We were gradually playing larger venues and in the early days PA systems were kind of non-existent. So to play loud, we had to use louder equipment. The PA systems back then didn’t mic the instruments – only the vocals.

Meaning of the quote

In the early days, bands like John Entwistle's had to use very loud instruments to be heard in larger venues, because the PA (public address) systems were not very advanced. The PA systems at that time could only amplify the vocals, not the instruments, so the musicians had to use even louder equipment to make sure the audience could hear the full sound of the band.

About John Entwistle

John Entwistle was an incredibly talented English musician, best known as the bass guitarist for the iconic rock band The Who. He was renowned for his musical abilities and is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rock-and-roll bass guitarists of all time. Entwistle’s career spanned over four decades, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Who in 1990.

More about the author

More quotes from John Entwistle

We have nine hungry Rottweilers on the farm.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)

I don’t mind doing the Who tours when they come along but I want to get out there and play.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)

I ain’t heard anyone play like I do in my band and I am very happy about that.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)

With bass, especially bottom end, the vibration has to happen on stage otherwise the feel is wrong. This is why you can’t scale the equipment down too far.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)

I am writing a book and that takes third place of importance.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)

So by the time I taught myself the bass guitar at the age of 14, my hands were already pretty nimble.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)

I set myself up to be a bass guitarist and bass players get a lot more work than people like me.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)

We’ll open for anyone, we are just looking to play.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)

I love playing for people.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)

I have got an anthology album out. The American version has got the same mixes but the European version, I remixed them in the studio and added a couple of things that I have always wanted to add.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)

That was the producer who produced a couple of my solo albums. He produced my second, third and fourth solo albums. It was his project and I just joined him on it. I sang on one and played bass on another one.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)

The first eight songs we were using someone else’s monitors and it is hard to follow the changes when you are jamming if you can’t hear those who you are jamming with.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)

What I feel I am doing now is giving to the people exactly what they paid for but never actually heard before.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)

We were gradually playing larger venues and in the early days PA systems were kind of non-existent. So to play loud, we had to use louder equipment. The PA systems back then didn’t mic the instruments – only the vocals.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)

I deep sea fish a lot.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)

This band makes sure that we have whole sections of stuff that are free form so that they don’t know what we are doing next, that is the fun part of playing. You are playing something that you haven’t ever played before.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)

I don’t wish my career on anyone.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)

I supply the music for Vampires, which is a new series that’s coming out.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)

I mean, Eighteen years old is the age of consent in Europe and you can go anywhere and do anything you like. In America, it is dumb. At eighteen you should be able to do anything that you like, except get married.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)

I got a couple on per album but my problem was that I wanted to sing the songs and not let Roger sing them.

John Entwistle

English musician; bassist for The Who (1944-2002)