The influence of Pete Townsend on the Edge's (U2) guitar playing style.

[Buried Alien]

A few years ago, Conn Seanery (former Music Forum Moderator) and I had a discussion about the influence of Pete Townsend's (the Who) guitar-playing on the Edge (U2). I was of the opinion that the chordal riff that Townsend played on acoustic guitar at the beginning of the Who's "Pinball Wizard" was the foundation for the Edge's (and by extension, U2's) entire guitar sound. Conn didn't agree. What do you think?

Some observations:

1. Both Pete Townsend and the Edge are the only regular guitarists for their respective bands. Neither is known for playing linear solos, but play driving chordal riffs that serve as both rhythm and "lead" parts.

2. Moreso than most guitarists, who usually stick with one or two trademark guitars, Townsend and the Edge are known to favor a wide variety of guitars...making it difficult to associate any particular make or model of guitar with either of them.


Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[howyadoin]

They both do a lot of things with effects, but I don't see much similarity beyond that.

[Grant]

I think there is a influence. But honestly I think the Edge is trying to channel Brian Eno's more tonal keyboard work in his guitar playing. He's definately owes a lot more to Richard Lloyd and Tom Verlaine from the band Television.

[Adam Crocker]

They both do a lot of things with effects, but I don't see much similarity beyond that.

I dunno about that though. Most of the effects I have heard Townshend use are back from the 60s from overloading his amp. He didn't do nearly as much of that once the Who moved to arena rock where his guitar playing became more straight-forward.

That said I would agree that Townshend's an influence on the Edge. The Edge's playing consists of chordal riffs and certainly reflects Townshend's influence on U2's more hardrocking moments where his playing can take on a wind tunnel quality that is reminiscent of Townshend's playing style.

But foundation for his entire playing style? I have trouble wrapping my head around that one. The Who maybe an influence but following Grant's lead, even a cursory listen to U2 would make it pretty clear that the Edge's processed guitar sound owes a huge debt to the synthesizer playing of Brian Eno (including his work on Bowie's Berlin albums) and even his post-punk disciples such as Joy Division. His guitar, like Eno's 70s solo work (be it his "pop" albums or his ambient ones) concern themselves heavily with atmosphere, tone, and texture, though approximating the sound of a synthesizer. (As a opposed to heavily distorted guitar as noise rockers exploring musical aspects.) I think that the atmospheric sounds of Eno and/or his late 70s early 80s post-punk followers serve as a greater foundation for the Edge's overall sound than Pete Townshend.

I heard about the Television influence, but I want to sit on that for a bit longer since I don't as readily see the connection. (Oddly enough I also heard that Irish blues guitarist was also an influence.)

[Grant]

I hear the Television influence more in his solos. But I maybe hearing it because I'm actively looking for it. So I could be wrong. I know The Edge name drops Television as an influence. The thing is The Edge doesn't wear his influences on his sleeve like someone like Peter Buck does (The Byrds, Lovin Spoonful, Neil Young). The Edge's guitar playing seems to derive from a lot of sources that it's fairly distinctive. You can usually recognize an Edge rift. Though I don't think he has really progressed his sound over the years either.