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 occasionally 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 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? 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!