BB KINGS

"THE JOHN ENTWISTLE EXPERIENCE"

                        The John Entwistle experience was a dream come true for me, Dave, and Bobby. I had the opportunity to hang out with John a couple times before this night talking about Who stories and Keith Moon wildness. I would jokingly bring up how we are always looking for a good "John Entwistle Bass player and look alike" for our band and how he kind of resembles him with some gray hair. John would laugh and ask if the pay was good, and I would say "No", but we drink free. Leaving that night I never thought that I would share the same stage as John one day. 

                       The day of the show Gigi my friend, spoke to Steve Luongo and mentioned the boys from Who's Next would be coming down. Steve said tell them to bring their guitars you never know what could happen. The JAE band was amazing that night. Steve, Godfrey, Chris and John played a great first set and then took a brake. The night was booked as a charity event with special guests to play in the second set. When I got to the club I really didn't think we had a chance to play. Thinking that maybe Zak or some other guest stars, who were still in town from the Concert for NY, would be there. When I went backstage I spoke to Steve who was encouraging me to ask John to get up and play a few tunes. This was the moment,  I might not ever get another chance like this. I walked into Johns dressing room and said " Come on, we need to play "Can't Explain" John looked at me with those squinting blues eyes and said "Can't Explain is to boring, how about Substitute?" At that moment I realized this was going to happen. Gigi was standing next to us making sure this whole process was going to work.  We agreed on Substitute and Pinball Wizard. Minutes later we walked on stage and I introduced Who's Next. " This is a dream come true for me, Dave, and Bobby here tonight, I'm standing on stage with a legend, the greatest bass player in the world." I then fired into the opening chords to Substitute. The stage volume was insane. Johns bass was slamming loud but clear as day. I would glance over once in a while to make sure this was happening. I ended Substitute with a classic Pete jump and then played the opening chords to Can't Explain. I realized this would be risky knowing that John minutes before told me he didn't want to play the song. He gave me the John glance and laughed as he and Bobby kicked in. Of course during Can't Explain I was thinking of the next song to follow, " Dreaming From The Waist" " Naked Eye" " Seeker". We ended " Can't Explain " to a roaring reception from the crowd. At that moment I realized that our time was done. John made a comment regarding how my guitar resembled Pete's as I was taking it off.  We walked off stage as John was still standing their waiting to play "Pinball Wizard."

                              Later on that night we went back stage to talk to John again. I said we couldn't play "Substitute" without playing "Can't Explain." He paused and said " You're Right " I would like to thank John, Steve and Godfrey for making this dream come true for three Who fans. The whole experience lasted maybe 10 minutes that felt like 10 seconds. People often asked if I was nervous and I must say that I wasn't. After meeting John and getting to know him I felt comfortable playing with him. As we walked on stage I told John " Just keep up with us  ha ha"