August 17, 2007 23:34

The Who's Pete Townshend guests with Martha Wainwright in London

The guitarist makes surprise appearance at singer's gig

The Who’s Pete Townshend surprised a packed Shepherds Bush Empire tonight (August 17), taking the stage at Martha Wainwright’s headline gig in London.

Making the unexpected appearance, Martha Wainwright simply introduced the guitarist to rapturous applause, before Townshend quietly graced the stage with his collaborator and partner Rachel Fuller.

Speaking to the audience, she announced “I would like to invite two very special guests to the stage now. Rachel Fuller and Pete Townshend.”

Townshend proceeded to play four tracks with Wainwright and her band, including hits from her self –titled album ’This Life’ and ’Factory’.

The guitarist then sat down on stage to accompany his partner Rachel Fuller on keyboards for track ’It’s A Motherfucker’, before he joined Wainwright in an electrifying encore rendition of ’Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole’.

The collaboration marked a confident return to London for Martha Wainwright, who treated fans to a plethora of new songs, in addition to fan favourites such as ’Far Away’, ’Ball And Chain’ and ’Dis, Quand Reviendras-tu?’.

Wainwright later confirmed to the packed auditorium, she is to marry in a few weeks time.