no one said happy birthday to john yet...

[bob]

had a chance to meet him, but didn't get in the car going to their
hotel... sigh...

[DGDevin]

Post by bob
had a chance to meet him, but didn't get in the car going to their
hotel... sigh...

Wish he'd taken better care of himself, if he'd given up smoking he'd
probably still be with us.

[Ted Maloney]

Post by DGDevin

Post by bob
had a chance to meet him, but didn't get in the car going to their
hotel... sigh...

Wish he'd taken better care of himself, if he'd given up smoking he'd
probably still be with us.

Yes, smoking.... and hookers. What a way to go though.

As I look back, John Entwistle was the epitome of coolness. No
posturing, no BS, just talent. I still get chills watching and
listening to him play.

Ted

[DGDevin]

Post by Ted Maloney

Post by DGDevin
Wish he'd taken better care of himself, if he'd given up smoking he'd
probably still be with us.

Yes, smoking.... and hookers. What a way to go though.

I recall the coroner reporting that one of JE's coronary arteries was almost
completely obstructed, and smoking accelerates that sort of thing so if he's
quit smoking a couple of decades before he could have been jumping on exotic
dancers all he wanted and still be amazing us today.

Post by Ted Maloney
As I look back, John Entwistle was the epitome of coolness. No
posturing, no BS, just talent. I still get chills watching and
listening to him play.

Yup, when the readers of Guitar magazine voted him bass player of the
millennium they knew what they were doing.

[Kyle]

Post by DGDevin

Post by bob
had a chance to meet him, but didn't get in the car going to their
hotel... sigh...

Wish he'd taken better care of himself, if he'd given up smoking he'd
probably still be with us.

Yes, smoking.... and hookers.  What a way to go though.
As I look back, John Entwistle was the epitome of coolness.  No
posturing, no BS, just talent.  I still get chills watching and
listening to him play.
Ted

He was rock music's greatest bassist, in my opinion. And I' take JAE
over Jaco anytime.

[DGDevin]

Post by Kyle
He was rock music's greatest bassist, in my opinion. And I' take JAE
over Jaco anytime.

Kind of an apple and oranges thing. Jaco could do things JAE couldn't, but
Jaco would have been lost in The Who or many other rock bands. It's like
comparing John Entwistle and Ray Brown, they moved in different worlds.

[Kyle]

He was rock music's greatest bassist, in my opinion.   And I' take JAE
over Jaco anytime.

Kind of an apple and oranges thing.  Jaco could do things JAE couldn't, but
Jaco would have been lost in The Who or many other rock bands.  It's like
comparing John Entwistle and Ray Brown, they moved in different worlds.

I agree that it's an iffy comparison, but it comes from years and
years of hearing Jacob invoked as though he were God. I'll mention
being a fan of John Entwistle, and some brain-damaged thug will say,
"Oh yeah? Ever of Jaco?", when the reality is I was Jacodd out
decades ago. In bass-related discussions Jacob.tends to be treated as
the trump card.

I'm less inclined towards deification of people. In fact I'd say
Jacob due for reassessment. For example, on some of his stuff with
Joni Mitchell, he was seriously impeding the songs.

[DGDevin]

Post by Kyle

Post by DGDevin
Kind of an apple and oranges thing. Jaco could do things JAE couldn't, but
Jaco would have been lost in The Who or many other rock bands. It's like
comparing John Entwistle and Ray Brown, they moved in different worlds.

I agree that it's an iffy comparison, but it comes from years and
years of hearing Jacob invoked as though he were God.

Sure, I've run into that myself. It depends a lot on what kind of music the
commentator is into, if they lean towards jazz via fusion then they figure
Jaco is the top of the heap. I can only take so much fusion before I have
to listen to something a little more organic, although having said that I
recently saw Return to Forever and it was a hell of a show, but highly
rehearsed rather than spontaneous. Stanley Clarke was jaw-dropping.

I have no problem ranking Entwistle as the greatest rock bass player ever,
recognizing that others will point to McCartney or Lesh or whoever. My view
is based on more than just affection for the music of The Who and
Entwistle's technical abilities, it also comes from the way he broke out of
the traditional role of the bassist, he helped to invent rock bass and
everybody who came after him followed his lead in not being locked to the
kick drum, root-fifth, root-fifth, root-fifth ad infinitum. He changed the
way people play the instrument and the role of the instrument in the band,
that's something that sets him apart.

[bob]

Post by Kyle
I agree that it's an iffy comparison, but it comes from years and
years of hearing Jacob invoked as though he were God. I'll mention
being a fan of John Entwistle, and some brain-damaged thug will say,
"Oh yeah? Ever of Jaco?", when the reality is I was Jacodd out
decades ago. In bass-related discussions Jacob.tends to be treated as
the trump card.
I'm less inclined towards deification of people. In fact I'd say
Jacob due for reassessment. For example, on some of his stuff with
Joni Mitchell, he was seriously impeding the songs.

she thinks he was the only bass player who understood her songs... not
trying to be overly argumentative; i just read something about them a
few weeks ago...

anyway, i think they (john and jaco) were probably both capable of
playing what the other played, but that's not how music works... and
really, thank god for that...

[Nil]

Post by bob
anyway, i think they (john and jaco) were probably both capable of
playing what the other played, but that's not how music works...
and really, thank god for that...

I don't think John was capable of playing through complex chord changes
like Jaco could. John pretty much hammered out pentatonic scales for
his whole career. He made that work in the context of The Who's and his
solo music, but I don't think it would fit in comfortably in many other
styles. He was a straight-ahead rocker. I hear very little "funk" or
swing in his playing.

I'm not sure if Jaco could fit into The Who's music, but I think he
would have a better chance of it than vice-versa, John trying to play
Jaco's music. Can you imagine John Entwisle playing "Donna Lee"??

[Kyle]

Post by Nil

Post by bob
anyway, i think they (john and jaco) were probably both capable of
playing what the other played, but that's not how music works...
and really, thank god for that...

I don't think John was capable of playing through complex chord changes
like Jaco could. John pretty much hammered out pentatonic scales for
his whole career. He made that work in the context of The Who's and his
solo music, but I don't think it would fit in comfortably in many other
styles. He was a straight-ahead rocker. I hear very little "funk" or
swing in his playing.
I'm not sure if Jaco could fit into The Who's music, but I think he
would have a better chance of it than vice-versa, John trying to play
Jaco's music. Can you imagine John Entwisle playing "Donna Lee"??

I think there's a little funk in some of John's playing. The intro to
"Who Are You," and some of the stuff on "Too Late the Hero" comes to
mind. But I agree.he was basically a rocker, albeit a unique and
innovative one.

I wouldn't say either could play the other's stuff, or that they'd
want to.

[Kyle]

Post by Nil

Post by bob
anyway, i think they (john and jaco) were probably both capable of
playing what the other played, but that's not how music works...
and really, thank god for that...

I don't think John was capable of playing through complex chord changes
like Jaco could. John pretty much hammered out pentatonic scales for
his whole career. He made that work in the context of The Who's and his
solo music, but I don't think it would fit in comfortably in many other
styles. He was a straight-ahead rocker. I hear very little "funk" or
swing in his playing.
I'm not sure if Jaco could fit into The Who's music, but I think he
would have a better chance of it than vice-versa, John trying to play
Jaco's music. Can you imagine John Entwisle playing "Donna Lee"??

I think there's a little funk in some of John's playing.  The intro to
"Who Are You," and some of the stuff on "Too Late the Hero" comes to
mind.  But I agree.he was basically a rocker, albeit a unique and
innovative one.
I wouldn't say either could play the other's stuff, or that they'd
want to.

You know where else I think Entwistle got a little funky? On "Another
Tricky Day," especially live, where he really got into the snapping
part in the middle eight.and fade-out.

Some of his other lines on Face Dances are a little funky.

[bob]

On Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:01:09 -0400, Nil

Post by Nil

Post by bob
anyway, i think they (john and jaco) were probably both capable of
playing what the other played, but that's not how music works...
and really, thank god for that...

I don't think John was capable of playing through complex chord changes
like Jaco could. John pretty much hammered out pentatonic scales for
his whole career. He made that work in the context of The Who's and his
solo music, but I don't think it would fit in comfortably in many other
styles. He was a straight-ahead rocker. I hear very little "funk" or
swing in his playing.

i don't think we have any way of knowing what john was capable of
beyond what he chose to write or play. my point was just that they are
super different. john grew up playing the r&b and early funk of the
50s and 60s, plus he played jazz trumpet in his early days too, plus
the french horn, which is a really hard instrument to play... so i'm
sure he could play funkier if he wanted to... and i'm not saying he's
better than jaco... and actually i think very unfortunately john's
playing got quite sloppy near the end...

Post by Nil
I'm not sure if Jaco could fit into The Who's music, but I think he
would have a better chance of it than vice-versa, John trying to play
Jaco's music. Can you imagine John Entwisle playing "Donna Lee"??

i think he could have done it justice, but we'll never know...

[Ted Maloney]

Post by bob
On Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:01:09 -0400, Nil

Post by Nil

Post by bob
anyway, i think they (john and jaco) were probably both capable of
playing what the other played, but that's not how music works...
and really, thank god for that...

I don't think John was capable of playing through complex chord changes
like Jaco could. John pretty much hammered out pentatonic scales for
his whole career. He made that work in the context of The Who's and his
solo music, but I don't think it would fit in comfortably in many other
styles. He was a straight-ahead rocker. I hear very little "funk" or
swing in his playing.

i don't think we have any way of knowing what john was capable of
beyond what he chose to write or play. my point was just that they are
super different. john grew up playing the r&b and early funk of the
50s and 60s, plus he played jazz trumpet in his early days too, plus
the french horn, which is a really hard instrument to play... so i'm
sure he could play funkier if he wanted to... and i'm not saying he's
better than jaco... and actually i think very unfortunately john's
playing got quite sloppy near the end...

Post by Nil
I'm not sure if Jaco could fit into The Who's music, but I think he
would have a better chance of it than vice-versa, John trying to play
Jaco's music. Can you imagine John Entwisle playing "Donna Lee"??

i think he could have done it justice, but we'll never know...

In the early days of the Who, you can hear the influence of John
Entwistle's dixieland/brass days. The bass on "I'm a Boy" might as
well have been a tuba. I always wished he had played more brass live.
Great stuff!

Any footage out there of him playing brass instruments live? How
about footage of Townshend playing the 8-string bass on "Trick of the
Light" in '79?

T
E
D

[Me]

Post by Ted Maloney

Post by bob
On Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:01:09 -0400, Nil

Post by Nil

Post by bob
anyway, i think they (john and jaco) were probably both capable of
playing what the other played, but that's not how music works...
and really, thank god for that...

I don't think John was capable of playing through complex chord changes
like Jaco could. John pretty much hammered out pentatonic scales for
his whole career. He made that work in the context of The Who's and his
solo music, but I don't think it would fit in comfortably in many other
styles. He was a straight-ahead rocker. I hear very little "funk" or
swing in his playing.

i don't think we have any way of knowing what john was capable of
beyond what he chose to write or play. my point was just that they are
super different. john grew up playing the r&b and early funk of the
50s and 60s, plus he played jazz trumpet in his early days too, plus
the french horn, which is a really hard instrument to play... so i'm
sure he could play funkier if he wanted to... and i'm not saying he's
better than jaco... and actually i think very unfortunately john's
playing got quite sloppy near the end...

Post by Nil
I'm not sure if Jaco could fit into The Who's music, but I think he
would have a better chance of it than vice-versa, John trying to play
Jaco's music. Can you imagine John Entwisle playing "Donna Lee"??

i think he could have done it justice, but we'll never know...

In the early days of the Who, you can hear the influence of John
Entwistle's dixieland/brass days.  The bass on "I'm a Boy" might as
well have been a tuba.  I always wished he had played more brass live.
Great stuff!
Any footage out there of him playing brass instruments live?  How
about footage of Townshend playing the 8-string bass on "Trick of the
Light" in '79?
T
E
D- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

I don't recall any footage of him playing brass live though one of The
Who books has a picture of him playing what I think is a French horn
onstage.

[Kyle]

Post by bob
On Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:01:09 -0400, Nil

Post by Nil

Post by bob
anyway, i think they (john and jaco) were probably both capable of
playing what the other played, but that's not how music works...
and really, thank god for that...

I don't think John was capable of playing through complex chord changes
like Jaco could. John pretty much hammered out pentatonic scales for
his whole career. He made that work in the context of The Who's and his
solo music, but I don't think it would fit in comfortably in many other
styles. He was a straight-ahead rocker. I hear very little "funk" or
swing in his playing.

i don't think we have any way of knowing what john was capable of
beyond what he chose to write or play. my point was just that they are
super different. john grew up playing the r&b and early funk of the
50s and 60s, plus he played jazz trumpet in his early days too, plus
the french horn, which is a really hard instrument to play... so i'm
sure he could play funkier if he wanted to... and i'm not saying he's
better than jaco... and actually i think very unfortunately john's
playing got quite sloppy near the end...

Post by Nil
I'm not sure if Jaco could fit into The Who's music, but I think he
would have a better chance of it than vice-versa, John trying to play
Jaco's music. Can you imagine John Entwisle playing "Donna Lee"??

i think he could have done it justice, but we'll never know...

I don't think he could have played it. But he wasn't a Jacoite and
covering Jacob's songs would have held no allure for him. Jacos
followers talk as if covering one of J's songs is an ultimate
achievement. But a non-initiate would regard it as a lot of pointless
masturbation.

I did hear JAE say once that he didn't like covering other guy's
parts, anyway. I think the only baseline he ever really covered was
something of McCartney's.

[Nil]

Post by Kyle
I did hear JAE say once that he didn't like covering other guy's
parts, anyway. I think the only baseline he ever really covered
was something of McCartney's.

He covered McCartney's parts more than once only... John did a whole
tour as part of Ringo's All Starr Band, and another tour with Alan
Parson's "A Walk Down Abbey Road" 'supergroup.'

[bob]

Post by Kyle
I don't think he could have played it.

again, honestly, not trying to be argumentative, but you have no idea
whether he could have or not. i think he could have, so where does
that leave us? i could play a passable version of it if i worked on it
for about a month (i do play bass and a month would be an amazingly
long time for me to work on a cover...) and entwistle is 18 thousand
trillion times better than i am...

watch this youtube of some random, but pretty good, player having a
go... you think this guy's better than john? i don't.

[bob]

Post by bob

Post by Kyle
I don't think he could have played it.

again, honestly, not trying to be argumentative, but you have no idea
whether he could have or not. i think he could have, so where does
that leave us? i could play a passable version of it if i worked on it
for about a month (i do play bass and a month would be an amazingly
long time for me to work on a cover...) and entwistle is 18 thousand
trillion times better than i am...
watch this youtube of some random, but pretty good, player having a
go... you think this guy's better than john? i don't.

forgot to put the link in...

[Nil]

Post by bob
again, honestly, not trying to be argumentative, but you have no
idea whether he could have or not. i think he could have, so where
does that leave us? i could play a passable version of it if i
worked on it for about a month (i do play bass and a month would
be an amazingly long time for me to work on a cover...) and
entwistle is 18 thousand trillion times better than i am...

I don't think John could have played Donna Lee. I'm not talking about
him taking some time and practicing until he could play the head - any
agile monkey could do that given enough practice time. I'm talking
about improvising a convincing solo, with a convincing jazz feel,
following the changes, at tempo. I'm sure John had the physical
dexterity to play a difficult written part, but I've never heard any
evidence that John was capable of that kind of improvisation.

I'm not disparaging the guy. He was one of the greatest rock bassists
ever. I just don't think he had a jazz bone in his body.

[bob]

On Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:29:10 -0400, Nil

Post by Nil

Post by bob
again, honestly, not trying to be argumentative, but you have no
idea whether he could have or not.

I don't think John could have played Donna Lee. I'm not talking about
him taking some time and practicing until he could play the head - any
agile monkey could do that given enough practice time. I'm talking
about improvising a convincing solo, with a convincing jazz feel,
following the changes, at tempo. I'm sure John had the physical
dexterity to play a difficult written part, but I've never heard any
evidence that John was capable of that kind of improvisation.

ok... this is crazy.... he could play it, but, like, not PLAY it?? my
point is only that this is an absurd discussion. they were both
amazing... he could have played it, but not how you wanted him to??
this is all very odd...

Post by Nil
I'm not disparaging the guy. He was one of the greatest rock bassists
ever. I just don't think he had a jazz bone in his body.

again, he started in jazz, but then fell in love with rock and roll...

[Nil]

Post by bob
ok... this is crazy.... he could play it, but, like, not PLAY it??

No. I'm sure he could learn to play a composed part. I don't think
he could comfortably improvise in a jazz manner, through complex
changes that pass through rapidly shifting keys, as could Jaco P,
the one we've been comparing him to.

Post by bob
my point is only that this is an absurd discussion.

Of course it is. I'm only speculating, but I feel pretty sure of my
hypothesis, based on the recorded evidence, or lack of it.

Post by bob
they were both amazing... he could have played it,

Now who's speculating?

Post by bob
but not how you wanted him to?? this is all very odd...

Not how "I wanted him to". In a way similar to Jaco P. That's the
point of comparison we agreed upon.

Post by bob
again, he started in jazz, but then fell in love with rock and
roll...

Supposedly he started off playing "trad jazz." That doesn't mean it
was good or competent trad jazz. Dixieland is not an easy kind of
music to play and I'm skeptical that a young John would have had
the training or experience to do it well. He might have been able to
learn composed parts, but I doubt he could improvise well in that
style. He spent the rest of his life playing his patented style of rock
bass and never tried to play jazz of any kind again, as far as I know.
So I don't believe that he would have been able to suddenly whip out
some ultra-fast bebop like Donna Lee, complete with improvised solos.

[bob]

On Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:41:25 -0400, Nil

Post by Nil
No. I'm sure he could learn to play a composed part. I don't think
he could comfortably improvise in a jazz manner, through complex
changes that pass through rapidly shifting keys, as could Jaco P,
the one we've been comparing him to.

you have no idea.

Post by Nil

Post by bob
my point is only that this is an absurd discussion.

Of course it is. I'm only speculating, but I feel pretty sure of my
hypothesis, based on the recorded evidence, or lack of it.

Post by bob
they were both amazing... he could have played it,

Now who's speculating?

we both are equally.

Post by Nil

Post by bob
but not how you wanted him to?? this is all very odd...

Not how "I wanted him to". In a way similar to Jaco P. That's the
point of comparison we agreed upon.

we haven't agreed on anything.

Post by Nil

Post by bob
again, he started in jazz, but then fell in love with rock and roll...

Supposedly he started off playing "trad jazz." That doesn't mean it
was good or competent trad jazz. Dixieland is not an easy kind of
music to play and I'm skeptical that a young John would have had
the training or experience to do it well. He might have been able to
learn composed parts, but I doubt he could improvise well in that
style. He spent the rest of his life playing his patented style of rock
bass and never tried to play jazz of any kind again, as far as I know.
So I don't believe that he would have been able to suddenly whip out
some ultra-fast bebop like Donna Lee, complete with improvised solos.

you have no idea.

[Nil]

Post by bob
you have no idea.

Of course I have an idea. There's no way of knowing how true the idea
could have been, but I think it's a valid idea.

Post by bob
we both are equally.

Right, it's just speculation. Are you really getting upset over this?

Post by bob
you have no idea.

Of course I have an idea. There's no way of knowing how true the idea
could have been, but I think it's a valid idea.

[bob]

On Wed, 19 Oct 2011 02:01:16 -0400, Nil

Post by Nil

Post by bob
you have no idea.

Of course I have an idea. There's no way of knowing how true the idea
could have been, but I think it's a valid idea.

Post by bob
we both are equally.

Right, it's just speculation. Are you really getting upset over this?

not at all. i do like debating though! and this idea that john wasn't
capable of something he just didn't choose to do is completely absurd.
none of us has any idea what he was capable of beyond what he chose to
show. since you want to be really semantic about it, you have an
entirely unverifiable theory, which technically obviously is "an
idea," but it's nothing close to actual knowledge which is why this is
absurd. although that doesn't mean it not worth talking about to pass
the time...

it's like arguing about whether elvis could have been a great opera
singer. maybe he could have, maybe he couldn't have, but there's no
way of knowing. (although in this hypothetical, i have to admit that i
don't know enough about elvis... maybe he did some amazing opera at
some point??) anyway, when available samples for any kind of study are
narrow (99% 1 or 2 styles) and singular (one very unfortunately
passed-on person) there just isn't enough to make a quality argument
at all. it's like studying climate change only at the equator or
saying sprinters couldn't finish a marathon because they couldn't run
that fast for 26 miles...

so my entirely unverifiable theory is sort of:

john did amazing things with relatively standard progressions,
passages, songs, whatever pete threw at him, plus his own rock stuff
that was usually kind of straight ahead rock and roll, why would the
amazing just shut off at the border? it doesn't make sense. it's just
what he chose to play. he played, practiced, and taught for 40 years
or so at an amazingly high level, but only showed the public maybe 1%
of that... so he could POSSIBLY have handled a lot or maybe even most
of jaco's playing AND he could have written and played amazing, but
obviously different (because that's how music and improv works), stuff
over joni mitchell and any of the standards or FC stuff or whatever...

plus john started in jazz, plus john played french horn (agreed on as
one of the hardest instruments to play well) and we don't have much
evidence of what he played or practiced on that (or being fair to you,
how well he played it...), he also played piano (which traditionally
starts in classical areas, and we have no evidence of that in his bass
playing either really) and trumpet which usually starts in jazzy
areas... self-deprecation "i still can't play jazz" aside. how many
musicians do you know that talk themselves up?

your entirely unverifiable theory is sort of:

he couldn't do it because i never saw him.

do you really think he would have just stared at his hands and banged
his head on the piano like that guy on the muppets? it would have been
amazing to hear what he would have done in different styles. do you
really think a room full of jazz players would have been disappointed
to hear that john was on his way over for a jam. oh no! he'll play 4:4
rock the whole time! although they might have worried about the
volume...

[DGDevin]

Post by bob

Post by Kyle
I don't think he could have played it.

again, honestly, not trying to be argumentative, but you have no idea
whether he could have or not. i think he could have, so where does
that leave us? i could play a passable version of it if i worked on it
for about a month (i do play bass and a month would be an amazingly
long time for me to work on a cover...) and entwistle is 18 thousand
trillion times better than i am...

Given enough time and a reasonable amount of ability most players can copy
what someone has already done, it's just a matter of practicing the piece
until it's under your fingers. The real question is whether John could have
come up with much of what Jaco played without having heard it, or if Jaco
could have stepped into The Who and felt at home. A professional musician
familiar with different styles of music can cover a lot of ground, a pal of
mine us currently in an original country band, a pop-rock cover band, and
three different blues bands doing both covers and originals. He's at home
in the blues and rock, but he can put on a cowboy hat and play country well
enough to pass--but he knows he's in effect doing an imitation, it isn't
what he's good at.

If he'd made it his passion perhaps Entwistle could have played some
convincing jazz, but I don't think he would have felt at home, nor do I
think Jaco would have fit into The Who (and they were a band made up of
unusual styles). It isn't a question of being good enough, it's more a
matter of being suited to the music. Michael Jordan tried playing baseball
for awhile, it just wasn't his game.

[DGDevin]

Post by bob
i don't think we have any way of knowing what john was capable of
beyond what he chose to write or play.

See page 229 of Entwistle's book Bass Culture. In his own words, "I still
can't play jazz". Maybe he wasn't being completely serious, but still.

[Kyle]

Post by bob
i don't think we have any way of knowing what john was capable of
beyond what he chose to write or play.

See page 229 of Entwistle's book Bass Culture.  In his own words, "I still
can't play jazz".  Maybe he wasn't being completely serious, but still.

He also denied being influenced by James Jamers on as the latter was a
"proper" bassist, which JAE did not consider himself.

I have seen Entwistle occasionally break into perfectly convincing
walking baselines. But Jacob at his prime (though not my thing) was
several steps beyond that.

[DGDevin]

Post by Kyle

Post by DGDevin
See page 229 of Entwistle's book Bass Culture. In his own words, "I still
can't play jazz". Maybe he wasn't being completely serious, but still.

He also denied being influenced by James Jamers on as the latter was a
"proper" bassist, which JAE did not consider himself.

I seem to recall an interview where John said he had been very influenced by
Jamerson although he didn't know it at the time since Motown did not list
sidemen on many of the hits Jamerson contributed to. It was only later than
Entwistle learned who had been playing all that amazing bass.

[Kyle]

Post by DGDevin

Post by Kyle

See page 229 of Entwistle's book Bass Culture.  In his own words, "I still
can't play jazz".  Maybe he wasn't being completely serious, but still.

He also denied being influenced by James Jamers on as the latter was a
"proper" bassist, which JAE did not consider himself.

I seem to recall an interview where John said he had been very influenced by
Jamerson although he didn't know it at the time since Motown did not list
sidemen on many of the hits Jamerson contributed to.  It was only later than
Entwistle learned who had been playing all that amazing bass.

Hmm, are you sure that wasn't a McCartney interview? 'Cause I
remember a PM interview where he said exactly that. JAE, I am
positive, said what I attributed to him before -- and I don't think
he'd be so inconsistent as to make both statements.

[DGDevin]

Post by Kyle
Hmm, are you sure that wasn't a McCartney interview? 'Cause I
remember a PM interview where he said exactly that. JAE, I am
positive, said what I attributed to him before -- and I don't think
he'd be so inconsistent as to make both statements.

I would imagine that view would apply to most folks who learned to play
electric bass in the 60s, they were influenced by Jamerson even if they
didn't know his name at the time.

I could have sworn Entwistle said something to this effect in some
interview. On the other hand you're correct that at least once he said
Jamerson wasn't a big influence on him even if he admired his playing and
feel and probably nicked a few things from records Jamerson played on
(Guitar Player magazine, August 1989). I have a terrific memory, it just
cuts in and out at times--my dad warned me that the day would come where to
learn something new I'd have to forget something old....

[Kyle]

One area where I think one has to give the edge to Entwistle is in his
range of right-hand techniques. Jaco relied pretty much exclusively
on the standard two-finger plucking method - though he was
indisputably good with it. Entwistle had that, plus he was great with
a pick, as well as his unique tapping method, and a few other things
("crab claws") in addition. And he'd combine the methods throughout
songs in a very dynamic way.