24 Feb 2022

Simon Townshend to support Pearl Jam at BST Hyde Park

Simon Townshend is set to be one of the artists playing support at this summer’s BST Hyde Park concert in London on Friday 8 July. Headlining the two days of shows are Pearl Jam.

Simon has been a close friend of Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder for many years and Eddie is a regular guest on several Who shows.

Tickets goes on sale today, Thursday 24 February at 10.00am and are available HERE.

SIMON TOWNSHEND was born with music in his blood. The son of England’s top big-band reed man, Cliff Townshend, and younger brother of The Who legend Pete Townshend, Simon has been recording and performing since the age of nine, when he was recruited to add vocals to The Who classic Tommy.

Although the Townshend name is familiar, Simon’s music has its own original sound and his song writing, plunders great depths and returns with unique compelling narratives set against haunting melodies. Simon has a strong loyal fan base which includes a number of fellow musicians such as Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), who has followed Simon since his 1983 release ‘I’m The Answer’.

Simon, a multi-instrumentalist and singer, has released eight acclaimed solo albums and one with the band Casbah Club (featuring Bruce Foxton/The Jam & Mark Brzezicki/Big Country), all released on his own US label STIR MUSIC. In 2016, as STIR RECORDS UK, he released remastered with bonus tracks versions of LOOKING OUT LOOKING IN and DENIAL. Both of these albums, well received upon original release, contain some of Simon’s most personal and inspirational work to date.

In addition to his own music, Simon has been guitarist and vocalist in The Who since 1996, playing sold out tours around the world, including monumental performances at the 2010 Super Bowl and the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Summer Olympics. Referred to by one U.S. newspaper as The Who’s “secret weapon”, Simon was an integral part of the band’s 2012/2013 Quadrophenia and More tour, The Who Hits 50! dates (2014-17), the Moving On! tour (2019-2020) and he is about to embark on The Who Hits Back! tour in April 2022.

December 2019, The Who released their first album in 19 years, called WHO. Simon’s composition, ‘Break The News’, sung beautifully by Roger Daltrey, was included on the album. Well received by fans and critics, and praised by Roger and Pete, it served as the fourth single from WHO.

In 2004 Simon produced The Who’s ‘Real Good Looking Boy’ / ‘Old Red Wine’ studio recordings and lent his talents to their 2006 album Endless Wire. Diving further back, his vocals can be found on the 1975 Tommy soundtrack (‘Extra, Extra, Extra’). Simon has also performed with numerous other established acts ranging from Jeff Beck to Pearl Jam and Dave Grohl. He continues to work closely with Roger Daltrey and elder brother Pete on a variety of projects.