The Who’s Pete Townshend has weighed in on AC/DC’s legacy and evolution. He offered sharp remarks about the band in a recently resurfaced interview.
Townshend spoke about what he believes has prevented Angus Young and AC/DC from evolving over the years. He pointed to the band’s relentless touring schedule as a key factor.
“I think a lot of great musicians become frozen in time because of their obsession with the road,” Townshend said. “I mean, look at AC/DC.”
While acknowledging Angus Young’s undeniable talent, Townshend did not hold back his criticism of the band’s lack of artistic progression.
“They’ve never stopped touring and Angus is still wearing those stupid shorts,” he continued. “He still plays brilliantly—and he’s one of my favorite guitar players—but the band is definitely stuck in a rut.”
Townshend’s criticism of AC/DC is not limited to a single interview. His remarks form part of a broader and consistent view he has held about the band’s artistic choices over the decades.
The interview in which Townshend made these remarks was originally published in 2000. Its resurfacing has brought renewed attention to his stance on the relationship between touring and creative stagnation.
Townshend has also taken aim at AC/DC’s recorded output in separate remarks. He stated plainly that “AC/DC made 50 albums, but all their albums were the same.” He drew a sharp contrast with The Who’s approach to music-making, describing them as an “ideas band” that prioritized creative development and conceptual ambition over the repetition of a proven formula.
For Townshend, the difference between the two bands is not a matter of talent but of artistic philosophy. His issue is not with Angus Young’s ability as a guitarist — he regards Young as one of his favorite players. His remarks read less as a personal attack and more as a commentary on what he sees as the limiting effect of a road-first mentality on even the most gifted musicians.
