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CNN Live Today
View From Britain
Aired June 28, 2002 - 10:19 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: It is a sad day for Britons and rock fans alike. John Entwistle of The Who died unexpectedly. He and his band mates were on tour in Las Vegas when he was found dead in his hotel room of an apparent heart attack.
And CNNs Richard Quest is joining us now from London with the reaction there to the death and plus other stories that are stirring her majesty's subjects.
Good morning -- Richard.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And a very good morning to you.
I'm very glad you had (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and the views of the bizarre. I was wondering what that was going to be. I got myself all prepared for (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
CALLAWAY: You thought we were talking to you. Is that what you thought, Richard?
QUEST: Listen, we'll get on Entwistle in a second. I just want to say the lady in the "Views of the Bizarre" who said I think that's a bunch of hogwash, I mean, she must practice that accent.
CALLAWAY: Yes, she does.
QUEST: That takes skill to be able to say that.
This is more serious stuff. Now, John Entwistle, it made the British papers. It came a little too late to be on the front pages, the fact that he had died in Las Vegas, age 57. There was a lot -- he was always known as the quiet member of the band. He was the one who hadn't actually -- who didn't smash up the equipment, who didn't do any stage stunts. He was the bass guitarist, widely responsible for some of the greatest parts and greatest hits.
One or two somewhat callously, Catherine, saying The Whos old song I want to die before I'm old, you know, two members of the original four have passed away. One, of course, Keith Moon, from an overdose.
But it does seem, and from what were hearing, John Entwistle's passing away, that was from natural causes. What exactly happens to the tour -- they were just about to start a 26-city tour -- and what exactly happens to that tour is the big unknown, but it is the big story in the British pops. "The Sun" describes as The Who's rock: "Ox Was Anchor in World's Wildest Band. And no doubt well have more reaction on that.
Before we move on to the queen, and the queen and her money, I want to show you this. Look at this. This is on -- its quite rare, Catherine: You actually get a picture thats on every national newspaper, all at the same time. But this is a picture from this morning's paper of Prince William kissing the supermodel Claudia Schiffer yesterday. She presented him with a trophy after a polo match. And every national newspaper...
CALLAWAY: Now, is that one of those doctored pictures, Richard? Or is that -- I can't tell. That looks pretty authentic.
QUEST: No, no, no. Well, I wouldnt like to necessarily -- I wouldn't like to promise that the teeth are real. But certainly, the kiss and the smackaroo is entirely genuine. Its on the front page.
Look, the big talking point is how would you manage to break -- here is a question for you: How would you manage to break roughly $16,000 worth of crockery and cutlery every year?
CALLAWAY: What does she do with it? Are we talking about the queen?
QUEST: The queen -- we are indeed. She entertains about 70,000 people at Buckingham Palace and has released, for the first time, the annual accounts, which show that the palace actually costs -- the whole royal family -- costs Britain about 35 million pounds, about $45-50 million, which works out -- we've worked it out -- roughly every British person, and every person behind me (UNINTELLIGIBLE), roughly has to pay 90 cents a year. Ninety cents a year to each one of us to pay for keeping the royal family.
But we are grateful her majesty has cut down on the cost of booze. It was costing her about 120,000 pounds. Now shes not drinking quite so much. They buy in bulk, apparently, and the bill is just about 50,000. Certainly an enormous amount of booze.
CALLAWAY: For the Brits, 90 cents is nothing.
QUEST: You're not paying it. You refused to pay your taxes all those years ago.
CALLAWAY: How did you know that? That's not true. And the Brits would never object to paying a mere 90 cents for all they get from the queen.
Let's move on to the World Cup now. What is the talk on the streets there with Germany and Brazil, because it wouldn't matter who Germany was playing, you were going to root for the other team anyway, right?
QUEST: Listen, my mothers bridge group could be playing against Germany, and theyve got more replaced knees and hips than you can imagine between them, and everybody would still root for them instead of Germany when it comes to that particular match in this country.
I mean, when you look at the matches, Germany is always a grudge match against, for England. Brazil knocked us out of the World Cup, but they certainly played better. What we think is fascinating is the way that, as soon as the United States is out of the way, I mean, it really is a case of we're all right, Jack, pull up the ladder: Youve lost all interest in it.
CALLAWAY: Richard. All right. Well, we know everyones going to be watching, though. You cant fool us. Well be watching that World Cup closely.
QUEST: Who is going to win? Who do you think is going to win, Brazil or Germany?
CALLAWAY: Well, you know, because Germany beat the United States, I, of course, am rooting for Brazil.
QUEST: Yes, all right. All right. Brazil.
CALLAWAY: Who are you -- I got you there, don't I, all right?
Richard Quest, thanks for being with us this morning.
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