I have a fun memory of meeting him at a music fair in Holland in 1988 or 89. My brother and I spotted him sitting by himself at the Trace Elliot booth. We went up to him to say hello and express our admiration for his bass lines. He was relaxed and really nice and friendly to us and we chatted for about 20 minutes. Then someone from Trace Elliot said he had to do his little demo, and John brushed him off and said something like: I’m talking to these kids here, give me a minute! It made my year, and still have his autograph from the encounter.
I have sort of a similar story: I was living in LA in 89 and a girl friend aid let's go to this all star band at a bar in Hollywood. I'm thinking the band will be wanna be's and never was and I walk in and John Entwistle is on bass. I don't think anyone else other than the band and myself knew who he was. Anyway, I stand 5 feet from him cause I want to take it all in, studying his technique and smiling ear to ear because I am blessed to see this live and close. John can't help but notice and he starts throwing in riffs and then moving his eyebrows like Groucho Marx at me and winking, like he's saying "check this out" The highlight was him playing "whole lotta love" Page and Jones would have been proud and floored all at once
Actually (and just to be a knob-head), the opposite of progress is not congress.. it's regress,. 'Con' in conspiracy is a different con than the 'con' in congress. But by the Gods (old and new), this man got powerz!
@@jamesjackson4741 Tom Snyder once called Gene Simmons the bass (the fish) player. Then he turned to Ace Frehley, who said, "Yeah, and I play lead trout."
He is simultaneously playing a lead instrument line, bass line, embedded internal harmony, keeping the tempo, and making original rhythmic counterpoint. And probably several other things I am missing.
I love people (especially other musicians) who don't mistake our absent gaze for not being in the groove! I take that as a compliment :) Usually Ox is just looking at his bandmates and shaking his head while he lays down the musical genius that so few non-musicians comprehend.
He looks bored and irritated at the same time with people. You can see a couple of big sighs as he plays and looks like fake smiles to the other members.
I've switched to bass recently and have been learning some Beatles and other stuff. Were working on Substitute now for example. That's a tricky one because I sing too. You also have to consider that Entwistle probably wasn't too concerned with playing it the same way twice.
As a bass player myself I can tell you that John is one of the all time greats. I've said it before, he's got more funk than most bassists could carry in a wheelbarrow.
I think Entwistle's bass method was borne out of necessity, playing with Moon. As it's the bassist's job to follow the drummer, and Moon was impossible to follow, Entwistle had to create a style completely unique -- rarely following the beat (as Moon rarely laid down a regular beat). As I've long maintained, The Who wasn't a band, but a compilation of competing soloists, each doing their own thing, yet incredibly cohesive enough to produce completed, and unforgettably unique music.
Hey, Jim... As a fellow bass player, you should know that the bass sets the groove and the tempo of a song, and not the drummer. The band follows the bass. That is all.
That's the best part when a band competes with each other. You could say the same thing about The Beatles, Led Zeppelin. To me that's what a bands all about. Pushing each other to see how far the other person can take it. To get the best out of each other.
26bassman I was gonna say that too.I guess maybe only bass players know and realize this as fact.The bass player imho is the bottom,root instrument of any good band.If 'yer bass player can't hold it down everything else sounds bad in tern. The Ox,what a gifted musician!
The tone on that Alembic is freekn killing. Then there's the playing: The note choices, phrasing, the soloing within the groove, the timekeeping, and the occasional slides and string plucks for flavor and good measure. Bass playing genius. Respect and RIP to John Entwistle.
John and Steve Harris are my idols because they insisted on playing big fat bridge cables with their fingers and still produced massive, precise tone. I just get horrible scabs when I try that.
I remember he said he loved the tone he got from the Alembics but he hated the basses themselves. He said they were too expensive and too sensitive to climate changes. He said before shows he'd have to spend a half hour or more adjusting the intonation and action on them. A bassist friend of mine told me once that was because of how Alembics are built: all that laminated wood tended to expand or contract due to extreme changes in ambient temperature, humidity, etc. I remember he said in the early 80's he felt they were "overrated" and he just wanted them to put the pickups and electronic package out on the market so he could install them on another instrument.
The isolation of his playing doesn’t truly capture how fucking loud he was. Townsend had to use his style of amps just to be able to be heard over Entwistle and Moon
Honestly, what the fuck. The man was an absolute genius on the bass, power, the rhythms, the super melodic lines. It's just stunning stuff, RIP you are missed.
I am stunned too. I could strum some chords on the guitar and thought the bass was kinda easy long as it wasn’t jazz. Wow....wow...wow........Douched myself. This is ridiculous. The technique, the melody, just amazing.
The yawn and look of borderline tolerance is because he's noting what the jackass on the other side of the stage is doing, and, what he in turn has to do to make up for and fill in where said jackass is missing chords or off tempo...which could happen up to dozens of times in just one song. ;p Talented is Pete yes, live player good he absolutely was/is not.
By the end of his career, Ox was so deaf that he reportedly tuned his instrument using just the vibrations of the air pushed by his giant amp stacks (as he stood in front of them, as usual).
@@JoinTheProgress I'm sure you are a nice guy and I get your passion. Pete was a "clown" during this time period, none of us will really ever know what he was going through personally. He was despondent over Keith's physical condition and how far Keith had fallen from his peak. So although I get your point I can't agree. Maybe listen without watching, Pete was thrashing about however, in my less than humble opinion Pete was and is the epitome of Rock guitar and stage presence. He copied Chuck Berry and everyone else copied Pete both his on stage antics and his playing. Well, they all try too...
+Scott James I'm not really a nice guy ftr. That said, you have got to be kidding. Look up this performance live, the RudyPaTutti channel. His playing is a MESS. He outright misses both correct chords and timing constantly through the entire performance. He acts like he's on coke, but that's besides the point. With a four piece band and backing track, anything he may've needed to do live to fill out the sound could've and should've been done with a *lot* more effort. Because what he chose to do instead, just mucks up the entire song and our friendly bassist on the other side needs to cover for this as best he possibly can. It would've been a huge burden on him. For whatever reason, people think that just because he has an inherent talent, which he does, his playing must therefore somehow be magically brilliant here, even though it is blatantly obvious to anyone who doesn't put him on a pedestal that it most definitely is NOT, lol. I knew when I was a little kid watching this back in the 70's that it sounded atrocious. Then I never ceased to be amazed at how many people actually think he sounds good, when even a little grade schooler who knows the song, knows damn well that he doesn't.
Actually it was all acting. They went to Shepperton Studios and invited some workers to make it look like the end of a gig. They hadn't any proper film of this song for a comp film. At a real gig they would separate the invaders from the singer before they do anything mad. They had scratch and bite singers. Jagger said they sometimes hit him!
He is just so incredibly calm while everyone else is jumping around like maniacs. I love how you can see Daltry swinging the mic on the end of the cord just out of the frame to the right.
McCartney, Entwistle and Deacon were the three bassists who inspired me to learn how to play bass. One of the greatests bassists of all time. Hope you're playing bass up there John. R.I.P 1944 - 2002.
I think he is. In fact, if you'll indulge me... *God's current rock band:* Ox on bass (of course) Mooney on drums Dio on lead vocals Hendrix and Rhoads sharing lead guitar duty (imagine those two together...) Jon Lord on Hammond organ and God on tambourine, maracas, and vibraslap (that way he gets to listen from the best seat in the house :) Oh yeah - Prince would be their producer, arranger, songwriter, and master of funk, coaching those other two on their guitar work ;) Seriously - I think it would take someone like Prince to bring together Randy and Jimi and make it far more than the sum of their genius. I think he was a serious fan of both of them.
theringwoodbros Hmm... you're right. He would have to be chief composer and master of cool (until we lose the coolest of the cool, Ringo Starr). Bowie's duties would overlap somewhat with Prince's, but this is God's band, and there is no conflict, only mutual magic! Imagine Bowie and Dio doing vocal duets, what kind of music they would create to make that work! (Thinking like this is actually inspiring my own humble songwriting!) Another oversight: Billy Powell on piano. (Play it pretty for Atlanta!) And since there really are no limits on this band, and a number of earthly rock bands have had two drummers, let's add John Bonham! (Apologies to Stumpy Joe and all the other former Spinal Tap drummers crowding the afterlife right now.) I can also think of three pop/rock bands that have had three lead singers: Chicago, Three Dog Night, and The Who. So there is precedent for getting Bon Scott up there to join Bowie and Dio. But then where does Freddie Mercury fit in??? This is God's fantasy band. He will fit in just fine - probably somewhere next to Prince ;) Ok, my fantasy heavenly rock band is getting kinda big. I'd love to hear what lineups other people might come up with. This is a fun exercise for me :) Who do you see playing the Great Gig in the Sky? Anyone for Syd Barrett? (Or Richard Wright, who composed that song?) Janis Joplin? George Harrison? John Lennon? Dimebag Darrell? Terry Kath? Sid Vicious? Chris Squire? Buddy Holly? Elvis? Brian Jones? Roy Orbison? Roy Buchanan? Stevie Ray Vaughn? Kurt Cobain? Jim Morrison? Or the hundreds (thousands?) of others that I'm not thinking of right now? Whether they're in heaven or in hell (or in some other imaginary afterlife - I'm not religious, and I'm not promoting a belief, just having fun), who's playing what in your version of God's fantasy band?
dcs002 Wow, you've put a lot of thought into this, I can respect that. As for additional people you gotta add the half of Lynyrd Skynyrd that went in the plane crash, Chris Squire, Paul Gray, Jerry Garcia. Did you put in the drummers for The Who and Led Zeppelin? An obvious one to add is Elvis. There's also Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, and a lot of classic rappers.
The band where the bass guitarist was the lead, the drummer played infills and was often out of time, the guitarist slashed away with power chords for unique thrills and the singer sang with the drummer in tandem. All of it sublime, confounding but just so unique and enjoyable. What a rock band!
@@LandonBalk actually it's from the 2004 remastered DVD of "The Kids Are Alright". But yeah, that, Kilburn and the 1969 London Coliseum concert are terrific examples of restoration works.
I love how Ox's bass lines sound like one long solo but when you bring the rest of the mix up they are just perfect for the song. He's all over the map (but precise) and still it works in context. I actually credit Pete for writing such great material that the rhythm section could just go beserk and it all hangs together beautifully.
Exactly Adam. That was the true genius of John. He was able to play very busy parts that in no way felt crowded with Keith Moon's "solo through the whole song" style, but rather complimented it, and in the middle of all that he still managed to flawlessly perform the most essential part of bass playing,-holding down the groove. I also agree with your comment about Townsend. I've always said there are two types of great guitar players, there's great guitar player guitar players, and great song writing guitar players. While Pete definitely has some chops, you're really not going to find someone much better than him in the second category.
If you also notice how much time he spends looking around at Keith and Pete checking that he keeps everything tight together. This was not a egotistical musician, he was a band player
Can I say, without a doubt, that The Ox changed rock n' roll bass playing and made it more prominent? Amazing fingers, style and sound. A lead bass player in a band that had a lead drummer, lead guitarist and lead vocalist all fighting to be heard. Love The Who!
Vitreous Lamella Absolutely you can! John Entwistle was one of the bassists who revolutionized bass playing. And he introduced us to roundwound bass strings (Rotosounds; I still use them, and I have been playing bass for 38 years)... Have a good one, my friend :) Robert
+Vitreous Lamella Exactly what I was going to say about the Who, four lead players is what gave them such a full sound from just bass, lead guitar and drums.
+Vitreous Lamella What's so amazing is that John's body language is so laid back, while his fingers are dancing wildly all over the bass. He even seems to sigh quite often like he's thinking: "Ho, hum...just another day at the office."
John Entwistle is one of the best bass players in Rock'n'roll but he is such a quiet, modest person that he doesn't get the recognition that he deserves.
@@goatboy420 the other day I was thinking Bots... don't know if there is such a thing as a RUclips Dislike-Bot... just wondering why. This video is so Earthy... a rare treat.
Was in Wunjo's Bass Shop (UK) the other day: A guy was in with his bass and said in conversation: "These are John Entwistle's strings". At first we thought he meant the same brand - the he said "no - my wife knows the guitar tech that serviced Entwistle's basses and every time he got them in he changed the strings and added the used ones to the pile". A silent and deeply personal moment followed as four fully grown men stroked the strings played by the ox himself.
For John it is just so damn effortless. He almost looks bored. Just watch those thunder fingers ring out the notes. Truly the Hendrix of bass. I am spellbound by this performance! Remarkable!!
Or lack-there-of. LOL As a kid I hated John because he seemed to not care. But now I know there was no competing with Pete or Keith, so really, why bother. Love his playing!!
I have played bass professionally for over 30 years. My grandfather played the bass (during WW2 while in the Navy, touring in Artie Shaws big band around the South Pacific) my father plays bass (with Nokie Edwards, the founder and lead guitar player for The Ventures) both my sons play bass. John Entwistle is, as far as I am concerned, the best to have ever picked one up.
It was Daltrey's voice that made The Who. John Paul Jones was the backbone of the Led Zepplin but it was Plant's voice and style that made them so great. Not fair but that is the way it is. The Frontman makes the band. Sammy Hagar is a way better singer than David Lee Roth but Van Hagar can not touch Van Halen. Daltrey is so underrated.
teejay Trujillo And people usually call the vocalists the least talented member of the band, just ask anyone who's the least talented member in Led Zeppelin, they would probably say Plant.
***** That was Entwistle's version of the modern day "Drops Mic - Walks off stage"...instead he "Sets down bass - slowly exits stage un-noticed". The Ox was just that awesome!
I understand where youre coming from but its clear that you havent been exposed to jazz funk and soul if you think this is the pinnacle of what a bass player can do
Not really. 5 strings+ isn’t necessarily compensating for something lacking. It’s just a different style and approach that may be needed to express yourself.
*****, "A bass player, or bassist, is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone."
@@Kohntarkosz if you've watched it enough times/heard it enough times and have good enough headphones, you hear it perfectly. When anyone wants to puff up any bassist, I throw this on; no one past or present, compares to John.
It's like this: watch solo/shred talk about how Pete Townshend is is not much of a lead player and you think about all the notes sailing over the drums and you realize that 80% of the pyrotechnics beyond the drums and vocals are really Entwistle. After that you always key in on Entwistle. He was seamless in the overall flow but just as over the top as everyone else.
The original video edit focus's mainly on Pete's stage antics and big cords, but John is creating the core of sound by preforming a dual role carrying the rhythm and melody.
I have met and played with musicians like that - they don't play, they don't think, they just feel, and the feeling comes out as pure musical expression. I think I'm a pretty good bassist, but I have never reached that point in my 35 years of trying to get there.
It might look effortless - probably after the first couple of thousand hours that he spent practising how the instrument works & what sounds could be made with it. Nobody gets to be that good without putting plenty of work into it. 😉
This is absolutely awesome! Look at his face, he was so relaxed, unbelievable. The man was amazing, outstanding!! John was powerful, untouchable! No words...The Ox!! The best bass player the world ever seen, without a shadow of doubt!!!
One of the many things I find amazing about watching this is that he appears to sigh several times while he's playing. You watch this brilliance unfolding in front of you and he's very nonplussed -- like he's thinking....Once I'm done here, I have to stop and pick up the dry cleaning...I think we're playing cribbage at the Henderson's later....and YAY...I get to sleep in tomorrow. And to further that, once the song ends, he takes off the bass and heads across the stage! Gee, I hope the dry cleaner is still open....
As a bass player myself, I can tell you that this playing is so counter intuitive that without the other instruments it is incomprehensible. It is like watching people dance with the music turned off.
That line he plays in the "I'll tip my hat..." bridge part alone is what some people made entire songs out of. Pure, unfiltered musical genius, paired with a bass tone like a piano falling on your head. There will never be another John Entwistle.
Absolutely! I love that bridge part too. I tried to figure it out on my own bass , watched this, then slinked back into my room, put my bass back in the case and just shook my head. You are right - pure genius!
Me and my gf wanted to travel somewhere, so I said, let's go to Berlin. Little did she know, I only wanted to go there to see this bass guitar in Berlin's hard rock caffe. That is a moment I'll never forget. Having lunch and watching this very bass guitar. Good thing we both liked Berlin very much.
For those that haven't watched it, keep in mind this is one of the most exciting and energetic live rock performances of all time; it's rock history. There is absolute chaos going on just outside this frame. And yet there's John, just standing there looking bored. It would almost be frustrating if he wasn't so damn good.
Only other master guitarist I've seen that can match his poker face on stage is Derek Trucks. Dude will murder a slide guitar solo and put thousands of people on their feet screaming but his face doesn't even twitch and his eyes don't open even slightly. Like he's asleep. hahah
You guys can throw shit at me once I post this, but have you ever seen a really good bluegrass band live? So many of them stand like statues, completely expressionless, letting their fingers do the talking. Some of them are extraordinary too. Not my thing, but the similarity really jumps out at me. Ox really had to be the daddy in that band full of maniacs. He held the live shows together. He had to follow Pete's mistakes and make them sound intentional. (Even Pete's mistakes sounded awesome, btw. Only throw shit at me for the bluegrass thing, k?)
The amazing thing is the totally platonic way he played these crazy patterns. Daltrey, Moon and Townshend were jumping and going nuts all over the place, while he just stood there like a fucking boss and played hyper tough parts on somewhat simple songs.
Seriously, anyone who says this guy isn't the best bassist in rock history is kidding themselves. Paul McCartney was great, John Paul Jones and Roger Waters were great too, but none had the virtuosity like Entwistle. That dude was purely technical.
The tiniest flub at 5:47 led to a slight change in expression (touched a string he didn't mean to; the A I think) Hard to believe, but he WAS human after all. My favorite bass player of all time.
@@zachpeacock1709 Watch some old Jimi videos. He was famous for his fuck-ups and how he turned them into artistic masterpieces, though he had to re-tune every time he did it. NOBODY is more than a simple human. Among us mere mortals, someone has to be best. For me that's Ox & Jimi, each by a wide margin, and each of whom could be sloppy as hell and make it sound like a creative innovation!
I guess you have to become a badass bass player when you have a mediocre guitar player like Townsend at your left. Townsend was all moves and jumps but far from great actual playing. John made up for it.
@@ags8294 wtf are you talking about? I've never heard Pete Townshend describes at mediocre in my life😂 please forward all your amazing guitar playing videos please mate?
In a power trio, which is what the Who essentially were, the bass has to do a lot more fills. The Ox was the absolute master at this. Entwistle is playing bass with Jimi and Moonie right now.
so sad that the average person doesn't even hear these great sounds on the track 9:08 - 9:30 sounds absolutely mindblowing due to playing two strings at once
Entwhistle is one of the few people in the world that felt trapped in a job as rock star, what he really wanted was to work as a manager in a McDonalds
@@anagramconfirmed1717 I was joking... The dude said he can make a sandwich as good as John's playing so I joked that his sandwich must be divine then because John's playing is divine.
A lot of the sound is that he hits the string down into it rather than perpendicular to the body, with a good amount of aggression. There’s also the factor of new strings and a good bit of overdrive on top of it.
Imagine trying to describe The Who to someone who'd never heard them. Fan: The bass player is clearly ignoring the job description - he plays incredibly melodic lines, fast and fluid runs, the whole time. His custom-made bass looks like a new instrument - and he's actually invented a new instrument. He plays lead bass. Not-a-fan: So, then the drummer can't be doing much beyond just holding down the beat, I guess. He's gotta be a real by-the-book plodder, right? Fan: Actually... No. The interplay at work there defies description and analysis. How that band was even able to function is a mystery and a miracle, but it sparked up quickly, firing on all cylinders, and revved up with undeniable power. New frontiers of musical collaboration were being explored, and the invitation extended was clear: "Try this at home." Pete's songs have such consistent integrity that the common focus they provided inspired the players to keep hyper-activating their own inventiveness. Just as the shape of John Entwistles' instrument is a clue to the unique musical accomplishment The Who was - so is the fact that Kieth was often singing along, without a microphone, and conducting from the back seat. Kieth Moon's not just playing his part - he's playing the whole song.
Here's my thought on how it worked - and I think you're right to ask that question: Keith was the raw aggression that lived at the heart of rock music. He was animalistic onstage, though at some point I think he was a mad fanatic for jazz drummers like Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. He was gifted with an outlet for his otherwise unbridled energy. The thought of stopping a song once Mooney got started was just silly. Ain't gonna happen... unless he, um, passed out or something... (He is seriously my favorite drummer ever.) So he provided the power, straight from the gut, and carefully translated into intricate rhythms that so few drummers are able to capture. Daltrey was the face in your face. Sometimes he seemed like he was part lion tamer when Mooney and Townshend got a little crazy. He made sense of the madness and translated it for the crowd. He was the irony in the band. He was a bad-ass Wholigan, and not just as a stage persona, but he put so much soul into the often vulnerable, needy words written by Pete. That dichotomy alone is enough to hold my attention. Roger was the shocking focal point. Pete was the heart and vulnerability of the band. When he was alone, he didn't set out to write award-winning or million-selling hit songs. He just wrote about his fears, insecurities, and hurt, and joy, love, and hope. He was brilliant and sincere when he was alone, but when he was onstage, he became a bit like Keith. When he got started on some new idea, the others knew his genius, and they knew it was best to follow his lead. He knew his audience, and he never lost a crowd when he ad-libbed. Sometimes he got off the rhythm, but no one noticed because Ox & Mooney were amazing at recovering from those situations. They made it feel natural. (Don't think that was rare either.) Those two had to have such tightly focused attention when Townshend went off-script, which he did at every show. I think Townshend's musical adventures helped Ox & Mooney become as great as they were. His bloody fingers were evidence that he really was in the music, deep inside his own emotions. Pete was the heart of the band. Then there's Ox. Every band should have one classically trained musician to translate the crazy stuff Pete was writing into coherent music. Mooney and Ox were a team, as all drummers and bassists are, and with Ox keeping an eye on the melodic and harmonic development of the songs, I think that gave the other three all the freedom they could ever want to take the energy as far as the crowd could handle - sometimes even farther. Ox had the groove covered. He was such a brilliant musician that if everyone else got lost, or if somehow all the sound was lost except the bass, the crowd would hear that he was playing his own version of the entire song, only he was doing it away from the spotlight. He knew the audience needed to focus on Roger & Pete, and to serve the song, and the live show, he didn't draw a lot of attention to what he was doing. He just kept doing it because he loved it so much. Ox, more than anyone, was the real conductor of the band. That's how I think it worked. And my opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it.
Wonderful. I'm a drummer and my Dad (a guitarist) always had such high praise for John's playing. I now see why. The interplay with the actual melody is almost Jazz like. He's all over the place, but always right. Again...wonderful!
10 years ago I started learning this song as it is played in this video. What took the longest to perfect is John’s tone. Watch his right hand. He’s not plucking, slapping, or popping, for the most part he’s hammering those strings with his finger tips which generates his iconic, percussive, signature tone.
Just mind blowing how he made a 4 string instrument sound like that using his fingers. He proved himself right here when he said he was trying to make the bass a less boring instrument.
That tone! 30 years on and I'm still trying to approximate it. He said that he wanted his bass to sound like a piano. Okay, a pissed off, rabid piano. I'm in!
I know he popularized the Rotosound Swing Bass 66's, and that he wished he could change strings halfway through a gig. Ironically, whenever I used Rotosounds I noticed--though they are roundwound--that they aren't as klacky and super bright when you first put them on, like Blue Steels for example. Like they say, with The Ox, his tone probably is mainly due to his own style of attack. He was something else! That's about all I know on his strings and stuff
Sigh Co. Bassist I love that sound of a Fender with brand new Rotosounds , I found I could achieve it all the time with my active Jazz bass - not too 'processed' sounding, a good mix of warmth with the twang attack
Sigh Co. Bassist Blue Steels sound clanky because they're stainless steel. Rotosound Swing Bass 66's aren't Stainless, pretty sure they're nickel-wound. Core will have an affect as well, I think the Blue Steels are hex-core, and I believe the Rotos are round-core. Action has a lot to do with it too. Sounds like The Ox has a medium action. Watching him bend strings just kind of confirms it. Which is why he gets that real heavy pluck without the clank.
I have a fun memory of meeting him at a music fair in Holland in 1988 or 89. My
brother and I spotted him sitting by himself at the Trace Elliot booth. We went up to him to say hello and express our admiration for his bass lines. He was relaxed and really nice and friendly to us and we chatted for about 20 minutes. Then someone from Trace Elliot said he had to do his little demo, and John brushed him off and said something like: I’m talking to these kids here, give me a minute! It made my year, and still have his autograph from the encounter.
I'm jealous...
I´ve met several ROCK STARS, but I wish I had met this guy.
I have sort of a similar story: I was living in LA in 89 and a girl friend aid let's go to this all star band at a bar in Hollywood. I'm thinking the band will be wanna be's and never was and I walk in and John Entwistle is on bass. I don't think anyone else other than the band and myself knew who he was. Anyway, I stand 5 feet from him cause I want to take it all in, studying his technique and smiling ear to ear because I am blessed to see this live and close. John can't help but notice and he starts throwing in riffs and then moving his eyebrows like Groucho Marx at me and winking, like he's saying "check this out" The highlight was him playing "whole lotta love" Page and Jones would have been proud and floored all at once
@@j.maxsering3728 Awesome! 👍
Great story ☺️☺️
"Damaged frames" me arse, you just don't want us to know the secret to his powerz
+thenewyorkpauls CONSPIRACY
+thenewyorkpauls 3:03 Maybe a three second power nap? Looks like he just woke up when the tape started rolling again
Its a PROSPIRACY !
Since the opposite of con is pro... (like Congress and Progress).
Actually (and just to be a knob-head), the opposite of progress is not congress.. it's regress,. 'Con' in conspiracy is a different con than the 'con' in congress. But by the Gods (old and new), this man got powerz!
There was another bass player on the grassy knoll
Someone once described The Who as "Daltry as lead singer, Entwistle on lead bass, Moon on lead drums and Townsend on lead guitar".
That's pretty spot on.
Ah yes, my favourite instrument, “base”
@@jamesjackson4741 yes, basically base.😉
Pete is the one who called John a lead bass player.
@@jamesjackson4741 Tom Snyder once called Gene Simmons the bass (the fish) player. Then he turned to Ace Frehley, who said, "Yeah, and I play lead trout."
He is simultaneously playing a lead instrument line, bass line, embedded internal harmony, keeping the tempo, and making original rhythmic counterpoint. And probably several other things I am missing.
u missed 'being a total badass'
He was the Who's lead player. Townsend should have just played keyboards.
You´re damn right!
While Roger was stammering around like a damn goober.
You missed making it look like a fucking piece of cake haha
I love it that he almost looks like he's thinking about other things while he plays this.
"lets see I need eggs, milk, and bread when I go shopping after this"
lol every bass player I know looks like that coming out of the 60s/70s era. in their own funky world I like to say.
I love people (especially other musicians) who don't mistake our absent gaze for not being in the groove! I take that as a compliment :)
Usually Ox is just looking at his bandmates and shaking his head while he lays down the musical genius that so few non-musicians comprehend.
"Sardines, an egg, a demi litre du lait"
He looks bored and irritated at the same time with people. You can see a couple of big sighs as he plays and looks like fake smiles to the other members.
The Who - genuinely a band where every player is iconic.
I think only the members of Zeppelin can compare...
Radical Nation the beatles
Will Dimodica what did ringo do iconic?
@@nationradical Sabbath too
@@DylbieYT he had a bunch of rings
lol
A big reason you don't see bands covering The Who.
You do, but the bass lines are always simplified.
I never understood why I'm the only person who tries to play it like this. It's right here for all to see. Watch and learn!!
I've switched to bass recently and have been learning some Beatles and other stuff. Were working on Substitute now for example. That's a tricky one because I sing too. You also have to consider that Entwistle probably wasn't too concerned with playing it the same way twice.
If you listen to live and later performances of songs he was changing and evolving the parts over time too.
Easier perhaps and therefore better? Otherwise, not sure about "better."
As a bass player myself I can tell you that John is one of the all time greats. I've said it before, he's got more funk than most bassists could carry in a wheelbarrow.
Better than the best ;)
Yeah, him and Squire are probably my favorites.
@@alexh2790 Those two, plus JPJ, Geddy Lee, and Steve Harris for me. Also really, really dig Jack Bruce and Glenn Hughes :D
I think Entwistle's bass method was borne out of necessity, playing with Moon. As it's the bassist's job to follow the drummer, and Moon was impossible to follow, Entwistle had to create a style completely unique -- rarely following the beat (as Moon rarely laid down a regular beat).
As I've long maintained, The Who wasn't a band, but a compilation of competing soloists, each doing their own thing, yet incredibly cohesive enough to produce completed, and unforgettably unique music.
So true..., You hit it my friend.
I couldn't have articulated that any better. Very well said.
Hey, Jim... As a fellow bass player, you should know that the bass sets the groove and the tempo of a song, and not the drummer. The band follows the bass. That is all.
That's the best part when a band competes with each other. You could say the same thing about The Beatles, Led Zeppelin. To me that's what a bands all about. Pushing each other to see how far the other person can take it. To get the best out of each other.
26bassman
I was gonna say that too.I guess maybe only bass players know and realize this as fact.The bass player imho is the bottom,root instrument of any good band.If 'yer bass player can't hold it down everything else sounds bad in tern. The Ox,what a gifted musician!
The tone on that Alembic is freekn killing. Then there's the playing: The note choices, phrasing, the soloing within the groove, the timekeeping, and the occasional slides and string plucks for flavor and good measure. Bass playing genius. Respect and RIP to John Entwistle.
John and Steve Harris are my idols because they insisted on playing big fat bridge cables with their fingers and still produced massive, precise tone. I just get horrible scabs when I try that.
Also he's popping! POPPING! The dude is FUNKY.
I remember he said he loved the tone he got from the Alembics but he hated the basses themselves. He said they were too expensive and too sensitive to climate changes. He said before shows he'd have to spend a half hour or more adjusting the intonation and action on them. A bassist friend of mine told me once that was because of how Alembics are built: all that laminated wood tended to expand or contract due to extreme changes in ambient temperature, humidity, etc. I remember he said in the early 80's he felt they were "overrated" and he just wanted them to put the pickups and electronic package out on the market so he could install them on another instrument.
OMG the phrasing!!!
The tone in this is killer.
Me “woohoo I’m making progress on my bass playing”
Me *watches John Entwistle
*nevermind
Lol my thoughts exactly
Dont worry, know one was or will be as good as him. Just keep practising and dont give up
@@DannyBoi2112 the "Don't give up" is so corny.
@@hejsjsjjjsjsjjs4968 why
@@hejsjsjjjsjsjjs4968 It's the concept, not the words. The alternative is failure.
The isolation of his playing doesn’t truly capture how fucking loud he was. Townsend had to use his style of amps just to be able to be heard over Entwistle and Moon
That last section where he's playing power chords, even John is wincing at how fucking loud that must have been.
All those Sunn speakers - the universe would shake!
Volume is a nob. Tone is hands. I really doubt they had a "front of house" problem with they're sound.
@@christophermccoy4605 whats a front of house problem
You need a certain amount of volume on the high end so it breaks up. Thus u need alot of bass too for enough bottom. Thuuus... its loud! Lol.
Honestly, what the fuck. The man was an absolute genius on the bass, power, the rhythms, the super melodic lines. It's just stunning stuff, RIP you are missed.
+Josh Jakubowski Entwhistle is the foundation.
Honestly, You get it, got it. HAPPY NEW YEAR !
I'll take Jaco Patorius over the ox and a host of other Jazz bassists over any rock bass player.
I am stunned too. I could strum some chords on the guitar and thought the bass was kinda easy long as it wasn’t jazz. Wow....wow...wow........Douched myself. This is ridiculous. The technique, the melody, just amazing.
@@Frapzoid don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
It must be torture for John to play this all the while suppressing a *YAWN*
The yawn and look of borderline tolerance is because he's noting what the jackass on the other side of the stage is doing, and, what he in turn has to do to make up for and fill in where said jackass is missing chords or off tempo...which could happen up to dozens of times in just one song.
;p Talented is Pete yes, live player good he absolutely was/is not.
to quote alex turner, *that man just yawned*
By the end of his career, Ox was so deaf that he reportedly tuned his instrument using just the vibrations of the air pushed by his giant amp stacks (as he stood in front of them, as usual).
@@JoinTheProgress I'm sure you are a nice guy and I get your passion. Pete was a "clown" during this time period, none of us will really ever know what he was going through personally. He was despondent over Keith's physical condition and how far Keith had fallen from his peak. So although I get your point I can't agree. Maybe listen without watching, Pete was thrashing about however, in my less than humble opinion Pete was and is the epitome of Rock guitar and stage presence. He copied Chuck Berry and everyone else copied Pete both his on stage antics and his playing. Well, they all try too...
+Scott James I'm not really a nice guy ftr. That said, you have got to be kidding. Look up this performance live, the RudyPaTutti channel. His playing is a MESS. He outright misses both correct chords and timing constantly through the entire performance. He acts like he's on coke, but that's besides the point.
With a four piece band and backing track, anything he may've needed to do live to fill out the sound could've and should've been done with a *lot* more effort. Because what he chose to do instead, just mucks up the entire song and our friendly bassist on the other side needs to cover for this as best he possibly can. It would've been a huge burden on him.
For whatever reason, people think that just because he has an inherent talent, which he does, his playing must therefore somehow be magically brilliant here, even though it is blatantly obvious to anyone who doesn't put him on a pedestal that it most definitely is NOT, lol.
I knew when I was a little kid watching this back in the 70's that it sounded atrocious. Then I never ceased to be amazed at how many people actually think he sounds good, when even a little grade schooler who knows the song, knows damn well that he doesn't.
The Jimi Hendrix of the bass. I served him dinner and got him to sign my "Live at Leeds" album.
Bee Kay Sweet story!! :)
That's gold right there! Well done, well done.
Yep, Entwistle was a bass God. This is what we strive for in our playing, but few will get close. Phenomenal artistry.
2:12 his lick was so tasty it temporarily broke the universe.
Lol good one
I know eh? Inhuman! DAMN if only I could do that!
Sliding down the fret board while plucking fast. Secret is out. My 5 year old nephew can do that as well lol....he is a good base player nonetheless
@@djc5897 comment never said it was difficult, just that it was tasty
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I love how bored and tired he looks.
Edit: Why does this have so many likes. This is the laziest comment I’ve ever made lol.
bill wyman is the same
@R Diaz lotta coke and broads...read "the Ox"
Because it is too easy for him.
He always wanted to be known as the bass guitarist that no-one could copy. I think he pretty much succeeded on that one.
He was not necessarily bored, just tired of of Pete, Roger, and Keith destroying thier music instruments before the end of the concert.every time !!
I love that the girls go for Roger, the guys go for Pete, John walks off on his own and Keith just shakes hands with the nearest.
Actually it was all acting. They went to Shepperton Studios and invited some workers to make it look like the end of a gig. They hadn't any proper film of this song for a comp film. At a real gig they would separate the invaders from the singer before they do anything mad. They had scratch and bite singers. Jagger said they sometimes hit him!
@@peterh1353 I believe the woman hugging Roger is his wife.
He is just so incredibly calm while everyone else is jumping around like maniacs.
I love how you can see Daltry swinging the mic on the end of the cord just out of the frame to the right.
McCartney, Entwistle and Deacon were the three bassists who inspired me to learn how to play bass. One of the greatests bassists of all time. Hope you're playing bass up there John. R.I.P 1944 - 2002.
I think he is. In fact, if you'll indulge me...
*God's current rock band:*
Ox on bass (of course)
Mooney on drums
Dio on lead vocals
Hendrix and Rhoads sharing lead guitar duty (imagine those two together...)
Jon Lord on Hammond organ
and God on tambourine, maracas, and vibraslap (that way he gets to listen from the best seat in the house :)
Oh yeah - Prince would be their producer, arranger, songwriter, and master of funk, coaching those other two on their guitar work ;) Seriously - I think it would take someone like Prince to bring together Randy and Jimi and make it far more than the sum of their genius. I think he was a serious fan of both of them.
Cliff Burton: supporting headbanger! (since bass is taken) ^_^
dcs002 Yo, you forgot Bowie.
theringwoodbros
Hmm... you're right. He would have to be chief composer and master of cool (until we lose the coolest of the cool, Ringo Starr). Bowie's duties would overlap somewhat with Prince's, but this is God's band, and there is no conflict, only mutual magic! Imagine Bowie and Dio doing vocal duets, what kind of music they would create to make that work! (Thinking like this is actually inspiring my own humble songwriting!)
Another oversight: Billy Powell on piano. (Play it pretty for Atlanta!)
And since there really are no limits on this band, and a number of earthly rock bands have had two drummers, let's add John Bonham! (Apologies to Stumpy Joe and all the other former Spinal Tap drummers crowding the afterlife right now.)
I can also think of three pop/rock bands that have had three lead singers: Chicago, Three Dog Night, and The Who. So there is precedent for getting Bon Scott up there to join Bowie and Dio.
But then where does Freddie Mercury fit in??? This is God's fantasy band. He will fit in just fine - probably somewhere next to Prince ;)
Ok, my fantasy heavenly rock band is getting kinda big. I'd love to hear what lineups other people might come up with. This is a fun exercise for me :)
Who do you see playing the Great Gig in the Sky? Anyone for Syd Barrett? (Or Richard Wright, who composed that song?) Janis Joplin? George Harrison? John Lennon? Dimebag Darrell? Terry Kath? Sid Vicious? Chris Squire? Buddy Holly? Elvis? Brian Jones? Roy Orbison? Roy Buchanan? Stevie Ray Vaughn? Kurt Cobain? Jim Morrison? Or the hundreds (thousands?) of others that I'm not thinking of right now?
Whether they're in heaven or in hell (or in some other imaginary afterlife - I'm not religious, and I'm not promoting a belief, just having fun), who's playing what in your version of God's fantasy band?
dcs002 Wow, you've put a lot of thought into this, I can respect that. As for additional people you gotta add the half of Lynyrd Skynyrd that went in the plane crash, Chris Squire, Paul Gray, Jerry Garcia. Did you put in the drummers for The Who and Led Zeppelin? An obvious one to add is Elvis. There's also Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, and a lot of classic rappers.
Only 4 strings but playing as if there were twelve. Rest In Peace you absolute legend.
The band where the bass guitarist was the lead, the drummer played infills and was often out of time, the guitarist slashed away with power chords for unique thrills and the singer sang with the drummer in tandem. All of it sublime, confounding but just so unique and enjoyable. What a rock band!
Right on man saw them in Toronto when Mr Moon was still kickin best concert I ever saw
The drummer wasn't often out of time - here and there I'd say.
He's pretty shot by this stage though, to be fair (and honest)!
Whoever restored and edited this video is a master. Thank you.
Yes, indeed. Couldn't agree more. +1 100!
It was ripped from the special features of The Who Live At Kilburn DVD. Great film, and painfully restored footage of one of Keiths last performances.
I believe Jeff Stein said it was filmed in 35 mm.
@@LandonBalk actually it's from the 2004 remastered DVD of "The Kids Are Alright". But yeah, that, Kilburn and the 1969 London Coliseum concert are terrific examples of restoration works.
@@MrGb1965 that's correct.
I love how Ox's bass lines sound like one long solo but when you bring the rest of the mix up they are just perfect for the song. He's all over the map (but precise) and still it works in context. I actually credit Pete for writing such great material that the rhythm section could just go beserk and it all hangs together beautifully.
+adam872 Pete Townshend himself said that John Entwistle was a "lead guitar bass player".
+adam872 Just LOVE your comment; John was an innovator....a big influence on me as a bassist
Thank you Adam
+whatmeworry All that wonderful speed & tone, and for him it's just a day at the office!
+adam872 the same could be said for both Townshend and Moon. They were all crazy but it just clicked
Exactly Adam. That was the true genius of John. He was able to play very busy parts that in no way felt crowded with Keith Moon's "solo through the whole song" style, but rather complimented it, and in the middle of all that he still managed to flawlessly perform the most essential part of bass playing,-holding down the groove. I also agree with your comment about Townsend. I've always said there are two types of great guitar players, there's great guitar player guitar players, and great song writing guitar players. While Pete definitely has some chops, you're really not going to find someone much better than him in the second category.
This is why The Who didn't need a rhythm guitar player.
Not really. This is why The Who didn't need a lead guitarist.
Spot On!
More like they didn’t need a lead guitar player. Pete played a lot of rhythm cause John played bass like a lead guitarist
I was about to write exactly the same thing. I actually never liked Pete's lead guitar, his strumming on the other hand moves mountains.
If you also notice how much time he spends looking around at Keith and Pete checking that he keeps everything tight together. This was not a egotistical musician, he was a band player
Can I say, without a doubt, that The Ox changed rock n' roll bass playing and made it more prominent? Amazing fingers, style and sound. A lead bass player in a band that had a lead drummer, lead guitarist and lead vocalist all fighting to be heard. Love The Who!
Vitreous Lamella Absolutely you can! John Entwistle was one of the bassists who revolutionized bass playing. And he introduced us to roundwound bass strings (Rotosounds; I still use them, and I have been playing bass for 38 years)...
Have a good one, my friend :)
Robert
+Vitreous Lamella Exactly what I was going to say about the Who, four lead players is what gave them such a full sound from just bass, lead guitar and drums.
+Vitreous Lamella Amen... nothing to say.
+Vitreous Lamella Amen... nothing to say.
+Vitreous Lamella What's so amazing is that John's body language is so laid back, while his fingers are dancing wildly all over the bass. He even seems to sigh quite often like he's thinking: "Ho, hum...just another day at the office."
His fills were so fire that they melted the video frames.
John Entwistle is one of the best bass players in Rock'n'roll but he is such a quiet, modest person that he doesn't get the recognition that he deserves.
I disagree. He gets tons of respect. Well deserved too. He’s name checked all the time, he has scored in many many polls and is in the Rock HOF.
What a load of bollocks .He gets respect from all musicians and fans .
@@Mod-rw9cw I stand corrected. I haven't seen the word bollocks since the Sex Pistols released their debut. That's really groovy!
He don't give a shit..he the man
You are mistaking JE for JPJ.
298 dislikes can’t recognize a great bassist. Entwistle is forever bass royalty. Long live rock.
298 people rather like to listen to boring Pink Floyd bass lines (after 1974)....lol.
i agree they're idiots, but that seems a bit excessive.
AlinzPark you’re right. It is excessive. Don’t know what I was thinking that day. Updated. Cheers.
I was just assuming they’d accidentally hit the wrong button, being unable to tear their eyes away from this musical masterclass...
@@goatboy420 the other day I was thinking Bots... don't know if there is such a thing as a RUclips Dislike-Bot... just wondering why. This video is so Earthy... a rare treat.
Was in Wunjo's Bass Shop (UK) the other day: A guy was in with his bass and said in conversation:
"These are John Entwistle's strings".
At first we thought he meant the same brand - the he said "no - my wife knows the guitar tech that serviced Entwistle's basses and every time he got them in he changed the strings and added the used ones to the pile".
A silent and deeply personal moment followed as four fully grown men stroked the strings played by the ox himself.
Roflmao,....Id be one of those guys touching these strings, just to feel the vibes.
I love this.
Like standing in front of a sacred remain of Rock's history
I knew a bassist who was so broke that he used to boil his used strings. I tried it on my guitar strings and they turned out awful.
Felix Burke Yeah it's not the greatest. Dead bass strings are the best for old school Motown tho
How organic and alive this bass sounds man. Thunder fingers at his best.
For John it is just so damn effortless. He almost looks bored. Just watch those thunder fingers ring out the notes. Truly the Hendrix of bass. I am spellbound by this performance! Remarkable!!
He is bored. He's played the song 1000 times. They're not live, it's a video shoot in a studio. Probably not the first take either.
Him or Chris squire definitely
Wow, one paragraph of total BS
The dexterity of his fingers is staggering, he’s so relaxed, truly amazing, has to be up as one of the greatest bass players of all time.
His right hand technique is ridiculously good.
Love the facial expressions... one of the best rocks songs ever and he's all "just another day at the office".
Or lack-there-of. LOL As a kid I hated John because he seemed to not care. But now I know there was no competing with Pete or Keith, so really, why bother. Love his playing!!
Bill Wyman. I envy their detached cool.
10:10
Yeah, 10:10.. "Ya like all this feedback and musique concrete, eh Rog?" XD
Looks like he's waiting for a bus. And the bus is late.
I have played bass professionally for over 30 years. My grandfather played the bass (during WW2 while in the Navy, touring in Artie Shaws big band around the South Pacific) my father plays bass (with Nokie Edwards, the founder and lead guitar player for The Ventures) both my sons play bass. John Entwistle is, as far as I am concerned, the best to have ever picked one up.
Geddy lee from Rush is worth a listen
4:30 I like to think that John was the only one playing and Daltrey just was running around stage for no reason.
But for some reason the girl ran up and kissed him after. Go figure.
Morgan Ahoff She's crazy too.
It was Daltrey's voice that made The Who. John Paul Jones was the backbone of the Led Zepplin but it was Plant's voice and style that made them so great. Not fair but that is the way it is. The Frontman makes the band. Sammy Hagar is a way better singer than David Lee Roth but Van Hagar can not touch Van Halen. Daltrey is so underrated.
teejay Trujillo And people usually call the vocalists the least talented member of the band, just ask anyone who's the least talented member in Led Zeppelin, they would probably say Plant.
Everyone in Led Zeppelin was talented. It was just that Plant was the least talented out of the 4 of them.
He’s got what you call Resting Bass Face
The end is ripe for a bass player joke. After his incredible performance, he just walks off and nobody pays attention to him.
***** If you play bass you get used to this.
***** sometimes when the light is so bright, the mind runs to knowns; leaving the virtuoso w/only an exit. For nothing else need be said.
***** That was Entwistle's version of the modern day "Drops Mic - Walks off stage"...instead he "Sets down bass - slowly exits stage un-noticed". The Ox was just that awesome!
+bass guitar Bass player of the millennium.
+Silas Fatchett Isn't that the truth
What a calm guy. He always stood out as one of the most interesting bassist.
10:03 And this is why this man is the greatest bass player to ever grace this planet we call Earth.
When he looked up Roger, his face for a moment was like "sure" so easy... Man, John was *THE BADASS*.
I understand where youre coming from but its clear that you havent been exposed to jazz funk and soul if you think this is the pinnacle of what a bass player can do
@@chinito398 The Reddings: The Awakening part 1
What do others call this planet?
He is the danger he is the one WHO nocks
10:10
Roger: "You want a drink after this?"
John: "Sure!"
LOL
The frames were damaged by The Ox's Bass playing.
Too fast for the camera:b
Perfect example of why a bass guitar doesn't need more than 4 strings. Good stuff!
Not really. 5 strings+ isn’t necessarily compensating for something lacking. It’s just a different style and approach that may be needed to express yourself.
@KeithBurtons no need to be a dick about it
AMEN
Most bass players don't even whelm me, but this guy overwhelms me.
What you did there. I see it.
Awesome comment, alltaken. I've been listening to the guy since the '70s and he never ceases to amaze.
*****, "A bass player, or bassist, is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone."
Yep , he totally whelms with that playing
This *needs* to be the #1 search result on Google for "Like A Boss".
I can't believe I was hearing this the whole time and never knew...
That was exactly my thought the first time I watched the DVD: "Wait, has that bass line ALWAYS been there? And they just sort of BURIED in the mix?!"
@@Kohntarkosz if you've watched it enough times/heard it enough times and have good enough headphones, you hear it perfectly.
When anyone wants to puff up any bassist, I throw this on; no one past or present, compares to John.
@@Kohntarkosz yeah its sad this masterpiece is all hidden there
It's like this: watch solo/shred talk about how Pete Townshend is is not much of a lead player and you think about all the notes sailing over the drums and you realize that 80% of the pyrotechnics beyond the drums and vocals are really Entwistle.
After that you always key in on Entwistle. He was seamless in the overall flow but just as over the top as everyone else.
I had no idea there was this much bass guitar going on during this song. Plays so clean..
Absolute genius from my uncle John. No one will ever be on this level. Pure mastery of his instrument. God rest his soul.
are you for real?
@@paveantelic7876 Hes probably lying.
@@paveantelic7876 he is a fake cause John Entwistle was an only child
@@trashbolt8437 ah cool didnt know that
Entwistle had a step brother, so this guy could be for real.
When Townshend skids across the floor infront of him (after the drum solo) the look on John's face is priceless. "Christ! What's he doing?"
I've seen the exact same look on Bill W's face too!
Adam Burns thats Roger Daltrey
The original video edit focus's mainly on Pete's stage antics and big cords, but John is creating the core of sound by preforming a dual role carrying the rhythm and melody.
It must be brilliant to be so good so effortlessly.... sadly missed!
I have met and played with musicians like that - they don't play, they don't think, they just feel, and the feeling comes out as pure musical expression. I think I'm a pretty good bassist, but I have never reached that point in my 35 years of trying to get there.
I guess that's what's called natural genius..Boy, what would I have given for half that talent!
It might look effortless - probably after the first couple of thousand hours that he spent practising how the instrument works & what sounds could be made with it. Nobody gets to be that good without putting plenty of work into it. 😉
Calm, cool, absolutely the best rock bassist to ever strap on on. He was The Who’s lead guitarist. Hard to believe he’s been gone so long.
This is absolutely awesome! Look at his face, he was so relaxed, unbelievable. The man was amazing, outstanding!! John was powerful, untouchable! No words...The Ox!! The best bass player the world ever seen, without a shadow of doubt!!!
Stand at the back and play root notes they said.
Around the 9 minute mark, the look he gave townshend when pete did the slide! Priceless.
This man is the reason that I play bass.
He looks like a man at the laundry mat waiting for his last pair of socks to come out of the dryer and they still have 20 minutes.
12,000 beautifully played notes in one song...and the pretty girl goes to the singer ;)
Girl, you missed out Entwistle's fingers....
You say 12,000 notes like it's a good thing. Lol
COuld be worst.... for example has the histeric sweaty guy grab you Ask Pete :P :P
@@malloryd9936 1 woman, and he was in his 50's.
LOL!!! Two strippers in a Las Vegas hotel knew what those fingers could do :)
@@malloryd9936 One woman. And he was 57. 10 seconds with Wikipedia can confirm the age, and you'll have to trust me on the other.
10:20 the moment where he watches the guitarplayer smash his instrument. Then gentlemanly unstraps and puts his bass down with a sigh.
I’m just a budding guitarist. This blows my mind. I never knew. No words. Hands down the best
Both John Entwistle and Stevie Ray Vaughan are good guitar players to learn their tricks and play style
2:13, he plays so powerfully, his awesomeness is so great he damages frames.
🤣 I made the same joke when I saw that
Roger: hey look at me I'm all over the place!
John: Oh well I forgot where I parked my car and I have no milk left in the fridge, blimey
From stories I have read that is accurate.
this comment made me howl with laughter. "Blimey!"
Roger: *best rock scream ever
John: Did I leave the...oh, hi Pete....oven on?
One of the many things I find amazing about watching this is that he appears to sigh several times while he's playing. You watch this brilliance unfolding in front of you and he's very nonplussed -- like he's thinking....Once I'm done here, I have to stop and pick up the dry cleaning...I think we're playing cribbage at the Henderson's later....and YAY...I get to sleep in tomorrow. And to further that, once the song ends, he takes off the bass and heads across the stage! Gee, I hope the dry cleaner is still open....
I could swear he slightly shot someone a look at the end... I wonder what that was about?
Yes, I noticed that too. He looked so bored ...
He was going to the hotel for "Hookers and Blow!!!!"
As a bass player myself, I can tell you that this playing is so counter intuitive
that without the other instruments it is incomprehensible.
It is like watching people dance with the music turned off.
great analogy
*FunFact: John's bass playing damaged the frames!*
Entwistle's sublime bass playing was the perfect complement to Moon's frantic drum beating. John's string plucking is a thing of beauty here.
That line he plays in the "I'll tip my hat..." bridge part alone is what some people made entire songs out of. Pure, unfiltered musical genius, paired with a bass tone like a piano falling on your head. There will never be another John Entwistle.
Absolutely! I love that bridge part too. I tried to figure it out on my own bass , watched this, then slinked back into my room, put my bass back in the case and just shook my head. You are right - pure genius!
I love how he carries himself as if the audience was sitting in silence and he was solo playing the whole thing :D
Me and my gf wanted to travel somewhere, so I said, let's go to Berlin. Little did she know, I only wanted to go there to see this bass guitar in Berlin's hard rock caffe. That is a moment I'll never forget. Having lunch and watching this very bass guitar. Good thing we both liked Berlin very much.
Huh. Guess I know what I’m doing in that eventual trip to Germany I wanted to take.
For those that haven't watched it, keep in mind this is one of the most exciting and energetic live rock performances of all time; it's rock history. There is absolute chaos going on just outside this frame. And yet there's John, just standing there looking bored. It would almost be frustrating if he wasn't so damn good.
Only other master guitarist I've seen that can match his poker face on stage is Derek Trucks. Dude will murder a slide guitar solo and put thousands of people on their feet screaming but his face doesn't even twitch and his eyes don't open even slightly. Like he's asleep. hahah
I am right there with you, no question.
You guys can throw shit at me once I post this, but have you ever seen a really good bluegrass band live? So many of them stand like statues, completely expressionless, letting their fingers do the talking. Some of them are extraordinary too. Not my thing, but the similarity really jumps out at me. Ox really had to be the daddy in that band full of maniacs. He held the live shows together. He had to follow Pete's mistakes and make them sound intentional. (Even Pete's mistakes sounded awesome, btw. Only throw shit at me for the bluegrass thing, k?)
@@orangejoe204 Trucks is goddamn amazing. Songlines...
@@dcs002 Nah, dude. You're right on. Totally agree. Ox was the mac daddy.
Now I need to watch Nikki Sixx, so I can feel better about my own playing.
You win!
mrhyde2484 lmao
Mick Mars was ok, otherwise they wouldn't have let that scary looking older fucker in the band. They need one talented magician. I love 80s Crue too
Meh, Tommy Lee is actually quite good.
Joel Carli and Mick Mars for that matter
His lack of expression of what is going on around him is what I find inspiring. and his style is unmatched
Why are the great bass players in great bands like Led Zeppelin, Queen and the Who all named John? Just asking....
Yeah that is weird
Yeah then there is John McVie from Fleetwood Mac.
John Myung
John Taylor
John Cena
The amazing thing is the totally platonic way he played these crazy patterns. Daltrey, Moon and Townshend were jumping and going nuts all over the place, while he just stood there like a fucking boss and played hyper tough parts on somewhat simple songs.
Even the URL of this video has "Ox" in it :)
When he finished it looked like he was thinking “oh thank god it’s over”
I need another line
I interpret his reaction as "phew, got through that one with no mistakes".
John: *plays 12 minute bass solo...walks off...
Everyone: THAT WAS THE BEST EVER!
Seriously, anyone who says this guy isn't the best bassist in rock history is kidding themselves. Paul McCartney was great, John Paul Jones and Roger Waters were great too, but none had the virtuosity like Entwistle. That dude was purely technical.
I think that you meant to say Roger Waters, not Walters.
What about Jack Bruce?
Geddy Lee in the top 3.
Geezer Butler?
Really roger waters?
The tiniest flub at 5:47 led to a slight change in expression (touched a string he didn't mean to; the A I think) Hard to believe, but he WAS human after all. My favorite bass player of all time.
Jack D. Ripper that's what I love about John's bass playing. He can screw up and still make it sound bad-ass.
@ 2:21 Is the truest flub and flub face. he is late on the down beat of the note
@@zachpeacock1709 Watch some old Jimi videos. He was famous for his fuck-ups and how he turned them into artistic masterpieces, though he had to re-tune every time he did it. NOBODY is more than a simple human. Among us mere mortals, someone has to be best. For me that's Ox & Jimi, each by a wide margin, and each of whom could be sloppy as hell and make it sound like a creative innovation!
@@zachpeacock1709😈
I always knew he was pretty good, but this is well beyond pretty good.
Talk softly but carry a big bass.
10:24 the feeling of giving your all just to be underappreciated. 10:33 reality confirms those feels.
You become a badass bass player when you have Keith Moon just to your left.
this man didn't need anyone for his groove.
I guess you have to become a badass bass player when you have a mediocre guitar player like Townsend at your left. Townsend was all moves and jumps but far from great actual playing. John made up for it.
@@ags8294 wtf are you talking about? I've never heard Pete Townshend describes at mediocre in my life😂 please forward all your amazing guitar playing videos please mate?
@@ags8294 just because you have access to the internet does not mean its a good idea to use it, total garbage what you said
@@KBWRER Agreed, Pete was the cement. Playing with two soloists imposed restraint otherwise it would have been chaos.
so much Respect for this man, plays like a beast and in the end he just walks off while rest of the band is getting all the hugs and kisses
Utter chaos, ridiculously busy. a line like this should never work but by god it does. A testament to his monumental talent.
In a power trio, which is what the Who essentially were, the bass has to do a lot more fills. The Ox was the absolute master at this. Entwistle is playing bass with Jimi and Moonie right now.
I just sat and listen to this all the way through, how many bass players can be stand alone entertainment!
Brilliant musician.
so sad that the average person doesn't even hear these great sounds on the track
9:08 - 9:30 sounds absolutely mindblowing due to playing two strings at once
I was thinking the same thing.
It's called chords
I have to agree with you, most people are so blown away it just seems to skip past them.
@@jokkergar It's called an octave interval. It works really well to thicken up the sound!
Marijuana helps.
Holy cow! Just found this. Kudos to whoever isolated it
Entwhistle is one of the few people in the world that felt trapped in a job as rock star, what he really wanted was to work as a manager in a McDonalds
Truly underrated
Comment that is
Jaiden DePrez No it's not
@@boomerhgt stfu bro hahah
The other one being Brian May, he was preparing his thesis but got caught in a group called “Queen”
Would you ever try to play bass lines that mimic Keith's wild drum fills? This guy did, and KILLED IT!
I tip my hat at John Entwistle's playing
I give him a bow.
It looks like it takes him the same amount of effort to do THAT as it does me to make a damn sandwich... John's the man.
+CostanzaKramer1 He probably sucks at making sandwiches ;)
You must be a woman. Only women make sandwiches.
your sandwich must be divine then
Calebe Priester that doesn't make sense but ok
@@anagramconfirmed1717
I was joking... The dude said he can make a sandwich as good as John's playing so I joked that his sandwich must be divine then because John's playing is divine.
He’s phenomenal. Isn’t he? I don’t think I ever saw another bass player with that kind of fingering technique with his right hand.
A lot of the sound is that he hits the string down into it rather than perpendicular to the body, with a good amount of aggression. There’s also the factor of new strings and a good bit of overdrive on top of it.
Imagine trying to describe The Who to someone who'd never heard them.
Fan: The bass player is clearly ignoring the job description - he plays incredibly melodic lines, fast and fluid runs, the whole time. His custom-made bass looks like a new instrument - and he's actually invented a new instrument. He plays lead bass.
Not-a-fan: So, then the drummer can't be doing much beyond just holding down the beat, I guess. He's gotta be a real by-the-book plodder, right?
Fan: Actually... No.
The interplay at work there defies description and analysis. How that band was even able to function is a mystery and a miracle, but it sparked up quickly, firing on all cylinders, and revved up with undeniable power. New frontiers of musical collaboration were being explored, and the invitation extended was clear: "Try this at home."
Pete's songs have such consistent integrity that the common focus they provided inspired the players to keep hyper-activating their own inventiveness. Just as the shape of John Entwistles' instrument is a clue to the unique musical accomplishment The Who was - so is the fact that Kieth was often singing along, without a microphone, and conducting from the back seat. Kieth Moon's not just playing his part - he's playing the whole song.
That is a very well presented example 👍
Here's my thought on how it worked - and I think you're right to ask that question:
Keith was the raw aggression that lived at the heart of rock music. He was animalistic onstage, though at some point I think he was a mad fanatic for jazz drummers like Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. He was gifted with an outlet for his otherwise unbridled energy. The thought of stopping a song once Mooney got started was just silly. Ain't gonna happen... unless he, um, passed out or something... (He is seriously my favorite drummer ever.) So he provided the power, straight from the gut, and carefully translated into intricate rhythms that so few drummers are able to capture.
Daltrey was the face in your face. Sometimes he seemed like he was part lion tamer when Mooney and Townshend got a little crazy. He made sense of the madness and translated it for the crowd. He was the irony in the band. He was a bad-ass Wholigan, and not just as a stage persona, but he put so much soul into the often vulnerable, needy words written by Pete. That dichotomy alone is enough to hold my attention. Roger was the shocking focal point.
Pete was the heart and vulnerability of the band. When he was alone, he didn't set out to write award-winning or million-selling hit songs. He just wrote about his fears, insecurities, and hurt, and joy, love, and hope. He was brilliant and sincere when he was alone, but when he was onstage, he became a bit like Keith. When he got started on some new idea, the others knew his genius, and they knew it was best to follow his lead. He knew his audience, and he never lost a crowd when he ad-libbed. Sometimes he got off the rhythm, but no one noticed because Ox & Mooney were amazing at recovering from those situations. They made it feel natural. (Don't think that was rare either.) Those two had to have such tightly focused attention when Townshend went off-script, which he did at every show. I think Townshend's musical adventures helped Ox & Mooney become as great as they were. His bloody fingers were evidence that he really was in the music, deep inside his own emotions. Pete was the heart of the band.
Then there's Ox. Every band should have one classically trained musician to translate the crazy stuff Pete was writing into coherent music. Mooney and Ox were a team, as all drummers and bassists are, and with Ox keeping an eye on the melodic and harmonic development of the songs, I think that gave the other three all the freedom they could ever want to take the energy as far as the crowd could handle - sometimes even farther. Ox had the groove covered. He was such a brilliant musician that if everyone else got lost, or if somehow all the sound was lost except the bass, the crowd would hear that he was playing his own version of the entire song, only he was doing it away from the spotlight. He knew the audience needed to focus on Roger & Pete, and to serve the song, and the live show, he didn't draw a lot of attention to what he was doing. He just kept doing it because he loved it so much. Ox, more than anyone, was the real conductor of the band.
That's how I think it worked. And my opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it.
@@dcs002 Wonderfully written and thought out.
Just one word to describe his bass sound... and playing ... Incredible.
a lotta things modern bassists take for granted the Ox was pioneering as far back as the mid sixties. Truly a trailblazer.
Watching thunderfingers play is just pure bliss- He plays all these complex lines with such ease...
Wonderful. I'm a drummer and my Dad (a guitarist) always had such high praise for John's playing. I now see why. The interplay with the actual melody is almost Jazz like. He's all over the place, but always right. Again...wonderful!
10 years ago I started learning this song as it is played in this video. What took the longest to perfect is John’s tone. Watch his right hand. He’s not plucking, slapping, or popping, for the most part he’s hammering those strings with his finger tips which generates his iconic, percussive, signature tone.
How many fingers is he using - it's so fast I can't really tell.
Anymore laid back John Entwistle would fall over 🎸
Just mind blowing how he made a 4 string instrument sound like that using his fingers. He proved himself right here when he said he was trying to make the bass a less boring instrument.
Such a fuckin' bad ass! He is just awesome to watch and listen to...and that tone!
That tone! 30 years on and I'm still trying to approximate it. He said that he wanted his bass to sound like a piano. Okay, a pissed off, rabid piano. I'm in!
I know he popularized the Rotosound Swing Bass 66's, and that he wished he could change strings halfway through a gig. Ironically, whenever I used Rotosounds I noticed--though they are roundwound--that they aren't as klacky and super bright when you first put them on, like Blue Steels for example. Like they say, with The Ox, his tone probably is mainly due to his own style of attack. He was something else! That's about all I know on his strings and stuff
Sigh Co. Bassist I love that sound of a Fender with brand new Rotosounds , I found I could achieve it all the time with my active Jazz bass - not too 'processed' sounding, a good mix of warmth with the twang attack
Sigh Co. Bassist Blue Steels sound clanky because they're stainless steel. Rotosound Swing Bass 66's aren't Stainless, pretty sure they're nickel-wound. Core will have an affect as well, I think the Blue Steels are hex-core, and I believe the Rotos are round-core. Action has a lot to do with it too. Sounds like The Ox has a medium action. Watching him bend strings just kind of confirms it. Which is why he gets that real heavy pluck without the clank.
Isher
You know your strings! Thank you