I read the news today (oh boy)
John Entwistle passed away yesterday at the age of 57. Now for any of you non rock and roll fans who don't know, Entwistle was the bassist for The Who- one of the most explosive bands in the history of rock. The Who was one of those bands that was made up of four completely integral parts: The song writing and vision of Pete Townsend; The firey, passioned rock-god vocals of Roger Daltry; the manic, rock star lunacy and inspired drumming of Keith Moon and tying it all together was one the greatest bass players in rocks history. Entwistle's playing was both delicate and thunderous. Articulate and passioned. He could fire off jazz inspired runs and unleash the fury of blistering rock at its' most anguished. There was little that he couldn't do on his instrement.

Keith Moon passed away many years ago, in a way the victim of his own legend. He was known for his fast living and caution-be-damned ways. So when he died of of an acidental overdose of a prescription medication it just seemed another part of his legend. The Who carried on, first with Kenny Jones at the drum kit. Most fans felt that it was now only a lesser imitation of the original Who. Their last album of original material was in 1982 (or was it 81?) , but they reformed every few years for another hyped reunion tour. Without the Ox (as Entwistle was called) , I don't see how they can ever be called the Who again.

The Who was one of my favorite bands. While never quite occupying the same status as the Beatles or The Stones, they were still one of rocks legendary bands. As each musician passes away, we are reminded how transiatory the things that we love are. Life is about more than art. When icons pass it really doesn't affect our lives in any physical way, despite how we might feel. Still, we have to notice and reflect on what any artist meant to us. I'll play Who CDs in the store today and be reminded of a thousand memories that tie into Who songs one way or another.

Comic fans are no stranger to losing their icons. Sometimes it is in a much less visible way, but we lose them none the less. Anyone that creates art that enriches our lives connects with us in an unavoidable way. We love the art, even if we forget to acknowledge that it is created by an actual person. I used to scoff at people who mourned when a celebrity passed away. I didn't see the point in mourning the passing of someone we didn't know. I realize now that intentionally or not, we make a lasting connection with any artist that we enjoy. Occasionally it is a more lasting connection then we might have with any number of people we actually meet. This used to seem odd to me, but it doesn't anymore. Now I just marvel at all of the influences on my life and realize that it encompasses much more than just family and friends. My teachers and coworkers played a part, as did customers and fellow comic fans. John Entwistle did as well. Maybe not in as big of way as others, but still a tangible part of my life and one worth a moment of reflection.

Sometimes everyone feels like an island, but of course none of us are. We affect others and are affected in turn. Whether it be comic books that entertain us, music that enriches us or just the hassle of dealing with someone at the DMV, they are all part of our life experience. That's why when one of the good parts goes away, we feel a loss But it's not really a loss at all. We've gained from knowing them, or we've gained from their art. So rock fans will miss the Ox. Many of us will never have the chance to see the horrible Who in concert now. But what we gained from his music stays with us and adds to our lives. That's a legacy that we should all have.