Documentary on Pete Townshend screens at Hamptons and Mill Valley festivals

Deadline reported that the documentary film Pete Townshend: Behind Blue Eyes is screening at both the Hamptons and Mill Valley film festivals. Directed by Frank Marshall and Nigel Sinclair, the feature explores the work and musical leadership of Pete Townshend, the primary creative force behind the English rock band The Who. Deadline noted that The Who were at the forefront of the mid-1960s British invasion alongside The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. [1]

The Who were established in London in 1964 and became one of the most influential rock groups of the twentieth century. Between 1964 and 1978, the classic lineup comprised singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. The band contributed to major developments in rock music, including the creation of the Marshall stack, large public address systems, early synthesisers, and the rock opera format. [2]

The title of the documentary refers to the song Behind Blue Eyes, which Townshend originally wrote for his Lifehouse project. The track was recorded at Olympic Studios in London between May and June 1971, with The Who producing the recording alongside associate producer Glyn Johns. Released as the second single from the band's fifth studio album, Who's Next, the song entered the United States Billboard Hot 100 chart on 6 November 1971 and reached number 34. [3][5]

In the United States, the single featured John Entwistle's track My Wife on its B-side. Although the song was not released as a single in the United Kingdom, it became a regular concert performance for The Who. The song was later covered by numerous artists, including the American band Limp Bizkit in 2003. [3][5]