What's so special about John Entwistle?

[FunkyYeti]

I'm not the biggest rock fan out there, but I can see why people like John Paul Jones, John Deacon, Geezer Butler and the likes.

I can even see why people like Cliff Burton, although I think he's seriously overrated.

But I don't understand why John Entwistle is so highly regarded here on TalkBass and in the media. I listened to The Who's top songs on Spotify and watched a few videos on YouTube. Sure, he has that sort of tapping technique and a few fills on "My Generation," but is that it? I guess he did come before Jones et al., making him a pioneer?

I'm being serious here. I'm not trolling. What am I missing?

 

[jallenbass]

 

[StereoPlayer]

I'm not the biggest rock fan out there, but I can see why people like John Paul Jones, John Deacon, Geezer Butler and the likes.

I can even see why people like Cliff Burton, although I think he's seriously overrated.

But I don't understand why John Entwistle is so highly regarded here on TalkBass and in the media. I listened to The Who's top songs on Spotify and watched a few videos on YouTube. Sure, he has that sort of tapping technique and a few fills on "My Generation," but is that it? I guess he did come before Jones et al., making him a pioneer?

I'm being serious here. I'm not trolling. What am I missing?

Blasphemy.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Listen more.

Learn a handful of Who songs.

Post some recordings of you doing it.

Then come back.

 

[FunkyYeti]

This is what I was looking for. Thanks.

 

[Gorn]

Are you asking for an objective justification of his musical value? I don't like The Who. I don't like white chocolate either. But other people do. That's the nature of individuality.

 

[MG Wolf]

If John could respond he would ask:

"Can you see the real me?"

That track alone should suffice as an answer.

 

[stigbeve]

Not a The Who fan at all but definitely respect John Entwistle.

 

[LBS-bass]

Are you asking for an objective justification of his musical value? I don't like The Who. I don't like white chocolate either. But other people do. That's the nature of individuality.

I'm not the biggest Who fan. But dude had serious chops.

 

[buldog5151bass]

The Real Me. Listen and wonder how.

 

[FunkyYeti]

Are you asking for an objective justification of his musical value? I don't like The Who. I don't like white chocolate either. But other people do. That's the nature of individuality.

I suppose that's what I'm looking for.

I don't like rock music all that much, but I try to learn songs from different genres to become a better and more rounded musician. I don't like Black Sabbath or Metallica, but I have learned "Iron Man," "N.I.B.," and "For Whom the Bell Tolls" because the bass lines were interesting.

Entwistle is highly regarded, so I wanted to see what the fuss was all about. I listened to a few of The Who's songs on Spotify: "Baba O'Riley," "Behind Blue Eyes," and "My Generation," but I didn't exactly get it. Maybe they were the wrong songs? Maybe I'm not listening carefully enough?

 

[dramatwist]

...you're kidding, right? If you ever had the chance see the man live, it would have blown your mind... he could play with all 4 fingers of his right hand...a monster...

 

[RyanOh]

I always thought this was a funny thing Pete Townsend said about Entwistle:
goto 1m55s

 

[bassstrangler]

It's been said before in this short thread..."The Real Me". Personally, I really don't care for much by The Who. But, I know and respect talent when I hear it, and The Who bleeds talent.

 

[roller]

+1 on all the above praise. Also, it's tough to name an incredible amount of bassists who played like him... sharp, bold and out front... before he came around.

He truly propelled rock bass forward.

 

[Gorn]

It's really not that complicated. Taste is subjective.

 

[Funky Ghost]

I suppose that's what I'm looking for.

I don't like rock music all that much, but I try to learn songs from different genres to become a better and more rounded musician. I don't like Black Sabbath or Metallica, but I have learned "Iron Man," "N.I.B.," and "For Whom the Bell Tolls" because the bass lines were interesting.

Entwistle is highly regarded, so I wanted to see what the fuss was all about. I listened to a few of The Who's songs on Spotify: "Baba O'Riley," "Behind Blue Eyes," and "My Generation," but I didn't exactly get it. Maybe they were the wrong songs? Maybe I'm not listening carefully enough?

There are a few players who have herculean finger style. Rocco, Cliff and Ox would probably be on that mount Rushmore with whomever you wanted to add. Those three were not only deft but aggressively brutal. It's one thing to play finger style ( my preferred method and Funk is my prefer vehicle ) and quite another to attack the strings in that manner. Geddy is up there as well. You can hear the strings bending to their wills.

That and I love his choice of notes. He's busy but he's a superb conversationalist musically speaking.

IMO of course.

 

[RyanOh]

Won't Get Fooled Again
Summertime Blues (Live at Leeds)
The Real Me
Pinball Wizard
The Seeker

 

[Alexis Duntov]

I'm not the biggest rock fan out there, but I can see why people like John Paul Jones, John Deacon, Geezer Butler and the likes.

I can even see why people like Cliff Burton, although I think he's seriously overrated.

But I don't understand why John Entwistle is so highly regarded here on TalkBass and in the media. I listened to The Who's top songs on Spotify and watched a few videos on YouTube. Sure, he has that sort of tapping technique and a few fills on "My Generation," but is that it? I guess he did come before Jones et al., making him a pioneer?

I'm being serious here. I'm not trolling. What am I missing?

I listen to rock music like once a quarter. But check out Live At Leeds. He’s just coming from another place. Also, when I was learning electric bass, The Seeker was a good one to work on.

 

[BurtMacklinFBI]

+1 on all the above praise. Also, it's tough to name an incredible amount of bassists who played like him... sharp, bold and out front... before he came around.

He truly propelled rock bass forward.

View attachment 3767829

This. Basically, you wouldn't have a lot of the great rock bass tracks out there without Entwistle's influence.