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Ox has left the building
By MARTIN EVANS 

THE two surviving members of The Who yesterday paid a
final tribute to tragic bass player John Entwistle 
the man they dubbed The Ox.

The huge-framed 57-year-old  who suffered a
heart-attack in a Las Vegas hotel  was hours from
beginning a US revival tour with frontman Roger
Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend.

Devastated Daltrey, 58, and Townshend, 57, issued a
simple, touching statement, which read: The Ox has
left the building, weve lost another great friend.
Thanks for your support and love. Drummer Keith Moon
died in 1978 aged 31.

Outside Vegass Hard Rock Casino, where the band were
due to play, Johns name was up in lights yesterday.
A 50ft neon sign had been publicising the bands
concert  but was changed to read: John Entwistle,
Rest In Peace.

John was found by pal Cy Langston at the adjoining
1,183-room Hard Rock Hotel at noon on Thursday.

Also reported to have been with him was girlfriend
Lisa Pritchett. The pair had been staying in a plush
celebrity room.

The #700-a-night suite comes with a large 70s style
living room, dining room and bar.

Mourners yesterday gathered around the Hard Rock
Casinos venue The Joint where the band  famous for
hits including My Generation and Pinball Wizard  were
to perform. 

The entrance was roped off, there were flowers and a
Union Jack was hanging in the doorway.

But back home in Johns home town of Stow-on-the-Wold,
Gloucs, the tragedy was even more keenly felt.
John lived in 53-room Quarwood Manor with only son
Christopher, 30.

Kay Eager, landlady of Johns local, The Queens Head,
said: He was a good customer.

John didnt let it be known that he was in a famous
band  he didnt like that sort of attention. He was
just happy to be one of the locals. 

Whenever he hosted a party, he would ask us to supply
barrels of beer for it and would always invite us to
join in.

John also used to get involved in local charity work.

He once helped raise #13,000 to buy a minibus for the
British Legion by playing bass in the local band.

Villagers said he was well known for having beautiful
girlfriends by his side or driving in his Rolls 
which had the number plate FAL1C.

'HE WAS A GENIUS' SAY SAD MATES

ROLLING Stone Bill Wyman, a close pal of John since
the 1960s, yesterday told of his shock and
devastation.

He said: He was a great friend for many years  the
quietest man in private but the loudest on stage! He
was unique and irreplacable.

Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher said: John was one of
the greatest bass players of all time in one of the
greatest rock n roll bands of all time.

They dont make em like him anymore, and he will be
sadly missed.

Ray Manzarek, keyboard player for US rockers The
Doors, said: He was one of the great, great rock n
roll bassists. Undoubtedly, a real genius.

And David Bowie said: This is a great loss for
British music and a real tragedy  shocking.


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-Brian in Atlanta
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