What's so special about John Entwistle?

[bobyoung53]

And he had to ply his trade between Keith Moon, Townshend, and Roger Daltrey. Playing with Moon alone would have been a monumental task for anyone.

And this may provide a little insight:

I will argue that he played like he did BECAUSE of Moon, they played together like most good rhythm sections.

 

[bobyoung53]

I felt Brit bassists kicked a** all over US players. Sure we had James Jamerson, Brian Wilson, Wrecking Crew people etc. but between McCartney, Bruce and Entwistle in the 60s, even Chris Squire in the 70d -- they just brought an instrument that had traditionally in the background and brought it up front. For 1965 that My Generation solo was groundbreaking.

The Brits have always had style, love British stuff.

 

[bobyoung53]

Entwistle was in a unique band situation. A band that had a drummer, guitar player and singer that were all quite terrible at their roles musically but all good at putting on a show.

You are joking correct?

 

[bobyoung53]

I consider Jack Bruce and John Entwistle as equals.

I love them both, In my opinion Jack was actually the better of the two, he was a schooled upright jazz player before he turned to electric, he was as good on upright as he was on electric.

 

[bobyoung53]

I'm not being ignorant, on the contrary its from being informed by reading and watching many interviews with them and their contemporaries, watching many documentaries of music from that time period, viewing a lot of concert footage, hearing many albums over the years.
As others have alluded to, it's common knowledge that the other band members of the Who were not the most capable.
And I said nothing against their playing style, or lifestyle choices.

First of all you are posting your opinions and you are one out of millions of people who have opinions on various bands and types of music and I don't think you seem to have a whole lot of experience to backup your opinions, when you've been playing for 50 years like a lot of us here get back to us and we'll take you serious. Every player in the world stands on the shoulders of those who came before them and improves upon it if he's an exceptional player, if you were not around listening to music or playing it during the 60's and 70's when Entwistle was big and was an innovator you really have no conception of what he really did and where he came from and why he is held in as high regard as he is. Is he my favorite player? No, but I was there and know where he came from and appreciate just what a groundbreaker he was in his day and yes for their day the Who were an exceptional band and All of them were very high calibre players for those days. Did Moon just stick to the beat and groove? No and obviously he didn't want to, Did Townshend play leads constantly? No and it wouldn't have fit in a three piece band if he had, he was more of a rhythm guitarist who happened to write GREAT songs. Daltry had a great voice. To say that they couldn't play their instruments just seems like trolling and pretty bad trolling if you ask me.

 

[bobyoung53]

I think what made Entwistle so great was his right (plucking) hand technique.

He had a nice guitar-like bend though too.

 

[bobyoung53]

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.

I think McCartney had the first, Hall flew over to England gave him one in either late 64 or early 65 I believe., it's been a while. Pete Quaife of The Kinks was an early player, Squire was and Entwistle. Not necessarily in that order.

 

[bobyoung53]

I reckon he was equal pick/fingers back in the day, using a lot of palm muting. When he developed his later typewriter technique the pick took a bit of a backseat.
It's a shame his pick technique gets overshadowed as he was a magnificently precise and aggressive pick player.

I saw him during the early 2000's twice and I would say he used a pick half the night, it was about 50/50%.

 

[b_carville]

Haven't been through the whole thread so someone's probably mentioned this.
He helped develop Rotosound Swing Bass strings.He went to the factory & actually went through different formulas.He was the 1st to use that sound & that became a standard. From Jaco to Geddy Lee to countless players in Rock & Fusion. That sound was founded by him.

 

[Briton]

No pride here, just opinion! What did you think of the clips I posted?

Sorry Buddy, but I have moved on!

 

[thabassmon]

You are joking correct?

First of all you are posting your opinions and you are one out of millions of people who have opinions on various bands and types of music and I don't think you seem to have a whole lot of experience to backup your opinions, when you've been playing for 50 years like a lot of us here get back to us and we'll take you serious. Every player in the world stands on the shoulders of those who came before them and improves upon it if he's an exceptional player, if you were not around listening to music or playing it during the 60's and 70's when Entwistle was big and was an innovator you really have no conception of what he really did and where he came from and why he is held in as high regard as he is. Is he my favorite player? No, but I was there and know where he came from and appreciate just what a groundbreaker he was in his day and yes for their day the Who were an exceptional band and All of them were very high calibre players for those days. Did Moon just stick to the beat and groove? No and obviously he didn't want to, Did Townshend play leads constantly? No and it wouldn't have fit in a three piece band if he had, he was more of a rhythm guitarist who happened to write GREAT songs. Daltry had a great voice. To say that they couldn't play their instruments just seems like trolling and pretty bad trolling if you ask me.

Not trolling, and I am on John's side.

 

[Ogre]

Says it all.... Also saying you are not trolling is not a talisman to mask your trolling...

 

[John Tomaselli]

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?

John Entwhistle is a True Bass Guitarist.
His playing was so complimentary to Pete Townsend.
He added not just Bottom but also Filled space way beyond just the Low End.
His Sound was another thing.
The Bass Sound on Live at Leeds is totally Incomparable.
Note he is NOT your typical groove Player.
He is An Electric Bass Guitarist

 

[Ogre]

John Entwhistle is a True Bass Guitarist.
His playing was so complimentary to Pete Townsend.
He added not just Bottom but also Filled space way beyond just the Low End.
His Sound was another thing.
The Bass Sound on Live at Leeds is totally Incomparable.
Note he is NOT your typical groove Player.
He is An Electric Bass Guitarist

Amen ..Like Lemmy..We love Moterhead on Mars.

 

[armelind]

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.

Temba his arms wide..... thats a GREAT one. I love it. I forgot about that until I saw it on yours. LOL!!

 

[armelind]

John Entwhistle is a True Bass Guitarist.
His playing was so complimentary to Pete Townsend.
He added not just Bottom but also Filled space way beyond just the Low End.
His Sound was another thing.
The Bass Sound on Live at Leeds is totally Incomparable.
Note he is NOT your typical groove Player.
He is An Electric Bass Guitarist

I saw a biography on him and I believe he was a guitarist first. And his noodling on guitar was transcribed to bass and that's how his sound was considered original. Of course he wasn't the first to do what he does, but he was the first to become famous for it.

 

[Cliff Simpson]

They didn't call him "thunder fingers" for nothing

 

[Thundertips]

I love them both, In my opinion Jack was actually the better of the two, he was a schooled upright jazz player before he turned to electric, he was as good on upright as he was on electric.

I agree. Jack was amazing. Definitely better technique. Listen to the bass line in the live version of Crossroads by Cream. Amazing stuff!

 

[Toneguy66]

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?

Wait...you get Geezer and Burton, but not Entwistle?

 

[Gwyn ap Nudd]