John chat transcript (long)

[THRH79B@prodigy.com (MS KELLY D GILES I)]

John Entwistle was a guest in Prodigy chat the other night.  I, 
naturally, was there, and I made this lovely log of the event for all 
my list friends to see.  I edited out most of the other guest and 
questions to her except when they related to John, but other than 
that the whole thing is here.  It's rather long, but some good 
questions were asked and I think it's well worth reading.

- -Yellow "I am Prodigy member Sal Simpson" Ledbetter


Roy Trakin (Speaker)
Dudes and dudettes... Welcome to the Rant & Roll Auditorium.  We
have some very special guests tonight on the subject of
redefining your identity.. or just having some fun with it.. in
rock & roll..... The Who's legendary bassist John Entwistle is on
hand as is Concrete Blonde's provocative and always outspoken
Johnette Napolitano.  So bear with us and welcome.... We'll take
your questions in a moment.

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
Thanks for being here tonight.  You could say the Who's John
Entwistle and Concrete Blonde's Johnette Napolitano are survivors
in a war of attrition.  We've talked a lot about career
development in rock & roll and how you can sustain it.  These two
are constantly working and redefining themselves.... So it should
be pretty interesting as to what they have to say....

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
John Entwistle will be joining us here from England, where it's
something like 3 in the morning.  So excuse him if he's a little
bleary-eyed.  He's also very interested in technological
applications in music, having recently participated in a
long-distance digital concert, I believe, over the Internet if
I'm not mistaken....

Johnette Napolitano (Speaker)
thanks

Johnette Napolitano (Speaker)
gotta get used to this

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
Terrific.  Welcome to Rant & Roll, Johnette and John. Betcha
wondering why I brought you two here together.

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
Take your time, Johnette.  We'll try to keep pace with you...

Johnette Napolitano (Speaker)
a blind date?

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
You're doing just fine.  We're reading you loud and clear.  Blind
date?  Cyber-sex?  Whatever you want, we deliver here at the Rant
& Roll Corral...

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Welcome back

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Thank you, Johnette

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
John, great to have you here.   How did you manage to stay up so
late?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
I always do.

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
What have you guys been working on over in England?  Solo
material?  Are you preparing for the Quadrophenia shows at all?

Johnette Napolitano (Speaker)
Dark Side of the Moon.

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
Johnette, John is in the Who, not Pink Floyd...  But have you
tried to synch them up at all?  Does it work?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
We won't really prepare for Quadrophenia till the last minute,
just so I don't forget the chords and the notes. I've been
working on the music for a cartoon series with my own band. It's
pretty well taken up the last 3 months...

Johnette Napolitano (Speaker)
I know that, silly, but I wanted to know if he'd heard of it.

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
Just kidding....

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
I heard if you play X's first album underneath "Pulp Fiction,"
you get the same effect...

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Yeah, I heard it. I don't know whether they could actually be
reconstructed.

Johnette Napolitano (Speaker)
LOL

Sal Simpson (Prodigy Member)
Hi John!  My friend Pamela wants me to tell you that she named
her dog Alec after you.  I'm really excited about seeing you in
concert this summer, can you tell us what you and Pete and Roger
will be playing?  We've been arguing about the prospective
setlist for weeks now!

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Sal -- pretty much the same as last time. The only thing we
changed for Europe was we put in "Substitute" and "I can't
Explain."

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Alec must be a smart dog, Sal

OxFan (Prodigy Member)
Hello John. Which Who album do you feel contains your best work?
I cast my vote for Quadrophenia.

John Spartan (Prodigy Member)
What's more fun--touring or recording?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
OxFan -- Live at Leeds and Quadrophenia, I think.

kithfan (Prodigy Member)
How come they don't let u sing anymore?

John Spartan (Prodigy Member)
What goes through your mind now when you see the movie Tommy?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
John -- I don't know. I think it's still 20 minutes too long.

Luvac (Prodigy Member)
Hi John!  I'd like first to say that I've been a Who fan for 20+
years and think you are the bassist in the world! My question
is...will you be doing any more gigs and/albums with The John
Entwistle band?

John Spartan (Prodigy Member)
Either of you--are there any of your songs that it's worth going
ot the effort of playing backwards?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Kithfan -- Cause I haven't offered, I guess. I don't like doing
backing vocals, esp. with the Who because everyone else is too
loud for the monitors. And I can't be bothered to keep my voice
in trim just for one or two songs.

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Luvac -- well, we're doing an album now for this cartoon series
- -- 14 different songs and the main title theme. As soon as we get
a chance, we'll get back out on the road.

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
John, I really dug the "Quadrophenia" shows last year... Are you
going to play the entire album again?  And what was it like
playing with Zak Starkey.. I thought he was as close to the
spirit of Keith Moon as anyone you ever had play drums with
you...

Devoo (Prodigy Member)
were u disappointed that the who's last reunion didn't receive
the popular press that the stones tend 2 receive?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Roy -- Yeah, we're playing it in it's entirety again, same as
last time. As far as Zak's concerned, I've been playing with him
for about ten years now, so we should be pretty good together by
now!

Tortured Man (Prodigy Member)
Hey John, I can't tell you what an honor this is to address you,
your the sole reason that I stuck to the bass as long as I did. I
recently got your album "Thunderfingers", I expected to see
"Dancin Master" on but didn't, how come?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Devoo -- not really. We were playing for less people.

No9SuperStar (Prodigy Member)
John, I want to thank you for writing I FEEL BETTER and TOO LATE
THE HERO. They both changed my life.

Hippie1 (Prodigy Member)
I have a question about your drummer, is he Ringo Starr's son ? 
I saw The Who last November in Philadelphia and you guys were
incredible !  I'm hoping to go and see you again this summer.  I
think I'm really lucky to have seen such a legendary band, and
since I'm only 15, I really haven't gotten to many chances to see
you guys.  Will there be any more albums, tours any time soon ?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Tortured Man -- "Thunderfingers..." that was the record company's
choice. They took a few songs off and put others on, so they
chose what was going to be on the album. You should buy the
anthology, which is a European import; or Too Late the Hero,
which should be out on CD soon.

Tortured Man (Prodigy Member)
John do you still play the SpiderWeb Alembic bass that you played
years ago live in concert?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Tortured Man -- no, it's been retired. It's upstairs in my
hallway on a stand.

John Spartan (Prodigy Member)
Are there any of your songs you truly don't like playing in
concert, and if so why?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
MR. Spartan -- My songs or Who? "Magic Bus" is old and a dead
bore. Of my songs...I enjoy playing all of those.

Johnette Napolitano (Speaker)
can I just call myself Johnette Whistle?

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
Are you amazed, both of you, that you've been able to carve out a
career doing what you love?  And second, you're both visual
artists as well... how does rock relate to your drawing and
painting?

Johnette Napolitano (Speaker)
How about "I Can See For Miles"?

crix (Prodigy Member)
Hey John, you can be true to me now. Is pete really a douchebag
off the stage in real life?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Roy -- I paint rock stars, so I guess it does connect that
way...or imagining the ancestors of rock stars. I don't think I'm
actually amazed at carving out a career; I think I'd always
intended to. If I hadn't, I'd probably do something in art
instead.

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
Are you happy to be playing with the Who now?  And what's the
relationship between the three of you like now?

Tortured Man (Prodigy Member)
John, if you retired the Alembic, what's your main bass guitar
now?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
crix -- I won't answer that. I'm sure he wouldn't want to answer
the same question about me.

OxFan (Prodigy Member)
John - Is it just me, or does Townshend look more like James
Taylor every day?

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
Johnette, you played bass with Concrete Blonde, didn't you? Was
Entwistle an inspiration at all when you were picking up the
instrument?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Roy -- The relationship's pretty good. We don't really see much
of each other offstage, but we never did anyway, so.... But we're
happy. I'm happy.

Johnette Napolitano (Speaker)
I could play a million years and not touch it; but 'Tommy' and
'Quad'

Johnette Napolitano (Speaker)
were huge influences

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Tortured Man -- I use a bass I designed myself. I've been playing
the same design for about 5or 6 years now. The one I use now is
made by a British company called Status, called a Buzzard -- it's
solid graphite, so I don't have a hunchback any more. The Alembic
weighed about 3 times as much.

Luvac (Prodigy Member)
John? How did Moonie's death affect you personally and
professionally?

Devoo (Prodigy Member)
john, me and luvac have an ongoing arguement.  didn't keith moon
die just before his wedding day?  sorry if the brings back sad
memories but we really would like 2 know.

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Luvac -- Obviously, professionally we had to find another
drummer. But as far as personally, I lost my best friend.

Hippie1 (Prodigy Member)
John-- I hope to see you again this summer.  I have a request
too, if possible, PLEASE do We're not gonna take it !  I would
love to hear that song.

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Devoo -- Not exactly before. Keith had planned to get married,
but they cancelled it. She found out he didn't have enough money
and jumped a jumbo to Barbados or Bora Bora or somewhere.

Tortured Man (Prodigy Member)
Hey John was there ever any truth in the rumor years ago that you
were going to join with the Stones when Bill Wyman quit. (I was
actually looking foward to it).

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Hippie -- Sorry, but definitely not. I think ccasionally in
Europe we  played about 30 seconds of "Pinball Wizard." But
nothing from "Tommy."

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Tortured Man -- Well, for a while the plan thought that's what
was going on. So I milked it for as much as I could. In reality,
though...no way, not true.

John Entwistle (Speaker)
I mean the *press* thought that. Sorry.

kithfan (Prodigy Member)
Simon, Keith, Zak, or Kenney? Who did u click with the most

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
Why doesn't the band play any new material, John?  Because it
couldn't stand up to the classics?  Doesn't this make you a bit
of a nostalgia thing... at least that's what some of the critics
said, though I disagree... I think "Quadrophenia" worked
splendidly in concert...

John Entwistle (Speaker)
kithfan -- Keith. We grew up playing together. Our styles
developed alongside each other.

Boxer (Prodigy Member)
John...you know what would be cool?  If you, Pete and Roger did
some solo hits together as well as classic Who hits on tour.

Devoo (Prodigy Member)
john, u wrote some magnificent snogs.  i'm think of ""by numbers"
and "who r u" right now.  y did u write so few that the who
recorded?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Roy -- I think we all agreed that it wasn't going to be a "Who's
Greatest Hits" show. Which is why we played Quadrophenia -- it
was the one body of music we hadn't played to death.

Luvac (Prodigy Member)
John...my daughter <who was born on Pete's birthday 17 years ago>
wants to say hello to you and tell you that she loves The Who and
grew up listening to you and the boys...2nd generation Who fan!
:>

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
John, there's not enough french horn in rock & roll... That's a
fact...

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Devoo -- mainly because I wrote songs for myself to sing. And
Roger being the singer, we had to limit the songs I sang on the
albums to one each. Therefore, I had to make my own albums in
order to sing more songs. As I started writing for Roger's voice
more, I got more songs on the albums.

pinkus (Prodigy Member)
John -- you toured last year with Simon Townshend. What do you
see as bein the key differences between him and Pete as players?

kithfan (Prodigy Member)
What r the chances of u guys recording again?

wolf1rich (Prodigy Member)
John, thanks for Boris the Spider.  We all need totally crazy
songs to keeep us entertained.

John Entwistle (Speaker)
pinkus -- Well, Peter's more of a chord player. He's been playing
a lot longer, and he's a lot more into it. Simon's been playing
the sort of stuff Pete's been playing. So I can't really judge
Simon's playing by what he's been playing with the band.

John Entwistle (Speaker)
kithfan -- very slim at the moment. But who knows. I said the Who
would never get back together again, and they did....

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
How difficult is it being Simon Townshend and always having to
play second fiddle, John?  Is that a weird situation?  It was
great to see him play on last year's tour, I must admit...

kithfan (Prodigy Member)
Any word on that movie about Keith

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Roy -- well, he and Pete seem to be getting along fine, so I
don't know. I know I'd sure hate to do it.

OxFan (Prodigy Member)
John - Why are The Who so slow on digital remastering and
re-releasing of older material?

No9SuperStar (Prodigy Member)
John-- Pete has said that the 97 tour will be QUAD plus some
other songs. Will this be an extended set as in 89 or just a
handful of oldies like last year?

Sal Simpson (Prodigy Member)
John, did you and the rest of the guys have any creative control
over how the reissued albums were handled, or did the record
company do it all?  Which reissue do you think is the best and
which is the worst?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
kithfan -- No. Not at all. Some of the people who were interested
in doing it wanted to do it as a love story. I couldn't really
see it like that. That would really be a waste of Keith's story.

Shonna23 (Prodigy Member)
John, do you expect to work with Joe Walsh again?                 
    Johnette, your a babe !

Johnette Napolitano (Speaker)
thanks

B O'Riley (Prodigy Member)
Pete and Roger once said (on VH1) that the Who somehow lost touch
with its audience, and so was born stadium rock.  I always loved
the Who because I believed exactly the opposite; that you were
perfectly in touch with your audience, and I felt you touched
something somewhere that most bands didn't - you were always
honest and real.  And by the way, thank you for that.  I suppose
my question is this - what is this show going to be?  Stadium
rock, or has the Who come full circle in its maturity?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Sal -- I don't really know. I haven't listened to them that much.
I quite like the way they tidied up Quadrophenia. I certainly
didn't have any input -- I didn't have time.

Whogins (Prodigy Member)
John, Do you still have the incredible guitar collection. I
believe you bought my White Falcon & Penguin from Norman alot of
years ago. Do you still own them?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
B O'Riley -- no, this is "shed rock."

kithfan (Prodigy Member)
Did u really curse out Pete while singing "Long Live Rock" in 82?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Whogins -- I still have a white Falcon. I sold the Penguin. But I
still have about 229 guitars.

Luvac (Prodigy Member)
John...a quick personal question.  My friends Melissa and Gary
Hurley from Essex claim they are close personal friends of
yours...I'm just curious if this is true or just a
fabrication....

grtdad (Prodigy Member)
Hi John! Its truly an honor to have you on here--I have been a
devout fan since the beginning-

John Entwistle (Speaker)
kithfan -- no. I think the audience sometimes gets confused with
me and Pete's code of shouting things onstage. When we shout
whatever key we need to change to, it's no use yelling out "C" or
"E", so we use words like "caterpillar" or "elephant" to denote
the key. Lots of people think we're swearing at each other on
stage.

Shonna23 (Prodigy Member)
Do either of you mess around with the acoustic double bass ?

Boxer (Prodigy Member)
John can everyone who participated in this chat procure back
stage passes to your concert this summer? <g>

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Luvac -- they're friends of mine, yes.

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Shonna23 -- well, I have one. But "messing around" is the right
term for it.

Tortured Man (Prodigy Member)
John could you throw out a couple of bassist's names, past or
present, that you think are great, I'd really love to know.

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Tortured Man -- Larry Graham (Sly & Family Stone/Graham Central
Station), and all the usual ones.

Sal Simpson (Prodigy Member)
John, can you tell us more about you writing music for a cartoon? 
We're desperate for details!

BEN NJ (Prodigy Member)
Hey John I"d like to congradulate you on a successful career, i
also have to say HI from my good friend Mike Mckinnon your
biggest fan,im sure he would have taken of work tonight to talk
if he knew you would be on line -ill tell him you said hello

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Sal -- We've written 14 songs -- the main title theme and 13 for
each episode. It's called "Vanpires" (with an "n"). It'll start
airing in September on Fox in the U.S. We have to finish the
second season before it'll get released in Europe.

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
John, do you really think Pink Floyd would actually do a
soundtrack that synched perfectly with "The Wizard of Oz"?  Is
that something Roger Waters would do as a joke?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Roy -- Who knows what Roger Waters would do. I don't think so,
though...unless he copied it from the "Wizard of Oz."

Sal Simpson (Prodigy Member)
I love you John! :)  How are those books about the Who coming
along?  You still working on 'em, or did you give that project
up?

Wonder Stone (Prodigy Member)
John I missed your art show opening in N.Y . last year I'm a
artist in the  same gallary the Ambasador   Was wondering if your
planing  another one this year ?

Jeff10 (Prodigy Member)
John,I just wanted to drop you a line to thank you and the rest
of "The Who" for many years of great music and movies.Thanks

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
Hey, this is fun.  The Who's John Entwistle and Concrete Blonde's
Johnette Napolitano in the hey-ouse.... Only on Prodigy.  Ask
your questions.  We have about 20 minutes or so left.

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Sal -- No, I didn't give it up. It's just put on the back shelf
until I finish the cartoon series and the Who stuff. Also, my
artwork is taking up a bit of time. My accountant is trying to
get me to finish it.

Whogins (Prodigy Member)
John...Just wanted to tell you, I saw you in Va. Beach Virginia
in 1968 & decided to become a bassist. My dream rig that I
finally aquired was 4 - Sunn Cabinets, 2 Sound City Cabinets & 2
Sunn Amps & a Thunderbird IV. As you used in 68. Was I hooked or
what! Thanks....Tom

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Wonder Stone -- I believe there's another one in that same
gallery during the next Who tour.

Devoo (Prodigy Member)
how should keith's story be told than john?

Boxer (Prodigy Member)
Hey John...just curious, what's Mandy Moon doing right now?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Devoo -- as a musician. A one-of-a-kind musician.

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Boxer -- I don't know. I haven't seen her for a while now.

OxFan (Prodigy Member)
John - Of the people that you've worked with outside of the Who,
which did you enjoy playing with most?

Devoo (Prodigy Member)
john, of the super groups of the 60s/70s/80s (beatles, who,
stones, zeppelin, skynyrd) which do u think produced moosic that
stands the test of time best?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
OxFan -- My own band, for my solo stuff.

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Devoo -- The Beatles. They're certainly the most popular. We're a
close second. I think those bands, to ears that haven't heard it
so many times, it's able to all be fresh.

John Entwistle (Speaker)
...although I think the Stones will be remembered more for their
singles than their albums.

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
Any bands you listen to now, John... Youngsters who have what it
takes to be around as long as the Who have...???

Sal Simpson (Prodigy Member)
John, are you going to do another solo tour of the 'States?  If
so, come to Wisconsin!  Wisconin loves you!  Oh, and my kid
sisters both say hi and they want you to know that they love
"Boris the Spider".

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Roy -- I don't really know about those young bands' longevity.
There's so many bands out now.... There's a few. I must admit I
don't really register the names of bands anymore. A few I've come
in contact with -- The Cast...U2's still fairly new.

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Sal -- It'll be next year. We're really busy until February. I
guess next year we'll just have to play it by ear. It would be
nice if it were a summer tour....

Whogins (Prodigy Member)
John, Is Whistle Rhymes available on CD?

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
U2's fairly new?  That's hystericial... There's a whole
generation coming along behind us in their 30s who are grappling
with their own demise... I saw tham at the U2 show... John,
Johnette, does that whole ideal of playing big rock & roll shows
in giant stadiums... isn't that basically over?  No one can
sustain that kind of draw, except maybe the Who and the Stones...
It's over... I don't even think the Stones can do it anymore...
The U2 shows were half full...

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Whogins -- Yes. It's coming out from Sundazed label, which is
part of Rhino. It should be out the same time I'm in America for
the Who tour this year.

John Spartan (Prodigy Member)
John--you're going to tell your co-Whoers how much fun you had
here and try to convince them to come by prodigy, right????

Wonder Stone (Prodigy Member)
John I see about 2 shows a month only guitar show I think Eric
Johnson is the newest up and coming he might be the best ever
have you heard of him but then i Love buddy Guy

Tortured Man (Prodigy Member)
John, I've got to tell you that I caught you with Ringo and the
All-Starrs about 2 years ago at Radio City in New York and to
this date it was the best concert I've ever seen, would you ever
play with Ringo again? P.S. I just caught Ringo again earlier
this month!

John Entwistle (Speaker)
I believe they're bringing out the first four at once, then
following with "Too Late the Hero" a bit later.

Devoo (Prodigy Member)
john, i'm a little sheepish about admitting this but i have
always liked pete the best of the 4 of u.  if i want 2 explore
yer work outside the who, what release would u suggest i start
with?

Boxer (Prodigy Member)
Hey John, every Sunday night we have a chat about the
Who...No9SuperStar named it Whotopia and Sal hosts.  Would you
come and visit?  Or you probably don't have time.

B O'Riley (Prodigy Member)
John, I was wondering what your take on "generation x" is; being
18 and hearing mostly negative labels from the 60's crowd, I was
hoping that you are aware how many of us are fighting to keep
rock and roll alive, no matter what.  The Who was, is, and always
will be a main inspiration for us all.  You guys are the
greatest.

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
John... it must amaze you how subsequent generations rediscover
the Who... It's incredible the number of young kids who worship
the classic rock acts.  It's almost a little sad they don't have
any of their own....

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Roy -- No, I don't really think there is a place for big stadium
shows anymore. There are smaller places to play that are just as
profitable if you play more gigs. I found the stadiums very
distant. I couldn't get to grips with the audience 'cause I
couldn't see them!

John Spartan (Prodigy Member)
what was the initial reaction of your parents when you said,
"Mom, Pop, I'm going to dedicate my life to a career in
rock"...or did you even tell them???

John Entwistle (Speaker)
I couldn't make out the audience's faces. Summer sheds, state
fairs and things are better.

Roy Trakin (Speaker)
Hey, John.... do you have any kids?  What was it like raising
them with a rock & roll lifestyle?  And are they musicians, too?

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Tortured -- only if he turned down.

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Roy -- I have a son who's 25. He was fine. He's not a musician.
He's musical, but he's more into computers. Aren't we all?


Roy Trakin (Speaker)
Hey, I want to thank my guests... Mr. John Entwistle, Rock & Roll
Hall of Fame bassist for the Who, and someone who deserves to b e
in the Hall of Fame, Johnette Napoliltano of Concrete Blonde....
This has been a rare treat.  Thank you John, for staying up until
3... we'll see you in the States this summer!!!!

John Entwistle (Speaker)
Okay, Roy! It was nice typing to you all.