Jesse Christen

What a depressing year. 2002 saw the loss of two giants of the electric bass guitar: The Who’s John Entwistle and The Ramones’ Dee Dee Ramone.

I was originally asked to write a best of 2002’s music for this column, but just can’t bring myself to do it. The loss of John and Dee Dee overshadows everything else. Although I’ve bought a good number of albums this year, none compare to the music these two individuals made. Who’s a better rock band than The Who, or a better punk rock band than The Ramones? One can make arguments for or against anyone, but like it or not, both groups influenced, and continue to influence, countless others and set new standards for what rock ‘n’ roll should be.

The world is a little too quiet now they’re gone.

John Entwistle, 10/9/44 – 6/27/02. Entwistle earned his nickname “The Ox” from his stoic mannerism and rhythmically solid bass playing in The Who — a very important job in a band that included the anarchic stylings of drummer Keith Moon and guitarist Pete Townsend.