John Alec Entwistle is Born

Today in Masonic history John Alec Entwistle is born in 1944.

John Alec Entwistle was an English musician, singer, songwriter, film and music producer. Entwistle is most widely known as the bassist for the rock band The Who.

Entwistle started learning instruments at the age of 7 when he started taking piano lessons, which he did not enjoy. Later in school he would start playing the trumpet and then the french horn. It was around this time that he met Pete Townsend. The two formed a Trad (traditional) Jazz band called the Confederates. This only lasted for one gig when they decided rock 'n' roll was the way to go.

Entwistle would switch to guitar and then to bass, at one point in time making his own instrument. Roger Daltry who was a year ahead of Entwistle and Townsend in school was aware of Entwistle and asked him to join his band The Detours.

With The Detours Entwistle convinced Daltry to bring Townsend into the band. Shortly after Daltry fired everyone in the group except Entwistle, Townsend and the drummer Doug Sandom. In 1964 Sandom left the band and Keith Moon entered. The four toyed with changing the bands name several times before finally landing on The Who. It was decided by the band that Daltry as the lead singer and front-man needed to stand out from the rest of the band. Entwistle dyed his blond hair black and would keep the color black until well into the 80's.

During the 70's Entwistle had a successful solo career as well created his own band called Ox.

Pete Townsend was quoted after Entwistle's funeral in 2002, "It wasn't until the day of his funeral that I discovered that he'd spent most of his life as a Freemason."

This article provided by Brother Eric C. Steele.