John began his musical career by standing up and singing along with Al Jolson at a local cinema.  Later, his grandfather took him to local pubs where he stood on chairs and sang Al Jolson songs to the delight of the patrons.

 

At age 7,  John began piano lessons.  At around 11, he began to learn trumpet based on his father's teachings.

 

John attended Middlesex school playing a tenor horn purchased by the school.  After school, John played in trad bands so he could play the trumpet.  It was around this time that John met a young guitar player by the name of Pete Townshend.  Pete and John were in several bands together until John moved on to a better band.

 

Around the age of 14, John became interested in guitar player Duane Eddy.  Entwistle once said:  "I did want to be a lead guitarist. The role of lead guitarist was the most glamorous to me. I wanted to make solo spots in a group. And you don't go from being a front man to a back man. But I always preferred the sound of a bass, it excited me the most." 

 

John's first bass was made out of a piece of mahogany shaped like a Fender Precision bass, the most popular bass of the time and had the frets completed in the style of a Hofner bass.  John ruined his grandmothers dining room table when he used it to build his bass on!

 

John's second bass was a Fenton-Weill bass made by John and some Fenton factory workers.

 

John became a member of Roger Daltrey's band, The Detours.  It was at John's suggestion that Pete Townshend was hired as rhythm guitarist.

 

John graduated from Acton Grammar in 1961.  His family couldn't afford to pay for John to continue his education, so John went to work for the Inland Revenue Service.  England's version of the IRS.  John would spend his days sleeping in the office because he was out all night performing with The Detours.  John also worked as a filing clerk because he was usually hoarse from singing.

 

In 1971, John released his first solo album, Smash Your Head Against The Wall.  John released his second album, Whistle Rhymes, the following year and Rigor Mortis Sets In, his third album, in 1973.

 

In 1975, John released his fourth album, Mad Dog.  The album featured the song Cell Number 7, which was about The Who being arrested and put in jail after destroying a hotel room in 1973.  John followed up the album by forming his own band, The Ox, and went on tour in America.

 

In 1977, John played horn on Heart To Hang On To, a song from the album Rough Mix by Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane.

 

Keith Moon died on September 8, 1978 after completing The Who album Who Are You.  John reportedly burst into tears upon hearing the news.

 

John completed the soundtracks to the films Quarophenia nd The Kids Are Alright in 1979.  The Who hired Kenny Jones as their new drummer and 11 fans died in a tragic accident at a Who concert in Cincinnati, Ohio.

 

The Who called it quits in 1982 but reformed for the occasional one off including Live Aid in 1985.

 

Entwistle and Daltrey appeared on Pete's album, Iron Man and toured their rock opera Tommy in 1989.   In 1993, John appeared onstage during the encore of one of Pete;s solo gigs, perfoming Let's See Action and Magic Bus.

 

1994 saw John appear at Carnegie Hall with Roger Daltrey for Roger's 50th birthday.  Entwistle toured as part of Roger's band during the Daltrey sings Townshend tour which also included bassist Pino Paladino, John eventual replacement during the Who tour following John's passing.

 

In 1995, John performed with the Ringo Starr All-Star Band.  John was fond of saying that he had performed Yellow Submarine more times than Paul McCartney.

 

In 1996, John formed and toured with The John Entwistle Band on their Left For Dead tour.  The Who also toured Quadrophenia during 1996 and 1997.  In 1998 The John Entwistle Band again went on tour, eventually releasing a live album from the tour entitled Left For Live.

 

John again joined The Who on tour in 1999/2000 playing to sold out ampitheaters.  Proving once again that he had not lost, but indeed gained in strength on the bass!

 

Joh Entwistle died on June 27th, 2002 of an apparent heart atteack on the eve of a new Who tour.  John is survived by his son Christopher and his mother Queenie.

 

He will be missed.