In March 2004 the John Entwistle Foundation held a benefit evening at the BB King Blues Club in New York City. The note posted afterwards came from a member of the band that played that night, and it offers a personal view of the occasion.
The numbers and the crowd
The writer thanked everyone who came and said the evening brought in roughly eleven thousand dollars for the foundation. The aim of the night was to honour John Entwistle and raise money, and the writer felt both goals were met. A highlight was the presence of Chris Entwistle, a long-time friend of the author, who had travelled from England.
Cameras and the auction
The concert was filmed with six cameras and a large production truck for a later high-definition television broadcast. The writer praised the crew as professional and easy to work with.
An auction was a new experience for several of the organisers. Items from Entwistle’s own collection of clothing, music and artwork were offered alongside objects given by friends, and the author described the auction as a complete success, with bidders clearly enjoying the pieces.
Playing Entwistle’s music
The band had performed an Entwistle-related tribute show in the past, but this time felt different. Playing the songs without the man himself was daunting. The musicians decided to learn the material as they would any other repertoire and to honour his style rather than copy it. The writer said that seeing the same staff, dressing room and even drum kit made the absence more noticeable: the familiar laughter and the rumble of a bass rig being tested were missing.
Closing thoughts
The author finished by thanking all those who contributed, promising a public thank-you on the site later, and acknowledging the support of Entwistle’s estate. The final line looked ahead, saying this was only the beginning. The broadcast of the filmed show is covered in a separate notice.