John Entwistle Bass player for The Who. Date of Birth: 09.10.1944 Country: Great Britain

Biography of John Entwistle

John Alec Entwistle, one of the greatest bass guitarists in the history of rock music, was born on October 9, 1944, in London. Coming from a family of musicians, it is no surprise that John learned to play the piano in his childhood, and later mastered the trumpet, French horn, and trombone. In the early 60s, Entwistle began playing in a jazz band with his friend Pete Townshend. After some time, John switched from brass instruments to the bass guitar, which he actually built with his own hands.

After receiving an invitation from Roger Daltrey to join the band "Detours," Entwistle brought along Pete Townshend. Soon, "Detours" changed their name to "The Who," and after the release of the song "My Generation," the world became aware of them. Due to the absence of a lead guitarist in the band, John used the bass as a solo instrument, thus creating the unique sound of "The Who." His powerful playing technique allowed him to become one of the best bassists in the world (Entwistle can even be called the Jimi Hendrix of the bass guitar). Unlike his "wild" colleagues, Entwistle behaved very reservedly on stage. Due to his height, the musician earned the nickname "Ox," while other nicknames included "Thunderfingers" and "Big Johnny Twinkle."

In addition to his excellent bass playing skills, John always remained a talented vocalist and songwriter. His wide vocal range allowed him to transition from a child-like falsetto to a deep bass, and his songs "Boris The Spider" and "Heaven And Hell" can be considered classics of "The Who." Entwistle was the first member of the band to release a solo album. In his 1971 album "Smash Your Head Against The Wall," he demonstrated not only his sadistic humor in the songs but also his excellent mastery of the instrument. His subsequent albums also became rock classics, but they are especially valuable for bass guitarists as they contain numerous intricate techniques.

In 1975, Entwistle formed a new band called "The Ox" and successfully toured the United States. Throughout the 70s, in addition to his work with "The Who" and his solo projects, Entwistle helped record music for his bandmates' albums and composed soundtracks for various films. In the early 80s, John released the album "Too Late The Hero," but no further releases followed. It was only in 1996, while also participating in various short-lived reunions of "The Who," that Entwistle resumed his solo career by forming the trio "The John Entwistle Band" and releasing three decent albums with them. In his spare time from concerts, John collected various bass guitars, amassing a collection of over two hundred instruments.

Unfortunately, his career, as well as his life, came to an end on June 27, 2002, in Las Vegas, as a result of a heart attack caused by the excessive use of cocaine. This occurred on the eve of "The Who's" revived American tour. After his death, Entwistle's extensive guitar collection was auctioned off at Sotheby's.