Product Description

In 1964, The Who became one of the key figures of the British Invasion, taking the American music scene by storm. While Roger Daltrey, Pete Townsend and Keith Moon took the spotlight with their on stage antics, John Entwistle, dubbed "The Quiet One," stood in the shadows... poised to become the biggest bass player in rock and roll. With his arena-rock days behind him, Entwistle continued down his own path, finding great musical freedom with the John Entwistle Band. In 2002, after years of touring his solo project, Entwistle couldn't resist the lure of bringing back one of the greatest bands in rock and roll history. Tragically, plans for The Who's North American Reunion Tour were cut short when on the eve of the first show John was found dead in his Las Vegas hotel room. "The Ox," as Entwistle was affectionately known, left behind many fans and several unfinished projects. With his passing, the world lost a musical legend, dubbed Guitar Magazine's "Bassist of the Millennium." Narrated by Peter Frampton, John Entwistle: An Ox's Tale covers the life of John Entwistle, from his first public performance at the age of 14 to his feelings about The Who's most recent reunion. This film contains the last footage and interviews ever shot with Entwistle, offering the one chance for fans to discover the real life behind the man who far exceeded his greatest aspirations.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #52261 in DVD
• Brand: Image Entertainment
• Released on: 2006-08-22
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 90 minutes

Customer Reviews

Sincere
There are moments in An Ox's Tale that are magical. The Pete Townshend interviews cover a lot of ground. The musical dynamics of the Who are covered, but Townshend shares recollections of John's childhood. A number of John's contemporaries discuss his musical contribution. This alone makes An Ox's Tale worth seeing. Some complaints; the narrative could be stronger as there are subjects brought up, but never examined. There a also a few repetitive montages. Beyond that, it is a warm and touching doc that doesn't hide the causes of John's death, but isn't "tabloid."

For me, the song by John Entwistle played at the end was the most affective. It's an intimate song that stripes away his trademark irony. It summed up the film and it sums up the man.

Almost perfect
This documentary is a worthwhile watch, especially if you are a fan of John Entwistle and/or The Who. There is a great look at John's past, and Townsend's commentaries like the one on Ox's base playing, using his "trumpet fingers" was very revealing.

Missing are almost glossed over bits...like an Entwistle/Daltry feued that I was never aware of. Although one might argue that Entwisle's untimely demise was not done tabloid-like, I felt that the light white wash the film gives it, is a dis-service to the documentary format. Except for a recent intervew where Ox says that he still drinks..."and other things..." raising his eyebrows at the camera do we get a hint of drug use. With Townsend's mention that Entwistle did not look well, and the blanket statment that Ox died of a heart attack, totally leaves out the true fact that the heart failure came via cocaine.

As a documentary this should have put in since it is fact, and I believe it could have been done in a respectful way.

With the areas that it lacks this 3.5 stars could have been a 4.

Having said that, if you are a fan...put this on and enjoy!

A must for any Who fan
I was lucky enough to see The Who twice while growing up. They certainly were a force to be reckoned with. This DVD provides us with a side of John that wasn't accessible to the media at large -- you see him from the point of view of the people who knew him, worked with him, and loved him. The interview footage with Pete is priceless. Notable (for reasons beyond me), is the complete absence of Roger in this biography. If you love The Who, buy it and enjoy it -- you won't regret it.