What's so special about John Entwistle?

[dougjwray]

I love the Who and Entwistle is one of my favorite players - he could be melodic and busy in the same song (Love Ain't for Keeping), could provide some nice counterpoint basslines (Pinball Wizard), and knew how to create dramatic tension in an overlong song by keeping things simple (Sparks/Amazing Journey, Underture). His tone and playing on Live at Leeds is astounding - Young Man Blues is a masterclass on how to jam a rock song - Moon, Entwistle, and Townsend have some great moments of locking in and Entwistle, although amazingly busy, never flags or loses the rhythm. I find it fantastic to listen to.

When produced correctly (Who's Next) - Entwistle's tone was stellar - just enough high end to cut through and a beefy low end that sparkled because of round wound strings. Later videos of him playing are bummer - way too much high end clack for my taste.

Great description of his "Who's Next" tone.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Chris Squire listed Entwhistle as a major influence on him, in an era when most bassists sounded like mud wrapped in cotton, his use of roundwounds and super trebly EQ cut through. I think I remember reading that Squire and Entwhistle had the first two Rics in England, don't know if that's true, but they were certainly the first well known proponents of that guitar- like tone.

 

[Diminishedfilth]

Not to date myself, but his right-hand technique always reminded me of an old phone book logo.

 

[azureblue]

he was there. I wasn't

 

[TNCreature]

This thread may never end and despite the OP's statement, can be nothing but divisive.

 

[bassdude51]

What's so special about John Entwistle?, you ask.

Listen to Live At Leeds. Pete and his guitar are on one side of the stereo mix and John is on the other side. Turn off Pete and hear John by himself on the bass.

And then, ask yourself the question, "What is so special about John Entwistle?"

 

[Snibborwocky]

There are just not enough carrots for this post.

 

[bassdude51]

I get his originality. I get that he has very good rock chops. I never liked his sound or his choice of lines and fills. For my ears his sound was too trebley and lines too often too busy.

There were 2 John Entwistles the bass player. The studio John, fairly normal bass playing and the live on stage John who was over the top on bass because he was in a "power trio" rock band and he had a lot of space to fill.

 

[Spirit of Ox]

You're not required to like his playing, but I think any bass player would be required to respect him for his unique tone (no one else sounds like him), his technical chops, his influence on other players, and the simple fact that he played on albums that sold millions of copies worldwide and was a core member of one of the biggest and most influential rock bands in history.

John said that French horn is a lot like using your right and on bass and that's how he became so proficient at fingerstyle bass.

 

[Yellow Bang66]

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?

Yeah , he doesnt get the recognition he deserves! I think his bass tracks seem buried in the mixes of the Who stuff,b/c Townsend & moon. waaay back when I started I knew he was good, but nothing stood out to me like Geezer & squire did for me,YMMV.
Luckily when I took lessons, My teacher was a big fan of him & Sly Stone (Larry Graham)! so I got exposed to players I normally would avoid. so early on I was treated to learn My generation & Thank you. That seriously influenced my right hand technique!! I didnt know anything about Slap back then! I always considered myself very heavy(right) handed though, I never realized how he influenced me until fast forward to 5 years ago, at a gig with thecover band I played in were jamming through our setlist, we had the place rocking and during the first break, a dude comes up to me and says "Wow! You really like the Who! huh?" I was a little caught off guard, cause i 'm not and we only play my generation, but he said it like it was a compliment. so I agreed sheepishly hoping he wasn't gonna get all fan boy on me. Plus I hate when people cant take a compliment! I knew Entwistle was a monster & was flattered, acknnowledged it & said thank you. He stared at my bass the whole time!

As A side note upon learning "slap" early in my training. I learned to smack my strings very hard with my plucking fingers, accenting notes like thumb slapping, but with fingers. I really developed this "Style" after watching a video on getting Geddy lee's tone. To Quote the Video " Dig in hard, He plays very hard." I really wanted Geddy's tone so I adapted this suggestion to my style. Not bragging just saying, I beat the heck out of my fingers, frets & strings! I dont really hear geddy or entwistle when I play, But I have gotten many compliments on my tone. People Usually approach me staring at my gear (nothing that special, but I take it as a compliment!
After that gig & that compliment (I think). I naturally started doing that heavy handed playing thing more often. and after watching more Entwistle videos & that Ox movie that was on netflix. I realize I really adopted his style accidently through osmosis rather than having been a big fan!?! I thank my old bass teacher for turning me on to players & styles I probably would've ignored (I was more influenced by guitar players back then). though I can understand why he isnt more appreciated!
When I was 1st getting into playing music Keith Moon had just died so all the Who acclaim went to him, But I do remember an Interesting "Heated" argrument in class, of who was better?(the Who vs. Led Zeppelin) Daltry vs Plant, Ox vs JPJ, Townsend vs. Page, and Bonzo vs. Moon, almost started a riot, Bonzo had died a earlier! I think Zeppelin won b/c the upper classmen were bigger/smarter!( I sided with Zeppelin, but the Who fans made great arguments for them!
Sorry about the long post. I've been cooped up for days!

 

[Not yet]

What killed me was how friggin easy he made it look

 

[bmb73]

I listened to The Who's top songs on Spotify and watched a few videos on YouTube.

 

[David Beteta]

Back when The Who broke out John Entwistle was seen as a beast on bass with aggressive style and tone. When I look at his playing now I often feel like he is highly overrated in comparison to how bassist have evolved over the past half century. What I can safely give him credit for was attempt to put the bass in the limelight, some of it good and some just noodling around BS at high volume. Is he a bass pioneer? Yes, he stood out and made some noise for a minute when many bassist were stuck on root notes. Was he a prodigy? Far from it. His noodling around and self-professed unknown right-handed fingerings exposed him a wandering explorer at best.

 

[rockosocko]

If nothing else, he is certainly a player who displayed a strong element of taste in his line, I feel the song "Who Are You" is a perfect exemplar of that. He had a knack for creating lines that became an integral part of the song itself, which is an admirable feat in itself.

 

[mb94952]

If John could respond he would ask:

"Can you see the real me?"

That track alone should suffice as an answer.

Hellz Yeah !

 

[groovaholic]

It's the confluence of killer chops and groundbreaking tone applied to classic songs.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

There isn't much point in comparing current musicians to the Rock Gods of yore. Are there "better" players than Hendrix now? Hell yeah. SRV was arguably a much "better" player than Hendrix ever was, but Hendrix was the guy who pulled the Rabbit out of the Hat first. Go on Youtube, and you'll see 10 year olds playing Van Halen's Eruption note for note, so what was so special about Eddie back in the 80's? He demonstrated what was possible, now it's considered standard guitar technique. Look at early videos of Larry Graham slapping, and then go on Youtube again. You'll see more 10 year olds who could BURY him on slap, but they didn't invent it. Neither did he of course, but he gets the credit, like Eddie does for tapping. Jaco did the same thing with Fretless. Michael Manring objectively blows Jaco away on sheer technique, but who did it first? I can't think of another bassist contemporary with Entwhistle who came up with a tone and style (except Squire) that changed how people thought a bass was "supposed" to sound. Maybe Jack Bruce on a Bass VI? Anybody got some examples?

 

[avvie]

Okay, look...HUGE Who fan here. And I'm gonna do something different for you.

I'm gonna suggest that you skip all the classic rock standards and commit an act of heresy: go listen to the entire album of Face Dances. Your name implies that you like funk; you will find that influence here. The piano-like Rotosound tone is clear in the mix, and you will hear every note up front and center.

I would also suggest doing the same for the album It's Hard, though it has a couple of awful songs such as the title track. Neither one of these albums sound like The Who, as it was the 80's and Keith Moon was deceased and replaced with Kenney Jones. The 80's brought hard stylistic turns to classic rock bands, and TheWho are no exception, but you'll hear Entwistle playing like a musician and not like a musician battling Moon and Townshend.

 

[avvie]

Keith was crazy. John was definitely a weirdo and Pete was traumatized by childhood sexual abuse.

There are many who say that Moon did some crazy stuff but Entwistke was the actual crazy one.

 

[mb94952]

Okay, look...HUGE Who fan here. And I'm gonna do something different for you.

I'm gonna suggest that you skip all the classic rock standards and commit an act of heresy: go listen to the entire album of Face Dances. Your name implies that you like funk; you will find that influence here. The piano-like Rotosound tone is clear in the mix, and you will hear every note up front and center.

I would also suggest doing the same for the album It's Hard, though it has a couple of awful songs such as the title track. Neither one of these albumsalbums like The Who, as it was the 80's and Keith Moon was deceased and replaced with Kenney Jones. The 80's brought hard stylistic turns to classic rock bands, and TheWho are no exception, but you'll hear Entwistle playing like a musician and not like a musician battling Moon and Townshend.

I'm gonna do that now . Thanks !