Happy Birthday Pete Townshend: Deep End Live With David Gilmour In 1985

Acclaimed musician Pete Townshend celebrates his 71st birthday today. Born in London, England in 1945, the founding member of the legendary band The Who was a pioneering force in the development of the use of the electric guitar in rock music. His early incorporation of feedback, windmilling strumming style and penchant for destroying his instruments, along with his popularization of the rock opera made Townshend a true icon of his generation.

For Pete’s 71st birthday today, here’s a look back a concert that took place 30 years ago on November 2, 1985 at Brixton Academy in his hometown of London. Townshend was fronting Deep End – a supergroup featuring Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour – who recorded an album and appeared in concert just twice.

Formed during a mid-1980s hiatus for The Who, rounding out Deep End included John “Rabbit” Bundrick on keyboards, Chucho Merchan on bass, Simon Phillips on drums, Peter Hope-Evans on harmonica, Jody Linscott on percussion, Gina Foster, Coral Gordon, Billy Nicholls, Ian Ellis and Chris Staines on backing vocals and The Kick Horns featuring Simon Clarke, Tim Saunders, Peter Thoms, Roddy Lorimer and Dave Plews.

The show featured below includes performances of The Who classics such as “Behind Blue Eyes,” “Magic Bus,” “Pinball Wizard” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” Gilmour handles lead vocals on his solo single “Love On The Air” which was written with Townshend and the Floyd guitarist’s searing solo highlights a take on “I Put A Spell On You.” The video also showcases renditions of the blues standard “Eyesight To The Blind,” English Beat’s “Save It For Later” and several other well-known songs (don’t miss Pete’s dancing during “Face The Face”). Watch the Deep End in action here:

Setlist & Timings

• Won’t Get Fooled Again – 0:00
• A Little Is Enough – 5:47
• Secondhand Love – 11:05
• Behind Blue Eyes – 16:00
• Barefooting (Parker) – 19:44
• After the Fire – 23:59
• Love on the Air – 29:00
• I Put A Spell On You (Hawkins) – 34:46
• I’m One – 38:56
• Magic Bus – 41:34
• Save It For Later – 46:04 (The English Beat / Dave Wakeling)
• Eyesight to the Blind (Sonny Boy Williamson) – 51:06
• Walking (Miles Davis) – 54:32
• Stop Hurting People – 59:49
• The Sea Refuses No River – 1:05:25
• Face the Face – 1:11:10
• Pinball Wizard – 1:16:54
• Give Blood – 1:20:8