John Richard Keith “Fuzz” Townshend is an English drummer, television presenter, automotive journalist and mechanic.
He is best known as the host of the National Geographic Channel’s auto restoration show “Car SOS.”
Townshend also served as technical editor for Classic Practice magazine and was honorary president of the Triumph Sports Six Club.
In addition to his media and automotive work, Townshend also had a solo music career as a drummer and singer from 1996 to 2002.
He is considered an expert in classic car restoration and maintenance.
File
- Full name: John Richard Keith Townshend
- Stage name: Fuzz Townshend
- Date of birth: July 31, 1964
- Age: 60 years old
- Birthplace: Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom
- Nationality: English
- Occupation: British drummer, TV presenter, automotive journalist and mechanic
- Height: Unknown
- Parent: June Townshend
- Siblings: Paul Townshend and Simon Townshend.
- Spouse: Cressida Townshend (divorced), Karen Townshend (m. 2020)
- Children: Honor Doro Townshend, Oscar Townshend, Atticus Townshend and Pixie Townshend
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: 5 million USD
Early life and education
John Richard Keith Townshend was born on July 31, 1964 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom. He was born to his mother, June Townshend, while his father’s name is unknown.
When John was 10 years old, his mother won a Vauxhall Chevette in a national journalism competition and she used the prize money to buy him a drum set.
John has two brothers named Paul Townshend and Simon Townshend. Details about his formal education are unknown, but he has shown talent as a musician.
Throughout his career, he worked in a variety of fields, such as mechanics, truck driving, and even college teaching. Ethnically, John is white and Christian.
Career
Fuzz Townshend began his career with an apprenticeship with local bus company, West Midlands Passenger Transport Operations, working on buses at their Dudley garage. During this period he recorded his first two John Peel Sessions for BBC Radio 1 and released his first single, which entered the NME indie chart.
Townshend then joined former Beat singer Roger and his band General Public, touring the US with them. Local indie band Pop Will Eat Itself then noticed him playing drums with local artists and asked him to join. He also began playing drums for the dance band Bentley Rhythm Ace.
Townshend’s first solo release, “Hello Darlin,” was released in 1996. He eventually signed to Echo Records in 1997, and the record charted at No. 51 in the UK. This allowed him to make his first solo album, “Far In”, which was released in the UK in 1999 and in the US in 2001.
Townshend’s first journalism job was for Classic Practice magazine, where he became Technical Editor until March 2011. He then went freelance and started an auto restoration business new classic, Westgate Classics.
In 2014, Townshend founded Classic Friendly Ltd, a network of classic car friendly garages providing a safe inspection and servicing service for classic cars exempt from MoT inspections. In 2016, he left Westgate Classics to establish a new garage, To-Ta Classics Ltd., later changed to SOS Workshop Ltd.
A television production company invited Townshend to a screen test for a new show, “Car SOS,” and he was given the position. His businesses would be the show’s locations, and in 2018, “Car SOS” won the National Reality Television Award for “Most Inspirational Show.”
Townshend is also a keen supporter of ‘Classic Aware’, a campaign promoting the importance of properly inspecting one’s classic car, based on new legislation removing MOT requirements for those classic cars built before 1960. He is based in Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire, and has regular features in Classic Practice magazine and Classic Car Weekly.
Social Media
- Instagram handle: @fuzzt
- Twitter name: @fuzztownshend
Personal life
Fuzz Townshend, British drummer and television presenter, was married twice before his current marriage. His first marriage was to Cressida Townshend, but they divorced.
In 2021, Fuzz Townshend married Karen Townshend. Details of his previous marriage to Cressida Townshend are not made public as their divorce appears to be a private matter.
Fuzz Townshend has two children with his current wife, Karen Townshend: a son named Atticus and a daughter named Pixie. With his ex-wife Cressida, he has two more children: a daughter named Honor Doro Townshend and a son named Oscar Townshend.
Records/Movies
Albums
- Far In (1999), Fruit
- Fuzz Townshend (2002), Foul
Single
- “Hello Darlin’” (1998), Fidelity Lo – UK no. 51
- “Get Yourself” (1998), Echo
- Tasty Big Ed (1998), Echoes
- “Smashing” (1998), Echo
- “Dollar 97” (1999), Fidelity Lo – featuring Murphy
- “Bus” (1999), Fruition – collaboration with Noel
With Pop Will Eat Yourself
- Appearance or Lifestyle? (1992)
- Dos Dedos Mis Amigos (1994)
- A Lick of the Old Cassette Box – unreleased album (1996/2013)
Net worth
Fuzz Townshend is an English drummer and television presenter with an estimated net worth of $5 million. He is best known for his role on National Geographic Channel’s popular car restoration show, “Car SOS.”
In addition to his television career, Townshend also has a musical background, having played drums with bands such as General Public and Pop Will Eat Itself. He is also a talented automotive journalist and mechanic, contributing to various automotive publications.
