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American Morning

The Who Bassist Dies in Las Vegas

Aired June 28, 2002 - 07:45   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.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: The music world is mourning the death of John Entwistle, the bass player for the legendary British rock group, The Who. He died yesterday in Las Vegas, where the group was scheduled to begin a U.S. concert tour tonight.

Needless to say, the band members are stunned. British reaction to the death of the quiet member of The Who, and other headline happenings from over there, as is our Friday custom, here is my pal, Richard Quest -- good morning -- happy Friday.

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A very happy Friday to you, Jack. Yes, it's a sad way to start Friday, particularly over here. And the British papers, they really just got the Entwistle death just in time for their early editions, because of the time difference between Las Vegas and the U.K. But they do all have the big story that he died at 57.

When they actually had this story, they didn't really have all of the details, whether it was a heart attack. There is plenty of speculation, perhaps unkindly and cruelly. They speculated whether it had been from nefarious or suspicious circumstances. We now know that's not the case. But it is in there, and they do talk about him being the quiet man of The Who.

There are only two members of The Who left, and of course, more than one paper makes the point about the song that they don't want to die young or that they want to die before they become old is one of their greatest hits. So, yes, John Entwistle did make the papers, but only just so to speak.

Now, we have had a discovery in Britain, Jack. We have had a big discovery. We have found -- are you ready for this?

CAFFERTY: Yes.

QUEST: We have found Elvis. And guess what?

CAFFERTY: He is dead.

QUEST: Well, he may well be, but he's actually back in the charts in Britain. And not only that, he is at No. 1 following a Nike commercial that goes with the latest World Cup fever (ph) and saga that's happening in the world. This is the commercial.

(COMMERCIAL CLIP)

Now, what's interesting about this is that a deejay called Junkie AXL -- Junkie XL was actually granted permission to use an Elvis in a remix, in a scratch mix and all that sort of thing. And what's fascinating is Junkie XL had to actually change his name to JXL, because the Elvis estate was so worried about the Junkie and the drugs references. But Elvis, No.1, and with that goes another record. He has now had more No. 1 songs in Britain, more than the Beatles. He has had 18, the Beatles only had 17.

CAFFERTY: There is a statistic out over here that the estate of Elvis Presley takes in much more money every year than he ever made when he was alive. The marketing of this man 25 years after his passing is something to behold.

All right, they have done a study on how much you souls are paying for the broken dishes over there at Buckingham, haven't they?

QUEST: Yes, from the king -- oh, that was good. That was good. From the king to the queen.

CAFFERTY: We try.

QUEST: And her majesty, the numbers are being released from Buckingham Palace, and they show that we pay the princely sum of 58 pence a year each -- I think I have made my contribution this year -- for the cost of the royal family. That works out about 90 U.S. cents. And interesting statistics, they have cut that cost. They used to spend some 9 -- they used to spend about $16,000 on broken dishes at the palace. Now, they spend just $9,000 on broken dishes.

CAFFERTY: Maybe they are using...

(CROSSTALK)

QUEST: What do they do with them? How can you break $9,000 worth of dishes? Now...

CAFFERTY: Well, it's those raucous family parties they have on the weekends, Richard. All right. James Bond, we've got a big festival in London -- what are you doing? Oh, please.

QUEST: Just keep going. You just keep talking.

CAFFERTY: Now, stop there, OK? Do us a little favor and just -- oh, OK. I feel better now. You've got a big festival over there marking -- what -- the 40th anniversary of 007...

QUEST: Yes...

CAFFERTY: ...which I assume is why you are changing your neck wear. Oh, that looks nice.

QUEST: I am indeed. Shaken, not stirred. Yes, it's the 40th anniversary party tonight for James Bond, and they are having a big bash, because of course, the next movie is about to come out. And here, I have always wanted to do this on television, Jack, my favorite Bond line. OK? It comes from "Goldfinger," "Do you expect me to talk?" "No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die."

CAFFERTY: You could have had a role in one of those films. You've got that down pretty good. What's your favorite James Bond film?

QUEST: It's "Goldfinger."

CAFFERTY: Yes.

QUEST: It's only because Shirley Bassey looked like she was having a spasm as she sang the opening number.

CAFFERTY: Is that the one...

QUEST: And...

CAFFERTY: Is that the one that had Pussy Galore in it?

QUEST: Yes, well, don't take me there, Jack. Don't take me there.

CAFFERTY: Now, now, it's a character name in one of the James Bond's films.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, Richard, it's amazing that you can carry on on that set over there in London, and your coworkers behind you just go about their business and don't even notice your shenanigans.

QUEST: A, they are used to it, and B, they prefer to just leave me in case I might just go away on my own.

HEMMER: I can understand that. I can understand that.

CAFFERTY: Good to see you, Richard. Have a good weekend.

QUEST: Thanks, Jack.

CAFFERTY: Thank you.

QUEST: Bill, have a good one.

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