An antiques shop ran by the parents of Pete Townshend led to The Who‘s guitarist receiving his first instrument.
The veteran performer confirmed it was his father, a “good musician” who reserved the guitar for him. The instrument came through the antiques shop owned by his parents, and though Townshend would have to pay for the guitar, it would be his first musical purchase. Earlier in the interview with Playboy, the legendary musician confirmed it was not just his first guitar, but the first instrument he smashed in protest. His father had been a clarinet player, but suggested Townshend try his hand at guitar as he “couldn’t make a sound” on the reed instrument. Speaking to David Sheff, Townshend confirmed he was part of a musical household and that he was encouraged to pick up a guitar, with his grandmother insisting he learn an instrument.
Townshend explained: “She [Townshend’s grandmother] did, which I didn’t like at all. I wanted it to be my father. I thought, Why did they have her buy it? My father also played clarinet. When I was about eight, he let me try it, but I couldn’t make a sound.
“He suggested the guitar, which he had started on. My father was a good musician, and I expected him to buy me a fine instrument. My grandmother was–let me put it politely, because she is my beloved, beloved grandmother–clinically insane.
“Somehow she was elected to buy me my first guitar, and the one she chose was one of those you hand on the wall of an Italian restaurant. A cheap Italian restaurant. When I complained, my father said, ‘When you can get a tune out of this I’ll buy you a good one.'”
Townshend would go on to explain how he got his hands on the guitar, saving up money made through a paper round to do so. He continued: “My mother and father ran and antique shop between gigs, and one day quite a good guitar came in and they gave it to me. I had to pay for it with money I earned from my newspaper route. It was the one I smashed because of my grandmother.”
The guitar didn’t last long though as he found himself destroying the instrument soon afterwards. Townshend confirmed he was just thirteen when he smashed his first guitar, sharing: “I was thirteen. John Entwistle and I were rehearsing together in the front room of my house. My grandmother came in shouting, ‘Turn that bloody racket down!’ I said, ‘I’ll do better than that,’ and I got my guitar – this was a good guitar that I had paid for myself with money I earned from a paper route – and smashed it to smithereens.
“I said, ‘Now will you fucking get out of my life?’ and she stomped out. I looked at John and said, ‘What now?’ And he said, ‘Another paper route, I think.’ Once I had done it, it was always there as a possibility. If ever I wanted to deal with any kind of hidden rage, I could always take it out on the guitar. I could always trigger the same little bit of psychotherapy.”
