What's so special about John Entwistle?

[Clark W]

What am I missing?

A lot.
I saw them in 1982 and it's still on my top 10 list of best concerts I have been too.

• Won't Get Fooled Again
• The Seeker
• Eminence Front
• Baba O'Riley
• Relay
• 5:15
• Love Reign O'er Me
• Who Are You
• Drowned
• Long Live Rock

...to name a few, most of those have some of the most thunderous riffs he ever played.

Then there's "The Real Me"

"The Real Me" may have some of his most iconic riffs from his entire career, that's a debate for another time. He had some pretty iconic stuff to choose from, especially in the latter years of The Who in the late 70s and early 80s after Keith Moon had passed away.

I grew up in the 70s and IMO, musically their best years were after Moon's passing. Maybe it was a wake up call for them. Maybe his passing inspired them to be even better. Maybe it was a little of both. Like 'em or not, John Entwistle will be remembered as one of the best bassists to grace Rock N Roll History.

Anyway here's a great recording of what John Entwistle did best, play bass. And he was in his 50s when this was recorded. Could probably play it in his sleep. He's just kicked back making it look so effortless.

 

[Ric5]

I didn't know he ever used a pick........ but then i've never really known that much about his playing.

 

[REV]

The beauty of any art form is that it is a vehicle for self expression. Vive la difference

 

[MDBass]

And most of the really good ones freely admit they are standing on the shoulders of giants. And quite a few will mention John as one of the giantest.

Exactly.

 

[jdh3000]

Watch enough videos of him playing, listen to more songs... I'm not a major Who fan, but I really admire his playing... All of his fingers flying... I've seen quiet a few concert footage of the band laying back and him taking an enormous solo... Then all Townsand could do to try to top it was destroy his guitar...
I don't recall many rock bass players doing that before him...

At the end of the day you just may not like what he does... we’re all different.
I can’t understand the fascination with Jaco... doesn’t mean he wasn’t great, I just didn’t get in his sound.

 

[jdh3000]

Watch enough videos of him playing, listen to more songs... I'm not a major Who fan, but I really admire his playing... All of his fingers flying... I've seen quiet a few concert footage of the band laying back and him taking an enormous solo... Then all Townsand could do to try to top it was destroy his guitar...
I don't recall many rock bass players doing that before him...

I always wondered why Pete would destroy such nice guitars.

He probably dropped one once by mistake and the crowd screamed...

I never liked seeing him or Hendrix, or anyone else demolish a guitar... I don’t believe any real musician likes the thought of damaging an instrument, especially that expensive...
It’s something I think really only appealed to a hyped up crowd and became a thing.

 

[drumvsbass]

If you are into that 'piano tone' bass, the Ox was where it started. Entwistle was the guy who started putting real treble on the bass. Real brightness. Rock and metal bass tones using distortion on the top end and leaving the bottom clean, all started with him.

 

[Chickenwheels]

I have watched those isolated bass tracks too........ I think they are pretty boring...

and isolated, the magic is kind of missing because Ox sounds better when he's blended in with the rest of The Who....just my opinion...

I'm not impressed with those vids...if I were Ox, I don't think I'd want those out there...the performance is mediocre...really..

I do like The Who and many of their tunes and think Entwistle recorded many memorable bass lines that any one of us would be proud to have created.... but those isolated tracks really aren't a good example.

I dunno about these tracks specifically, but usually a killer bass track within a song actually sounds rubbish when isolated. The whole solo bass thing is a completely different skill set to actually playing with other musicians. You need a lot of movement to get a great track within a band. You almost need to be elastic with your rhythm. JMO.

 

[CB3UK]

The OPs proposition is an Eminence Affront.

 

[Bassheart365]

Well, I guess it's pretty special to go out while doing coke with a stripper.

 

[Element Zero]

So many butt hurt people in this thread lol. You’d think that OP killed their dog.

 

[BergerHead]

What a dumb and ignorant question; you could also ask why John McEnroe was/is so famous though he only played tennis. Btw, Live at Leeds was one of the very first albums i've got me and it's actual as same as the day it went released. To get some outstanding musical achievements i recommend you this masterpiece:

 

[DJ Bebop]

So many butt hurt people in this thread lol. You’d think that OP killed their dog.

 

[Leo Thunder]

Listen more.

Learn a handful of Who songs.

Post some recordings of you doing it.

Then come back.

Oh, yet another one of those who marvel at the dog for standing on a ball at the circus.

 

[Leo Thunder]

What a dumb and ignorant question;

All questions are rooted in ignorance. That's the point of asking them. It seems some people won't understand this.

 

[Leo Thunder]

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.

"Please explain me this.
- No, you like what you like."

An utterly dismissive, disrespectful and helpless answer. If you can't tell, you don't know either.

 

[Andy Daventry]

Townshend is a very good rhythm player, and stands out for it. Otherwise, the glory of that great band lies entirely in the organic whole. Entwistle's contribution lies in his innovation - stacks, roundwounds, bi-amping, fingering style, "lead bass" and so on. His bass playing simply taken as musical accomplishment does not excite me all that much.

Edit: I'll say this much. The Who are the only band I listen to regularly where I focus in on the guitar and not the bass.

 

[Butch P Bass]

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?

Hello Funky - 2 things: - 1) Your question is a little like going on an Argentinian football chatroom and saying, "I don't understand why Diego Maradona is so highly regarded here on TalkFutbal and in the media" ! 2) Go to Quadrophenia and listen to 'The Real Me' - then you'll know Stay safe brother x

 

[mcnach]

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?

Don't worry, you're not alone. We just don't verbalise it because the fanbois will descend upon us like a zombie invasion on The Walking Dead, only not as pretty

 

[lyonaudio]

1) Very loud
2) Lots of notes
3) Groupies and blow