Pete Townshend Biography Due in September

Look for the extensive biography, 'Who Are You: The Life of Pete Townshend' – dubbed "an exhaustive, critically acclaimed study of the life and career of the legendary guitarist and composer" – to hit shelves this September. The book, which will be published overseas through Omnibus Press, is the result of 10 years of work by author Mark Wilkerson.

Wilkerson spent a decade researching and writing the 600-plus-page book, which features exclusive interviews with Townshend and several others, including Pete's brother Simon. Wilkerson's book looks back on Townshend's West London upbringing, homes in on the excitement he gave to the Who in their early years and covers his life through today. Edited by 'Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere' co-author Andy Neill, it boasts a foreword by Who obsessive Eddie Vedder.

Wilkerson first published the book in its original incarnation through on-demand publisher Lulu in 2005. After getting the book into the hands of Townshend, as well as several critics who praised the tome, the rock legend agreed to participate. By summer 2007, a deal with Omnibus was secured. "The result of all this is a personal dream," Wilkerson says, admitting, "[It's] a rather strange methodology: Write the book, then do the interviews!"