The following is taken from the Sept. 2002 issue of Bass Player. It's part of a sidebar article in which a number of bass players discuss how John Entwistle influenced them. Sorry if people have seen it already, but I just discovered the article the other day and thought I would share it here, particularly since I know there are a number of bassists who reply within this forum:

THE KID WAS ALRIGHT
Players On Entwistle's Influence

Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam): I first saw the Who play at a
Clash punk-rock show, and I managed to get all the way
to the front. After that, I bought Quadrophenia on
8-track. Listening to that album motivated me to
become a musician. Back then I don't think the Who got
as much credit for doing something different; they
were writing pop songs, but they rocked hard and loud.
John's playing was cacophonous, and it was weird
seeing such emotional, hard playing come out of such a
quiet and still man. Pearl Jam and the Who played
together at the 1999 Bridge School benefit; we did Bob
Dylan's "I Shall Be Released," and John and I both
played bass. I played the song like the original, but
John approached it very differently. It was something I wouldn't have thought of; he went in a totally different direction. He was just amazing, and he accomplished so much in his career. I hope I can accomplish that much by the time I'm 57.