John Entwistle’s Bass Guitar Blues

Title: John Entwistle’s “Bass Guitar Blues“ Date & Place: August 31, 1968, Memorial Coliseum, Dallas, Texas In the summer of ’68, The Who were in full swing on their U.S. tour, and bassist John Entwistle was about to experience a moment that would have the audience in stitches for years to come. During a particularly lively performance at the Memorial Coliseum in Dallas, Entwistle, known for his stoic demeanor on stage, was the picture of concentration as he plucked away at his bass guitar. But fate had a mischievous plan for him that night. As the band launched into “Magic Bus,“ Entwistle’s bass suddenly went silent. Not one to let technical difficulties derail a show, he quickly signaled to the crew for a replacement instrument. In a flurry of activity, a roadie rushed onstage with a backup bass guitar. However, in the rush and the dim stage lighting, the roadie handed Entwistle the wrong bass. Unbeknownst to both of them, it was a prop—