The Amazing Basslines on the Who's Quadrophenia

Our third of four parts on John Entwistle explores The Who's rock opera masterpiece, Quadrophenia. This album has some of John's best work!
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[@LegendsofBass]

This is a reupload of LOB Episode 9 - Part 3 of John Entwistle. This video was also screwed up by KZbin's automated copyright audio removal. The Song "I'm One" is now working as expected.

[@devilsforkdigital1490]

A lot of what makes Entwistle's bass playing so interesting is his sense of timing, leaving a variety of intervals between runs instead of hitting the 1 on every bar.

[@johndardi1334]

EXACTLY and it’s not easy to do either

[@jonnyrocket3659]

Quad is my favorite album of all time... the Who at their best.. the best theme, the best songs, best lyrics, best guitar, best bass guitar, best vocals, best drums (Moon at his best God rest his soul) Love the way the musical themes run through the whole album... the music and the lyrics...

[@devilsforkdigital1490]

Ditto.

[@SkinPeeleR]

Amen.

[@carloscabrera7073]

It's like Wagner if he had electricity.

[@ChrisHyde537]

And the best connecting bits between songs too.

[@jonnyrocket3659]

@@ChrisHyde537 good to see my covid lockdown late night witterings didn't go un-noticed :)

[@Martin2153]

Side four of Quadrophenia is one of the greatest selection of music ever recorded! Dr Jimmy, The Rock and finally, Love Reign O'er Me. A fantastic finish to a magnificent album.

[@chrisoffer3074]

I agree

[@JimLaughlan]

No doubt!!

[@jamestaylor8000]

The entire album is as solid as a rock

[@andrewpappas9311]

The Real Me is one of my all-time favourite Who songs and is definitely one of Entwistle's many great performances, the man wasn't called Thunderfingers for nothing...

[@sirandrelefaedelinoge]

Done In one take.

[@muhrvis]

Great play-along demos of the bass licks! Thanks.

[@michaelmaggi7637]

Thanks for this. The non-musician like me can appreciate it. For all the accolades Tommy & Who's Next receives, Quadrophenia is their best work and Entwistle really shines. The music is fascinating.

[@AvailableHandle]

The Real Me - John's best work of all, which really is saying something.

[@SkinPeeleR]

John Entwistle was a great bassgitarist and friendly guy.

[@Joetime90]

Great singer too.

[@ballhawk387]

And a damn good horn player, as well.

[@townshendshean]

Quadrophenia...greatest Rock album ever, hands down!

[@Redbeard4321]

Saw them during the 97/98 tour and they did the whole album with like 7 additional musicians. Ringo Star’s kid was on drums. I immediately went and got a bass!

[@locuacidadsindiluir1696]

Yes, and that WAS ALSO THE CASE in LATE 1996 (whole Quadrophenia album, plus the "Best of the Rest"). I saw them in december 96 at EARL´S COURT Exhibition Centre, London.

[@derekdrums]

I saw that tour too, down in Buffalo

[@jayaybe1]

@@locuacidadsindiluir1696 Me too, sorry, ME TOO! I saw them ON THE SAME tour in Manchester.

[@Jiggs2u2]

Zack has been in the band for a long time

[@chairmankaga101]

The greatest compliment I've ever received was from my old drummer's dad, who was a touring guitarist in the 70s and had played with ZZ Top, Skynyrd, even the Stones and The Who. He came to see us one night and told his son I played more like Entwistle than any other bassist he'd ever seen live. Also to stop racing him to the end of the song! LOL. Such a huge inspiration for me over the years.

[@douglasstrother6584]

"Mike, mah boy, you're almost as good as 'The Ox'!" that's a rad compliment!

[@jessejordache1869]

So when did you get that tattooed on your chest?

[@jamestaylor8000]

Or your face

[@rabbakahn]

I stumbled across this tonight and I am again in my youth listening to the crackle and pop of the needle on vinyl. Thank you.

[@wrsawy]

Quadrophenia - simply brilliant!

[@kurtbrueske]

Excellent work on one of the all time masters and masterpiece album. Watching this reminded me of how much Entwhistle gave The Who their epic sound but, on second thought, you could say that about Roger, Pete or Keith. What an incredible foursome, never to be repeated. Long Live Rock!

[@favoriteblueshirt]

Bloody brilliant , great playing.

[@glvespa]

This album changed me for life!!!!

[@markfoster1493]

What a great description of Quadrophenia, spot on.

[@painybass2652]

The Hyde Park gig mentioned was the Prince's Trust Masters of Music Festival in 1996. It was the first time Quadrophenia was performed fully live and included Phil Daniels (the star of the movie) narrating the story along with loads of other guest actors and musicians. At the time it was the largest open air concert to have ever been held in the UK with 170000 people in the crowd. The other acts on the bill were Jules Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Alanis Morrisette, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton. It was my first ever proper gig (I still have the program). I was 15 years old, I'd been playing bass myself for less than a year at the time and I spent almost the whole of the Who's set staring in awe at John's incredible playing.

[@neilpye6089]

They toured the album between 1996-1997 with Entwistle there is a dvd available

[@whooligan7159]

I went to the Tampa show. Great concert!

[@dan_gabriel]

John was a Monster! I would have go just to see him sing alone. That powerful sound and the strings sounded just like they were about to snap. Thank's for your videos!

[@jokkergar]

You did a great job, i hope you'll do some Jack Bruce and Chris Squire someday.

[@pamelavarilone2614]

Chris Squire yes 👍💯

[@barryderby]

A great bass player from a great band. I actually went to the same school as John, Roger and Pete, though they were older than me. My older brother was in the school orchestra with John, and has a photo to prove it!

[@will-ie9on]

It might have been a grammar school, but it was around some tough areas from what my dad used to tell me and had some completely unhinged teachers?! He used to tell me about some of the practical jokes the kids would play and the OTT hidings they would get for it. He was in the year above Roger and lived in Ruislip at the time. My stepdad was actually the real big fan despite being a rocker.... he saw them loads of times, says it was worth the damage to his hearing

[@barryderby]

Some of the teachers were terrible! I was hit with hands, blackboard erasers, slippers and cane. I left at 15 having learned absolutely nothing.

[@dave3124]

Good video mate. I always loved this album & especially the bass lines throughout, one of the greatest albums of all time

[@windyhillbomber]

Great breakdown of an incredible album and standout performance from The Ox

[@1967DIF]

Great!

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Merci from la Suisse. Love your bass playing. This album was a defining moment for my teenage years. Great video.

[@anta40]

I think "The Punk and The Godfather" is one of finest examples of Entwistle aggresive, melodic, lead-like playing. Of course without The Ox, probably there would be no Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, etc etc.

[@costa1434]

Unforgettable bass lines. I've learned playing bass on 'em... Weel done mate. Greetings from [e-mail]

[@d3lt452]

Amazing basslines played on an amazing looking bass. You made me want to snag a Jag!

[@ollag9260]

merci beaucoup ! long live quadrophenia , et le dernier who "WHO" est extraordinaire !

[@joecummings9662]

My favorite album of all time

[@jamestaylor8000]

Ditto

[@Zopf-international]

Hi pal. This was just recommended by the tube algorithm. Nice video. Nice vine. Anyone with a good HI-FI setup can play the Live at Leeds disc and separate the channels. It's at OX volume too. The bass is out of the world. But i guess you knew that already. Kind regards from Valencia Spain.

[@whobootlegs5825]

You're excellent! Love seeing these bass lines up close. Thanks.

[@LegendsofBass]

Glad you like them!

[@nigelbrown8319]

Drowned 👍😝

[@babyshambler]

I'd never even noticed how incredible the bass on The Punk and the Godfather is...I drum, so I know every beat Keith played, but I may go back and listen to the album again and tune my ear to John. Great video, thanks!

[@LegendsofBass]

The whole album has GREAT bass. Much like the whole discography.

[@babyshambler]

@@LegendsofBass There's a lot of great 'isolation' videos around these days. Look up The Real Me/Keith and John! I did this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHy3koiPg9KHqLc

[@MrBKuv]

You are extremely interesting. Pete Townshend is my favorite talker and you are up there with him.

[@mod69]

Greatest album ever made,Entwistle bass lines really capture the imagery, you can smell the 2 Stoke GS engine oil and damp fishtail parka

[@jamestaylor8000]

Amen

[@FridayNightLullaby]

Love the video. Definitely John and The Who's most ambitious work. I've been covering Quadrophenia song by song for the last couple years (just finished The Rock)- I noticed an interesting thing in the last few songs: Bell Boy, Dr Jimmy and The Rock are in E flat or have parts in E flat. There are places where, if it was in E, the bass would play an open E or an A as part of a run so you would expect that the bass would be tuned down for these E flat songs. But I think he actually doesn't tune down and still plays low E's and A's but it is so fleeting it doesn't even matter. Only John could get away with that and make it sound good. Also The Rock is the only song I played with a pick, it sounded like he was doing that.

[@Jiggs2u2]

Thank you for this, this was amazing.. you should fight that copyright strike cuz it's not the same, you play over it it's not that long, I can't believe there's a copyright on that

[@cannyvalley]

I’m not a huge Who fan, but The Ox is my absolute favorite bass player. Incredibly tasteful licks, he occupies the rarified territory between those who just play the root note and those who are just showing off.

[@dmac7660]

Thought I bought Tommy from the used record shop and instead was treated to Quadrophenia. Was blown away!

[@felipefranca4109]

Very good.. Reminded me my 15 years old.. I play bass.. Thks

[@paulineson4876]

Fabulous bass lines. He also plays all the brass parts on the album. All 4 of them are at the top of their game on this album.

[@magnuslindberg7637]

You rock. Keep it up mate.

[@markukeley2924]

Inspiring! Thank you!

[@Fretless99]

Loved the video, thank you for posting

[@NLBassist]

Wow this needs more views!

[@Mabx86]

Great work on this. Drowned was one of my favorites

[@LegendsofBass]

Thanks! Love that one too.

[@guitarzan2626]

In cold water.

[@FundamentalsUK]

Great job 👍🏻🤘🏻

[@davidbradshaw659]

Hi man,thanks to you i finally got my head round and mastered the bass solo off My Generation, after nearly 35 years!

[@carlitobrigante330]

Excellent video.

[@doug_I_do_not_consent]

I found 5 15 easier to follow without the audio which is not usually the case for me. - a tribute to Entwistle's huge contribution to the song!

[@annaaaed]

Awesome!!!!

[@stuckinthestation]

Your rendition of The Real Me is one of the kick-ass-est out there. Love your right hand!

[@qqw743]

It's called "The Punk and the Godfather" in the UK and "The Punk Meets the Godfather" in the US.

[@AKASCOOCH]

The first time they played it in its entirety was 1996. I was at MSG for it and John was incredible

[@davidaustin2494]

Great. Thanks

[@TINSTAAFL1]

My highlight was playing Quadrophenia on my Quad 33/303 amps and Quad ESL Loudspeakers (the radiator).

[@jaggedlines2257]

I bought this album in 1973. I still have it in my collection.

[@pamelavarilone2614]

Great job breaking down brilliance of Entwhistle.

[@AugieTaylorSong]

Really good renditions of the bass parts! I love the Who and Entwistle. So great you shared some highlights of the bass. Many of the bass parts were written by Pete Townshend but much of the bass was also written by Entwistle. No one played like John, and when he left, no one could fill in to do what he did. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[@tomcarl8021]

Nothing you hear played by John on the bass was written by Pete.

[@ryanbuckley2288]

Awesome!

[@guitarzan2626]

I've had enough, my fav.

[@-Alexandre_Meireles-]

*Que baixista incrível, o John Entwistle.* *Nunca houve, até hoje, melhor que ele.*

[@PerfDayToday]

Nicely done playing and video! Quadrophenia is my fav rock album. 10:20 nice work on the Real Me. Got to see The Who play Quadrophenia twice, first w the Ox. I think its’s their live Royal Albert Hall cancer trust dvd that has a go pro like cam on the neck of John’s bass. Cheers. Edit: it was the 2000 live teenage cancer trust riyal albert hall recording, the song 5:15 w cam!

[@noscrubbubblez6515]

I trust you mapped out the actual base notes because..... I've never heard %80 of your examples. I look forward to more of your covers.

[@straightpipec6099]

Excellent

[@georgedavis2293]

I saw them with my children in 2013. Well not kids (22 and 19 yo) Two more fans . Liked and subscribed btw.

[@obbyjayrulzz]

Oh boy we need a Michael Anthony video

[@DJPenguino51]

When the Who performed Quadrophenia live in the early 1970's, the tape machines would occasionally break. Pete would either verbally (or physically or both) assault Bob Pridden -- their stage side sound man.

[@RonHeusdens]

Many a time Bob saved the concert for them though😅

[@TomasLjung-jj5dp]

Voted millennium best bass player seen him 1997 live Quadrophenia for 5:15 he played a bass solo must say Bravissimo ☆☆☆☆☆

[@22DINGOS]

Love it. What bass are you playing and what amp / effects are you using?

[@stephenclarke4675]

Pete said the who don't need a lead guitarist they have John.

[@darrylmoore127]

The Punk Meets The Godfather Killer bass The Real Me Of course, Bass Monster Playing , Lead Bass One of my Fav s along with WHO S NEXT

[@obbyjayrulzz]

Man we need the uploads again

[@cw2lido]

I saw them in 1997! It was epic!

[@thiagolorenzi6742]

RIP John, the greatest ever! Congratulations on the video, I will watch all the other ones later! Cheers!

[@runwiththewind3281]

Thanks

[@jessejordache1869]

Very nice, very faithful to Entwistle's sound. I saw Pearl Jam covering The Real Me somewhere on youtube, and it was a fantastic cover, but the bass player was using a P-bass, and you could only hear the high notes. Your choice of fingering is interesting -- playing Entwistle a la James Jamerson is quite a feat.

[@starider100]

Had a question about love reign o'er me. I was watching Rick Beato what makes a song great this song. The who tuned down for this album right.Rick says they are playing flats i not sure.Could you do a bass play through for us.

[@ryanperron8309]

Love your channel, maybe jack Bruce next?

[@LegendsofBass]

Ryan Perron - thanks! He’s on my list. The next episodes will focus on John Deacon of Queen.

[@ryanperron8309]

Legends of Bass -awesome! Can’t wait

[@jeffspicoli6172]

Very cool. Rush?

[@draelyc]

Arguably - not definitively, but arguably - the greatest rock record ever recorded. If you don’t like Quadrophenia, you just don’t like rock & roll.

[@jamestaylor8000]

I agree could be the greatest album ever made

[@jayaybe1]

@@jamestaylor8000 Aww, you're not going to argue 😁?

[@EricSolano]

I like your content, amigo. What about Geezer Butler? Oh, by the way, I've just suscribed to your chanel.

[@LegendsofBass]

Thanks a lot! He's on my list.

[@rosalindrubin6942]

Is there still a link to get access to your tabs? I could not find you In Patreon?

[@kevinmcc3147]

John is my number one rock bass player one of the reasons i play bass you should do my other favorite rock bass players. Geezer butler. Geddy Lee. Steve Harris. John myung. Billy Sheehan. And my favorite soul and funk bass players. Larry graham. Bootsy Collins. Louis Johnson. Verdine white.

[@townshendshean]

Watching all your videos...you tend to rush it at times. Chill out and get in the pocket man! Still...great job!

[@doug_I_do_not_consent]

Did John Entwistle use a third finger to play the fast triplets?

[@kropkamark]

What is the hosts name ??

[@Undercoverbrotherfromanother]

Forget Squire, Lee, Flea, Jones, Maca, Bruce, ---------- all bow down to the OX!!!!!!!

[@Luileadolfo]

The Who were superhumans when they recorded Quadrophenia. Moon and Entwistle were at their very best of their capacities.

[@moefoh96]

How did you figure this out?

[@LegendsofBass]

lots of rewinding lol

[@denniskramer9657]

you sir, are an excellent bass player. great work.

[@allancerf9038]

Legends of Bass did a great job. A couple of key points - some of the best bass lines in the Who canon came from Townshend - just listen to Pete's unmatched demos. Also, JE himself said he liked a lot of Pete's lines so much he did not change them. Most of course, he did change, but certainly not all. I saw the Who twice in '76 - great stuff. The other point is, as unhappy as Townshend was with the tapes tour '73, there are many b&w videos from that tour that show how successful they did perform parts of Quadrophenia. One huge problem was that 60's Britian celebreated in Quad was TOTALLY foreign to USA fans. They had no idea what the songs were about. Many had never heard the album. There is nothing remotely similar in our culture. Finally, I know it's sacriliege but the vinyl, original mix of Quad was boring and claustrophobic as hell. It was remixed by JE, in fact. Just listen to Townshend's jaw-dropping demo of Punk & Godfather vs. the original Quad version. Anyway, excellent video.

[@robgraham5016]

DUDE! I want you to finish each song! You've got me hypnotized and then just stop - every song! I want to see them all to completion! It's like a pre-ejaculation DAMN IT! How the hell did you learn all these and better still, how do you remember all the parts?

[@patherley1467]

Who is actually doing the bass on these vids - is it actually JE?

[@nickaustin8334]

Not having the backing track in 5.15 made it more instructive

[@paulhester8086]

Did you really say John died in 2002?.

[@outtathyme5679]

The Who’s Opus Magnum