The Who’s Pete Townshend Always Had a Crush on This Legendary Rock Frontman

When you’re one of the greatest rock and rollers of all time, you’re less likely to be coy about your true feelings—as proven by The Who’s Pete Townshend’s multiple, unapologetically graphic comments about his long-time crush on a legendary frontman, fellow rockstar, and friend.

After all, when you’ve lived through the free-wheeling debauchery of the 1960s and 70s like Townshend has, what’s the point in being shy about how you feel now?

The Who’s Pete Townshend’s Crush On This Rock Frontman

The Who guitarist Pete Townshend has never been one to shy away from his open sexual orientation. At different times in his life, Townshend has identified himself as bisexual and pansexual, the latter being an orientation in which one feels sexually or romantically attracted to people regardless of sex or gender.

He described his orientation less clinically to Rock Cellar Magazine in 2021. Speaking of his band’s 1965 track “I’m a Boy,” Townshend said the track explored “the idea of masculinity and the way that men are seen to be a time when I often forget, to be homosexual, to be pansexual, as I think I probably was, but not anymore. I think I was ready to fall into bed with anybody that would have me.”

“I think I forget that homosexuality was still illegal in the U.K., so [I had to couch] these adventures in vignettes of humor and irony,” he continued. But decades and a newfound societal outlook on sexuality later, Townshend is far less subtle. Speaking to Record Collector Magazine, Townshend admitted, “I was very sexually attracted to [Mick] Jagger” (via NME). He offered up his feelings in even plainer English in his autobiography Who I Am, writing, “Mick is the only man I’ve ever seriously wanted to f***.”

The Guitarist Certainly Didn’t Mince Words About His Crush

Pete Townshend spoke candidly to Record Collector, saying he had “a couple of homosexual affairs. I tried them out, and I very much enjoyed them. I’ve made a couple of really close friends that I’m still friendly with today. But it wasn’t what worked for me, sexually speaking, and didn’t fit into my life somehow.

While these affairs might not have “fit” into Townshend’s life, that certainly hasn’t stopped the guitarist from going into graphic detail about his feelings toward other men, including Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. In fact, when Stones guitarist Keith Richards commented on the diminutive size of Jagger’s, er, assets, Townshend gleefully jumped to the singer’s defense.

During a 2012 press conference promoting The Who’s 36-date North American tour, Townshend said, “What I remember of the size of Mick Jagger’s penis—I remember it as being huge and extremely tasty. I don’t remember anything about Roger [Daltrey, The Who’s lead singer],” Townshend continued with Daltry laughing beside him. “And I wouldn’t dare to mention it. Let’s hope that makes the internet” (via Rolling Stone).

…Well, wish granted, Pete.