Who?
Pete Townshend. Though blessed and cursed to live in the age of the Great Guitar Gods (Page, Hendrix, Clapton, Beck), Pete Townshend never felt himself the searing lead guitarist that a late sixties rock band demanded. His technique and "upward" lead abilities simply could not compete.
So he created his own kind of music. Simple power chords, and tight, simple riffs allowed him to move on an amazing journey with the rest of The Who. Their songs progressed along "parallel lines" with guitar and rhythm, rather then simply using them a a backdrop for 9 minute guitar concertos. The result was a unified, playable sound that meshed with not only Townshend's rebellious everyman creativity, but with the imaginations of a generation.
His expressive ability pushed him to tailor his equipment, creating (as legend has it) the first stack amplifiers, a practice that is now commonplace.He pioneered the rock opera/concept album (Tommy), has held numerous writing and editing positions, and has been (most rebellious of all) an outspoken opponent of drug use and an involved philanthropist. He also was (again, legend) the FIRST ROCK MUSICIAN TO DESTROY HIS EQUIPMENT ONSTAGE. Oh, how the man could smash guitars.
He's an oddball, Pete Townshend. But there ain't no substitute.
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