JOHN ENTWISTLE’S ALRIGHT, OR SO HE CLAIMS

John Entwistle’s final words to me: “It didn’t feel like a long trip; it never felt like a long trip; the enthusiasm was always there. The Who were very arrogant when they started; we’d go around telling everybody and each other that we were the greatest, we truly believed it, still do believe it. We tried to keep our integrity all the way through. Every stage of our career has been exciting to us. I have no regrets except being called the Quiet One. Because I ain’t.”

My final words to Entwistle: “Goodbye.”

SETUP

John Entwistle is talking to members of the press to promote his new solo album Too Late The Hero. His first outing in six years, and made with the aid of erstwhile guitarist Joe Walsh, and drummer Joe Vitale. This is his fifth solo endeavor, the other four disappeared without a trace. Opines Entwistle: “A lot of the reason why my other albums didn’t catch on was because nobody knew they were out. Because I didn’t do too much publicity over here.”

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Time: Five hours before the interview.

Place: Atlantic Records offices. Manhattan.