Who Bassist John Entwistle Laid To Rest In England

LONDOSN, UK (John Entwistle Official Website) - Who bassist John Entwistle was laid to rest in his hometown of Stow-on-the-Wold, England, on Wednesday (July 10) at a private service attended by friends and family members.

Those in attendance at St. Edward's Church included Who singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, and drummer Kenny Jones, who replaced original drummer Keith Moon after he died of a drug overdose in 1978, according to the BBC. The band is on a break from its current tour, which picks up again July 26 in Boston.

Entwistle was found dead of an apparent heart attack in his Las Vegas hotel room on June 27 just one day before the band was to kick off its North American tour. Rev. Colin Wilson spoke at the service, saying Entwistle was now "reunited with Keith Moon up there making great music." "I think he would want us all to be strong, determined, unafraid of the future, ready to meet every challenge, to believe in ourselves and in each other, and to try to keep believing in God, even if that seems rather difficult at the present time," continued Wilson.

Also part of the service was the reading of a poem by Joyce Grenfell and the singing of the hymns "Jerusalem" and "The Lord's My Shepherd." Throngs of mourners and fans gathered outside the church to catch a glimpse of Entwistle's coffin being carried inside the church, followed by his family and girlfriend Lisa Pritchard-Johnson.

According to Entwistle's official Web site (www.johnentwistle.com), a larger memorial service for fans will be held in London later this year.