New releases, music videos and album news — indie, rap, rock and pop. Always covering Ren, Chris Webby, Sam Tompkins, bbno$, CHINCHILLA, Muse, Yungblud and more.
The Who’s Pete Townshend “never really got into Led Zeppelin,” says he felt they were “trying to pinch our audience”
Pete Townshend says he never really warmed to Led Zeppelin because he felt the band were competing for The Who’s audience. Looking back, however, he has recently listened to their albums again and found “some great stuff”, and has contacted guitarist Jimmy Page about meeting for lunch.
Asked whether The Who were the first heavy metal band, Townshend disagreed, saying their 1970 live album *Live At Leeds* was probably their most explosive work, but heavy music was only part of their sound. He said AC/DC were the only heavy metal band he listened to much, and that he did not get into Black Sabbath either. The Who played their final live shows in 2025, though Townshend has suggested the band may still do something together.
In short
- Townshend felt Led Zeppelin were competing for The Who’s audience.
- He has recently revisited Zeppelin’s albums and praised their music.
- He disputes that The Who were the first heavy metal band.
Explained simply
The Who and Led Zeppelin were British rock bands that rose to prominence in the late 1960s. The Who, with Pete Townshend as guitarist and songwriter, became known for loud performances and songs that ranged from pop to forceful rock; Led Zeppelin, featuring guitarist Jimmy Page, built a sound centred on heavy guitar, blues and extended songs.
Bands of the period competed for listeners as rock audiences grew, and fans often grouped loud, guitar-led music under labels such as “heavy metal”. The term was used in different ways, and musicians did not always agree on which bands belonged in that category.
Townshend’s comments reflect both the rivalry he felt at the time and his later reassessment of Led Zeppelin’s music. The two groups’ histories matter to discussions of how hard rock developed and how musicians shaped its labels.