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The Who's Bass Player John Entwistle Dead at 57
Thu Jun 27, 6:22 PM ET


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - John Entwistle, the bass player for veteran British rock band The Who, died in Las Vegas on Thursday at age 57, just one day before the group was set to begin a North American tour in the city, the Clark County Coroner said.

Entwistle, a bearded, taciturn type affectionately known as "Ox," died at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, said coroner Ron Flud. An investigation was under way into the cause of death, he added.

The Who, known for such hits as "My Generation," "Pinball Wizard" and "Won't Get Fooled Again," were scheduled to begin their three-month tour in a small club at the hotel.

With Entwistle's death, The Who are down to just two original members, singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist/songwriter Pete Townshend. Original drummer Keith Moon died of an accidental pill overdose in 1978.

In addition to playing bass, Entwistle helped out on backing vocals. His songwriting contributions to The Who were sporadic, mostly limited to a few album tracks and B-sides. He released a half-dozen solo albums.

Entwistle, who was born in the London suburb of Chiswick on Oct. 9, 1944, joined Daltrey in a forerunner of The Who in the early 1960s while working as a tax clerk. The band ultimately took shape in 1964 and made an immediate impression with its "Mod" stylings and its expensive habit of trashing all its stage equipment after each set.

http://story.news.yahoo.c...istle_dc_3

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So sad, he was one of the BEST bass players. He created a special bass playing technique that was just as innovative as Larry's slapping.

He played the strings with his fingers almost like he would a typewriter or piano.

I love The Who and will miss this true musician. Rest in peace Mr. John Entwhistle.






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FlyingCloudPassenger said:

By KEN RITTER
Associated Press Writer

LAS VEGAS -- John Entwistle, the bassist for the rock band The Who, was found dead Thursday in his hotel room of an apparent heart attack. He was 57.

Entwistle, a founding member of the band, stood out because he played without emotion, a stark contrast to the antics of lead guitarist Pete Townshend and lead singer Roger Daltrey.

The group was scheduled to play at the Hard Rock Hotel-Casino on Friday, the first date of a three-month, nationwide tour. The Vegas show was canceled but the rest of the tour was undecided, said Beckye Levin of promoter Clear Channel Entertainment.

"I was told he passed away in his sleep last night," Levin said, breaking into sobs during a telephone interview.

Who manager Robert Rosenberg said he was "saddened and shocked."

There was "nothing suspicious" about Entwistle's death, Clark County fire spokesman Bob Leinbach said.

The group, founded in London in the early 1960s, was part of the British rock invasion and the voice of a new breed. Their concerts were literally explosive -- a fusion of audacious acrobatics, martial precision and high octane rock 'n' roll that blew away audiences and left the stage and their instruments a smoldering wreck.

The group's albums included "My Generation," "Happy Jack," "The Who Sell Out," "On Tour: Magic Bus," "Live at Leeds," "Who's Next," "Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy," "Quadrophenia," "Odds and Sods," "The Who by Numbers," "Who Are You," "The Kids Are Alright," "Face Dances," and "It's Hard."

They also made the groundbreaking rock opera film, "Tommy," starring Ann-Margret, in 1975.

The group's wild exploits were legendary. During a concert at the Rikki Tik Club in England in May 1966, Townshend smacked Entwistle in the head with his guitar; a year later, drummer Keith Moon, at the close of the band's performance on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," detonated a flash bomb that destroyed his drum set, stunned guests and damaged Townshend's ears.


Moon -- the band's original drummer -- lived life on the edge, right up until his untimely death in 1978 in his London apartment at age 31 from an overdose.

The remaining members of the band retired in 1982 after a concert in Toronto, but they reunited and had toured frequently in recent years. They gave a rousing performance at last year's "Concert for New York," which raised funds for the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.

They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

(AP)
AP-CS-06-27-02 1913EDT

That's sad. Check out his bass solo from "My Generation" in the film "The Kids are Alright". My mouth flew open the first time I saw it, I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever heard. A few years ago in a bass magazine they asked prominent musicians what their favourite bass albums were and John Entwistle picked a couple of Larry Graham albums, can't remember which ones.

Just read this on billboard.com...

Man...and they were about to tour...

HUGE loss in the Music world today...

R.I.P.

Listenin to WHO'S NEXT right now...

"..no one knows what it like..."

What a waste, a sad day it is.

This is pretty sad. He was a talented guy...& I have tickets to The Who.

R. I. P.