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The Who's John Entwistle Dead

crazyj was among several Slashdot readers who, knowing my obsession with the greatest band of all time, submitted that The Who's John Entwistle died. His death occured one day before the start of their summer tour. The Ox was an amazing bassist, and I'm glad I got to see him play. Those fingers would just fly up that fretboard. He'll be missed.

19 of 381 comments (clear)

  1. Hope I die before I get old. by Starship+Trooper · · Score: 4, Insightful

    (n/t)

    --
    Loneliness is a power that we possess to give or take away forever
  2. Rest in peace, Ox. by uncoveror · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I picked up a bass guitar when I was in College from 1997 to 1981 because of players like John Entwistle. I will miss him. I had to sell it in the summer of 96 when I was out of work, and needed to eat. I get a chuckle every time I see the video for My Generation. When Moon, Townshend, and Daltrey start smashing things, John cradled his bass like a baby, and stepped away from them. Rest in peace, Ox.

    --
    The Uncoveror: It's the real news.
  3. Sad day. by standards · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Some may say that this is not a slashdot topic.

    I agree.

    But the editors have determined that this is appropriate for the slashdot audience.

    I agree.

    It's another sad day. It's another hero that I'll miss.

    Best of luck to you John.

  4. Off topic by Chris+Siegler · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Jon Postel I undertand; Stevens makes sense. But how does a guy who played the Bass qualify as News for Nerds?

  5. Now he's up above my head by Darth_brooks · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Fare thee well John.

    "Boris The Spider"

    Look, he's crawling up my wall
    Black and hairy, very small
    Now he's up above my head
    Hanging by a little thread

    Boris the spider
    Boris the spider

    Now he's dropped on to the floor
    Heading for the bedroom door
    Maybe he's as scared as me
    Where's he gone now, I can't see

    Boris the spider
    Boris the spider

    Creepy, crawly
    Creepy, crawly
    Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
    Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
    Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
    Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly

    There he is wrapped in a ball
    Doesn't seem to move at all
    Perhaps he's dead, I'll just make sure
    Pick this book up off the floor

    Boris the spider
    Boris the spider

    Creepy, crawly
    Creepy, crawly
    Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
    Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
    Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
    Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly

    He's come to a sticky end
    Don't think he will ever mend
    Never more will he crawl 'round
    He's embedded in the ground

    Boris the spider
    Boris the spider

    --
    There are some people that if they don't know, you can't tell 'em.
  6. Re:Yeah by eleven357 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Nerds listen to music. A lot of nerds have listened to THE WHO, so yeah this is news for nerds.

  7. And I'm oh so tired of running. by GreenHell · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Truly an amazing bassist. Pity he didn't write more.

    "My Wife"

    My life's in jeopardy
    Murdered in cold blood is what I'm gonna be
    I ain't been home since Friday night
    And now my wife is coming after me

    Give me police protection
    Gonna buy a gun so
    I can look after number one
    Give me a bodyguard
    A back belt Judo expert with a machine gun

    Gonna buy a tank and an aeroplane
    When she catches up with me
    Won't be no time to explain
    She thinks I've been with another woman
    And that's enough to send her half insane
    Gonna buy a fast car
    Put on my lead boots
    And take a long, long drive
    I may end up spending all my money
    But I'll still be alive

    All I did was have a bit too much to drink
    And I picked the wrong precinct
    Got picked up by the law
    And now I ain't got time to think

    Gonna buy a tank and an aeroplane
    When she catches up with me
    Won't be no time to explain
    She thinks I've been with another woman
    And that's enough to send her half insane
    Gonna buy a fast car
    Put on my lead boots
    And take a long, long drive
    I may end up spending all my money
    But I'll still be alive

    And I'm oh so tired of running
    Gonna lay down on the floor
    I gotta rest some time so
    I can get to run some more

    She's comin'!
    She's comin'!

    --
    "I won't mod you down - I feel the need to call you a twit explicitly, rather than by implication."
    1. Re:And I'm oh so tired of running. by pete_townshend · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Actually, my favorite Entwistle tune seems more appropriate...

      Heaven and Hell

      On top of the sky is a place where you go if you've done nothing wrong,
      If you've done nothing wrong.

      And down in the ground is a place where you go if you've been a bad boy,
      If you've been a bad boy.

      Why can't we have eternal life,
      And never die,
      Never die?

      In the place up above you grow feather wings and you fly round and round,
      With a harp singing hymns.

      And down in the ground you grow horns and a tail and you carry a fork,
      And burn away.

      Why can't we have eternal life, And never die,

      Never die?


      I know you were a bad boy, John, but I think we know where you are...

      pete

  8. Re:It's always sad to see musicians and talent go. by thejk · · Score: 4, Insightful

    due to someone perhaps being in public schools reading this I dare not say Heaven

    Excuse my hostility, but comments like this annoy me. When will people realize that shoving God down one's throat is exactly like prohibiting public mention of God?
    Freedom of speech goes both ways. Do not force one to speak or not speak. Say Heaven or God or whatever strikes your fancy, but don't force others to say it with you. Is that such a hard concept to grasp?

    --
    The web is a dominatrix. Everywhere I turn, I see little buttons ordering me to Submit.
  9. Re:What about the tour? by jmb-d · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Do you guys think that The Who will find a replacement bass player for the tour?

    And where, pray tell, could they find someone to replace him? There's just not many (any?) of his calibre.

    I picked up the bass because of players like John Entwistle and Chris Squire...

    A sad day, indeed.

    --
    In walking, just walk. In sitting, just sit. Above all, don't wobble.
    -- Yun-Men
  10. Re:You can't replace something like that... by KnightNavro · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Many people said The Who couldn't replace Moon, but they continued off and on for 24 years with replacement drummers. I doubt they'll do their current tour, but I wouldn't be surprized to see them tour again.

  11. Re:Greatest band of all time? Time for a new poll? by trentfoley · · Score: 1, Insightful

    They tell us that
    We lost our tails
    Evolving up
    From little snails
    I say its all
    Just wind and sails
    Are we not men?
    We are Devo!
  12. News for Nerds? by Kafir · · Score: 1, Insightful

    A great bassist, yes, but this isn't news for nerds. If Geddy Lee died, that would be news for nerds.
    Or Chris Squire, Greg Lake, John Wetton, maybe.

  13. This brought to mind a quote from Pete Townsend by roc_machine · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "My friends are dead! They may be your fucking icons but they're my fucking friends!"

  14. Live At Leeds by graveyhead · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Everyone is hung up on Quadrophenia, but if you haven't already you should check out "Live At Leeds"... it is a fantastic album and really highlights The Who's ability to invoke raw emotion in an audience. Reminds me of Jim Morrison in that way, music that can shake you down to your bones...

    --
    std::disclaimer<std::legalese> sig=new std::disclaimer; sig->dump(); delete sig;
  15. Earth recieve an honoured guest by WINSTANLEY · · Score: 2, Insightful


    John Entwhistle died today.

    After the end of period when the Beatles could
    still channel my adolescent angst and rage
    (a period doubtless extended with a fixation on
    John L.) and the start of the period
    when I realized the punk and arty new wave
    were the dynamic movements (or moments) of my generation
    and the place where I wanted to be, I had The Who.

    John Entwhistle was the first rock musician who
    inspired me (not that the inspiration took)
    purely in a musical sense. He
    was the only rock bassist to turn the bass guitar
    in a solo instrument thru sheer virtuosity
    (McCartney's bass, the only other bassist
    that ever made an impression on me*,
    could stand out by virtue of its melodiousness).

    He was a musical Atlas on which the band rested in part,
    and rhythmically he was an integral unit with the legendary
    Keith Moon. And this integration was necessary given that Moon,
    a great innovator,
    was turning the drums themselves into a kind of melodic instrument.

    I find it odd that some of the most grounded seeming of
    Sixties Rock Icons (John E. and George Harrisson) are dying
    off at these relatively young ages. They avoided the
    extravagance that killed off the Glorious Dead (Hendrix, Jones,
    Joplin, etc). Of course, maybe appearing low key in an art
    form based on explosive expressiveness implies that one has
    one of those unhealthy personalities that holds too much in.

    Or maybe it doesn't imply anything except, to quote Auden,
    "all the instruments agree, the day of his death was a dark
    cold day."

    * the one exception is Tony Visconti playing on Bowie's
    The Man Who Sold The World, especially songs like Width Of A Circle
    and Black Country Rock.

    --
    It is by coff... er, will, alone I set my mind in motion...
  16. Re:I will never forget... by Nighttime · · Score: 2, Insightful

    No, go out and buy the album.

    --
    I've got a fever and the only prescription is more COBOL.
  17. Goodbye to The Quiet One by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Entwistle was fantastic to watch during The Who performances. I had the privilege to see them twice (1982 and 1989, Folsom Field-Boulder, CO) and both times, Entwistle just appeared to be the foundation for Daltry and Townsend's chaos. It is sad that the popular media is not attributing him with his most autobiographical song, "The Quiet One". It is a great some that help me find some identity as a "loner youth". The final stanza seemed to sum up his role in The Who. I ain't never had time for words that don't rhyme My head is in a cloud I ain't quiet - everybody else is too loud

  18. Re:The Who Fucking Sell-out by carlivar · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Oh yes. This is an excellent rant against the death of a member of the band. Let's also rip on Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin while we're at it.


    It is bullshit that the Who did indeed Sell Out quite a bit after their final "break up" but who cares? I would have liked to see a "A Quick One While He's Away" for my own eyes.


    Carl

    --
    Vote Libertarian