Entertainment Music Rock Music Queen's Brian May Says The Who's Pete Townshend 'Basically Invented' Rock Guitar: 'My Playing Owes So Much to Him' May heaped praise on Townshend and said he's been "lucky enough to be there watching" The Who co-founder's journey to icon status By Jack Irvin Jack Irvin Jack Irvin has over five years of experience working in digital journalism, and he’s worked at PEOPLE since 2022. Jack started in the industry with internships at Rolling Stone and Entertainment Tonight, and he worked as a freelance writer for publications including Bustle, MTV News, Shondaland, L’Officiel USA, Ladygunn, Flood and PopCrush before joining PEOPLE. In his current role, Jack covers daily music news and has interviewed both up-and-coming and established artists including Dolly Parton, Michelle Branch, Ashanti, Cyndi Lauper, Normani, Carly Rae Jepsen and Coco Jones. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 21, 2024 03:40PM EDT Brian May in June 2023; Pete Townshend in November 2018. Photo: Dave Benett/Getty, Bobby Bank/Getty Brian May wants the world to know about his deep admiration for Pete Townshend. The Queen guitarist posted to Instagram on May 20 and heaped praise on The Who co-founder, claiming Townshend "basically invented" rock guitar and expressing gratitude for having witnessed his journey to icon status. May, 76, spoke at-length about his Townshend, 79, fandom after a Queen fan shared a past statement the "Fat Bottomed Girls" songwriter gave about his fellow rocker. "Pete Townshend's a god of guitar and always will be," read one of his previous comments. Jelly Roll Joins Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst Onstage for a Classic Rock Cover: 'Love This Fella' Brian May performing in London in June 2022. Alberto Pezzali - WPA Pool/Getty Upon seeing his earlier remarks, May decided to elaborate. "I'm glad I said this — I probably don't say it enough," he wrote alongside a photo of himself and Townshend. "I can't imagine Rock Guitar without Pete Townshend. Looking back, it seems to me he basically invented it ! I was lucky enough to be there watching. My playing owes so much to him," said May. "I'm not talking about the blues-influenced playing which also underpinned the evolution of 70s and 80s rock music," he elaborated. "Townshend brought to the scene a blistering clang of super-amplified but not over-saturated chords - razor-edged monoliths crashing angrily through our brains, biting rhythmic hammer blows which would change the likes of me forever." The Who's Pete Townshend Shuts Down Possibility of a Farewell Tour Pete Townshend in London in November 2019. Jo Hale/Getty May then suggested fans listen to The Who's "My Generation" and shouted out Keith Moon's drumming, John Entwistle's bass playing and Roger Daltry's vocals. "Completely Awesome," he said. The post concluded with May directing his followers to more songs by The Who that highlight Townshend's musicianship: "I'm a Boy," "Substitute," "Can't Explain" and "Summertime Blues" — which he claimed "transformed Rock and Rollin to ROCK !!!" "Good Morning folks !! You have your assignment for the day," wrote May. Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in February 2010. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories. Last month, Townshend shut down the possibility of The Who reuniting for a farewell tour on the Sound Up! podcast after claiming it was in the works in an interview with The New York Times. "I’m not doing a farewell tour. I think I was being sarcastic about it," he said. Close