Yes, it seems to all have started with Pete and "My Generation". Although Dylan's (and Woody Guthrie's, and others) protest songs pre-date Townshend, those protest songwriters were angry about some particular issue. The Who were just plain angry.
God bless you, Pete.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Elvis Costello, who has written some of the angriest songs of all. "Tramp the Dirt Down", his song about Maggie Thatcher, comes immediately to mind.