“Baba O’Riley was created on that one,” says Pete Townshend, pointing to keyboard – a wood-encased Lowrey Berkshire two-deck keyboard with an elaborate fan of foot pedals beneath to be precise – and immediately, the unforgettable opening riff to The Who’s 1971 classic seeps into my brain. “I bought that because it was used by Garth Hudson of The Band and I wanted to reproduce his sound.”
We’re in the newly-opened Townshend Studio in the University of West London in Ealing. The room is the brainchild of the 79-year-old alumnus, who has permanently loaned his synth collection to the university. The idea, he says, is to share and “demystify” the origin story of electronic music with UWL students, to let them use the vintage machines (they all work), make a noise, experiment and – crucially – have fun. “The idea of ‘play’ with some of these instruments is really important. Students can come in and they can play with them,” Townshend says. The studio will also be open to the public for tours.
