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Saturday, June 29, 2002

By Ed Masley, Post-Gazette Pop Music Critic

I couldn't let the final word on John Entwistle go to an Associated Press writer who, in writing yesterday's obituary, felt the legendary bassist for The Who was best described as an "efficient" player.

	John Entwistle brought an explosive style and sound to the Who. (Associated Press/MCA Records)

Efficient?!

Sure, if what you mean by efficient is what other people mean by words like thundering, explosive, revolutionary, freakishly talented, over-the-top and in-your-face.

It's true, he didn't take part in the onstage chaos by jumping or doing a windmill or smashing his bass to bits, but he's the one who takes the lead on "My Generation," the single that's come to define the early Who.

It's because of his explosive style and sound -- the brightness of those Rotosounds slapping against the neck -- that The Who never needed a second guitarist.

It was guitarist Pete Townshend who anchored the sound (which to that point had been the bassist's job), not Entwistle. He was off recklessly following drummer Keith Moon, who, in his more inspired moments, sounded as if his kit was falling down the stairs without missing a beat.

And later, as the band moved on from the relentless urgency and youthful chaos of such early watersheds as "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere," "My Generation" and "I Can't Explain," you could always count on Entwistle for playing as inspired as the fills beneath the verses on "The Real Me."

That's just where his contributions to The Who begin, though.

Entwistle, who died at 57 Thursday of a heart attack, was more than just a bassist.

His falsetto vocals played a key role in the early sound, especially at the climax of the classic Townshend mini-opera "A Quick One While He's Away."

His sense of humor helped The Who edge out the Kinks as the funniest band that ever mattered.

His horn parts played a crucial role in such classics as "Pictures of Lily" and "Heinz Baked Beans."

And his writing provided the band with many of its most endearing moments, from "Boris the Spider" and "Whiskey Man" to "Doctor, Doctor," "Fiddle About" and "Heaven and Hell."

If that's efficient, then we're all in trouble, 'cause the bar on efficiency just went up an awful lot.