Pete Townshend Divorce

One of modern music's more lasting unions has ended with the news that The Who's guitarist Pete Townshend is to get divorced.

An aspiring art student, Pete Townshend fell under the wing of Pete Meaden who introduced him to the Mod lifestyle. A regular at the Scene club, the guitarist went on to become the main songwriter in The Who.

Initially finding fame as pop-art inspired Mod icons, the band became stadium rockers as the 70s dawned. Producing classic albums such a 'Who's Next' Townshend found the courage to indulge his artistic ambitions resulting in not one but two rock operas - 'Tommy' and 'Quadrophenia'.

Pete Townshend married Karne Astley over forty years ago, and the pair were thought to have been one of the most solid partnerships in rock. However the couple split in 1994 after Townshend admitted to having an affair.

The couple have three grown up children, while Townshend has moved on and is now in a long term relationship with Rachel Fuller. An accomplished musician herself, Fuller works with Townshend on the acclaimed jam series 'In The Attic'.

A family court is set to issue a decree nisi to Karen this afternoon. Once granted, the decree will become absolute in six weeks, leaving the pair free to do as they wish.

Pete Townshend is resting after a mammoth tour with The Who. Now reduced to just Townshend and singer Roger Daltrey, the pair have spent the past two years travelling the world.

In a recent interview with Los Angeles Evening Times Daltrey claimed he was "in love" with his bandmate.

"Despite what people might say, we do actually like each other. I love the man. It doesn't matter what I say about him, or he says about me, something happens when we create music together."