply amazing.

[@paulcolbourne5555]

The idiot who uploaded this cut of the intro.

[@mennobults6464]

The best there is, mate. Pure and simple.

[@paulcolbourne5555]

@@mennobults6464 the recording of the performance does not have that great guitar intro . The performance is flawless

[@mennobults6464]

@@paulcolbourne5555 You are absolutely right, but that doesn 't mean still love this recording. I have the albums of the Secret Policemen 's Ball and I am a fan of fun and music.

[@paulcolbourne5555]

@@mennobults6464 the recording is beautiful. The copy of the recording is missing the greatest intro to a rock song imaginable.

[@Hansenomics]

In the early days of MTV, back when they actually played music, we used to wait for these acoustic gems from the ball to come on and it was worth the wait to watch and listen to the genius of Pete.

[@TheFleidermaus]

Sheer genius.

[@spookedhorse]

Yes, I remember waiting and waiting for clips like this to come on MTV. That channel died, as far as I'm concerned. And took the greatness of music and shit on it, over time.

[@Tonyg86753]

This wasn’t on mtv in fact mtv didn’t exist till 1981

[@Hansenomics]

@@Tonyg86753 Wrong. It was on MTV.

[@Tonyg86753]

@@Hansenomics maybe it aired on imagery world mtv where Ronald Reagan was president in the 70s and bill Clinton was president in the 80s but in the real world like I said this aired on 1979 in the 70s mtv wasn’t made on till 8-1-81 in the 80s 2 entirely different decades so unless mtv invented time travel then mtv didn’t air this lol.

[@ronyanai4627]

The look he gives at the final "fancy" chord is priceless [02:34]

[@faizrafiq3419]

His control on the dynamics etc on top of the rhythm is fantastic

[@mikelundquist4596]

There should be a double album of Pete doing acoustic versions of all his songs.

[@petervad]

I had no idea Townshend could sing so beautifully. And great to hear his playing acoustically - I think you hear much better how good a player he is compared to when there is lots of distortion and reverb.

[@ledeyabaklykova]

For a treat: Listen to his acoustic version of ‘Save it for Later’ by The Beat.

[@msromike123]

Ok, get and listen to who Came First. It fits perfectly with your observation.

[@babel1967]

Only got to see solo Pete once. Tower Theatre, Philadelphia on his Psychoderelict tour. It remains in my to 10 concerts. Townshend rocked the building to it's core on that great night!!

[@edrock9192]

Yes. I saw him on the same tour, he was great.

[@willkomnath2560]

I was at one of those shows at the Tower and the energy was tremendous.

[@Suntzu366]

Boy I wish I could play like that.......

[@Kedbuka]

Absolutely mesmerizing performance. So great.

[@antonioHR23]

He may be an ass but he's sure a great rhythm player

[@johnheart6890]

Artistic perfection on every conceivable level... even the guitar flip at the end. This is one of the greatest acoustic performances of all time.

[@dbmail545]

The soundtrack of my adolescence

[@danwelch]

I remember being small and seeing this in the Secret Policemans Ball film for the first time. First real exposure to Monty Python-type humour, and also the first to the Who via this brilliant track. Love them both still, maybe 45 years later.

[@giorgikotetishvili8037]

Wait... did he mess up the lyrics? He repeated the same verse twice. I think he messed up. lol Love Pete.

[@Drontenpeel]

Brilliant, great guitarplayer! Singing is convincing, because he's got the passion and the guts to do it.

[@minihamlet]

his voice is very delicate--vulnerable--this performance helped him have the confidance to pursue his solo career

[@spookedhorse]

Pete plays rhythm better than most who play lead.

[@caryheuchert]

And he often plays both simultaneously.

[@msromike123]

Lead rhythm, that's what makes The Who.

[@luiscorro1924]

Pete Townshend told he was drunk when he played that day

[@richardfurlott4243]

Pete can play Pin Ball Wizard many ways ; as only the originator can do ! Greatest rock musician ever ( I'm stunned at his expertise and writing of Tommy !! Wow !!

[@jerrymuzak4534]

Fucking fabulous. The king.

[@ChrisBakerauthor]

This is the best version of this song. Of course, Pete wrote it as well. I like him better than Roger on vocals.

[@mennobults7011]

I just love the guy. One of the best ever.

[@davjamrid]

Greatest. Of. All. Time.

[@GravityBoy72]

His solo acoustic stuff is great. Fantastic technique. Roger Daltry wondered why he needed the Who. Incredible talent.

[@TheFleidermaus]

Incredible.

[@JVTrickypants]

When I was fairly new to learning to play guitar and I thought this might be an "easy" one that I loved and could give a shot.....HELLLLLL NO. I was lost at the thumb coming over the top and realized how not good I was lol.

[@drothberg3]

One of the greats on rock acoustic guitar. His right hand is incredible. And that’s on top of his songwriting.

[@glennorange]

My FAVORITE version of this song!!

[@merccadoosis8847]

usually, whenever I hear a song, I say 'the original is the best'. but not with this great song - this defo is the greatest version ever sung or recorded

[@chrisjaybecker]

Mine, too. His flamenco strumming on those sus4 chords makes the guitar riff just as huge as the normal power chords through a Marshall stack. This is the sign of a great song... if it sounds just as big when played on acoustic. Plus, Pete's vocals are so good you don't even miss Roger. This version of this song is what made me love Pete's solo records.

[@kurtlonde5892]

seine Kompositionen und sein Gitarrenspiel sind genial ....sein Gesang sollte er lieber Roger Daltrey überlassen ... schade auch dass man von der Gitarre so wenig hört...sie ist zu leise eingestellt ... ich weiss ja nicht wo das Video herkommt ...doch wäre ich Pete, hätte ich es nicht autorisiert

[@richardsquires6534]

Wow! enough said.

[@transbender5906]

That tall skinny nose man 🥚 sure plays some mean guitar 🤌

[@alvarochicco9573]

Tu grande chitarrista...Ma questa la canta meglio Roger Daltrey....

[@martinarreguy2984]

He is truly Amazing!

[@neilcrockett2097]

brilliant

[@Wuei108]

Ein tauber, stummer und blinder Junge, der ein Meister im Flippern ist. Er wurde schwer misshandelt und hat es dann doch gepackt. Mir geht es ähnlich.

[@tomcarl8021]

Only serious, hardcore Who fans know that , in fact, Arfur was the real pinball champ. She was from Montreal.

[@ctihodnymuz72]

Clear singing. Very good.

[@yellow6100]

WAIT ,is this accoustic guitar ,tuned in standard way? and he plays this on it so good?

[@PMLAZZA]

Yes !!

[@yellow6100]

@@PMLAZZA nice

[@hubbsllc]

Yes. No tricks other than the sus/major chords are played thumb-over.

[@horowizard]

What happened to the introduction?

[@mennobults6464]

What a hero.

[@iluvj50]

Such a supple wrist, indeed.

[@maxputman6857]

The original “Unplugged”

[@paulgeorgia8013]

That J200 is on display at the Rock Hall of Fame

[@roybeckerman7843]

Great writer, but it needs Roger Daltrey’s rock voice.

[@JohnFoxx108]

I disagree. His angelic voice soars and scales to match the lofty dramatic highs and shifts of the unexpected chord changes of this brilliant version.

[@katrinamarquez4096]

🥰

[@chad9017]

E A and D my ass.

[@chad9017]

1-2-34 mfrs

[@rogerramjet5302]

Quality.

[@TheSpaz16]

Tweaked bigtime....now him.

[@RobertoGonzalez-tn9ji]

GIGANTE !

[@AndreasServo]

Great Song!!!

[@alfredoalmazan7976]

DE LOS PILARES DEL ROCK: PETE.

[@krisscanlon4051]

MTV played the whole concert plus select clips on their Closet Classics also Vh1 played this clip as well plus the whole concert as well.

[@deserado11]

wow

[@rogerarmendariz2175]

Great!

[@muldycamp]

Love this version

[@ldrobarts]

Wow

[@hankhammer1689]

Excellent!

[@anthonyrichard8001]

thx !that first great drumer... keith...,mr. bass. aka...boris,pete,that git. playr.... roger.quite a singr... , zack,the drumer.... petes son,and alll. ....the horns , stage etc!!!!!! god am i takn....saw em b4. this lock... and no lock in my book....ever... such great hart... thank all of ya so so much!!!!!!