Watch John Entwistle’s Remarkable Bass Phrasing In Isolated Won’t Get Fooled Again Live

You can’t talk about the sixties and not bring up The Who. Yes, the unruly rockers who were inspired by Mod culture and blues wanted to stage a cultural uprising in the decade. constituted by Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon. Entwistle, in particular, brought something special to the band.

The bassist was responsible for keeping time, as Moon was too preoccupied with his onstage antics. Entwistle didn’t seem to mind either, as he always knew what to play amidst the overbearing characters of his bandmates’ contributions. Moon’s drums are probably Entwistle’s biggest obstacles, knowing that the drummer would flail around to his heart’s delight, potentially overpowering the bass parts. Fortunately, it is the chemistry between their playing that makes Entwistle an effective bassist, as he knows how to complement the rest of the band’s sound with a top-end approach that stood out amidst the chaos of The Who’s brand of rock.

“Won’t Get Fooled Again” from their 1971 album, Who’s Next, is a fair example of Entwistle’s mastery over his bandmates’ habits, allowing him to play around their styles while still keeping time and standing out from the rest of the ruckus. Listen to John Entwistle rip it out during a live performance of the song at Shepperton Film Studios on May 25, 1978, with an isolated bass track below.