Joel Pelletier, bassist for The Who Show

About Me

Please click here to vote for The Who Show!
The Who Show 2008 2008 demo (from 3/22/08 OC Pavilion performance).
I am the bassist in the Los Angeles-based THE WHO tribute band THE WHO SHOW (http://www.thewhoshow.com). As bassist and music director, I work with the band to create the most accurate early 1970's THE WHO live performance possible, from their GOLDEN ERA with the ultimate MOON/ENTWISTLE rhythm section. Part band, part theater, part performance art, the total effect of the sound, the costumes, the instruments and gear and the choreography is raw, loud, powerful and true to the spirit AND letter of this fantastic rock band.
Back in the 1970-80's I learned to play bass by listening and duplicating the parts and styles of John Entwistle, Geddy Lee and Chris Squire, so performing as Entwistle is a return to my roots as a musician and bassist. His tone, approach to notes on the neck (octaves/4ths/5ths), and his right hand string attack has been my playing style for almost 30 years.
I suppose I am just another John Entwistle fan, albeit one who happens to also play bass, who happens to play in a WHO band, and who happens to dress and play like John as the ultimate tribute to his playing and his style (as a musician and as a performer). I do not for a moment think that I AM John Entwistle, nor would I have written and devised the parts he created for Pete Townshend's incredible music, but if I can creep JEFF STEIN out (the director of THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, and of our latest performance video), then I must being doing something right.
I have put quite a bit of time and effort in to reproducing not only the playing STYLE of John, but in reproducing his famous basses, stage gear and costumes through the different periods of the the "Keith Moon" WHO days. I will be posting descriptions and photos from gigs, video shoots, my personal guitar "shop" (where I assemble the basses and gear) and costumes here, as well as on my own music/art website http://www.joelp.com. Please comment, please say hello, I'll do the same - AND COME OUT TO SEE THE BAND AND SAY HELLO! John was partly correct in saying that, as a bass player, he was "unreproducible." Since I learned to play in his style, I don't reproduce his style, since it is already my own. I simply play the parts.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 9/20/2007
Band Website: thewhoshow.com
Band Members: "There are many Who fans who have just as good a time watching one of the many fantastic Who tribute bands as watching Roger and Pete (and their supporting musicians) pretend to be who we used to be." Pete Townshend, from his blog
"Happy to be of assistance." Joel Pelletier
VH1 Rock Honors THE WHO weekend July 11-12 2008 in Los Angeles is HEATING UP! Watch for The Who Show featured on VH1, at VH1.com, the LA Weekly and more for their Pre- and Post-concert celebration/performances in Santa Monica and Westwood, California (see my gig schedule for info)!

Recent YOUTUBE comments from our 2007 JEFF STEIN promo video (before the addition of our new singer):
rafferty246
entwistle and moon very ghostly so much the original who band... terriffic top band ...entwistle and moony very ghostly so much like originals
ivy1908c
Amazing! "Moon" is a ghost. Not only does he have the chops down, he's got the showmanship as well!
KeithMoon1978
They are all great, but I must say the bassist and drummer are amazing!
SNOWJAZZ66
A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.
peacemaker281
Shit the guy who does Entwistle is the ghost. keith drummer is good. The whole band is good LONG LIVE THE MIGHTY WHO!
pizzamcoy
all 4 of these guys have a tough job. theyre pretty friggen perfect too. they should win an award for the best tribute band.
nickwill007
The Bassist in this is brilliant, can imitate The Ox very well, and even stands like him lol, very well played sir
sharp1972
the entwistle is spooky realistic in the back ground
"The Who Show is a tribute band that brings to life the sights and sounds of 70's era Who with both precision and verve...
This act nails all the dynamics and nuances of the Who, from the calm spider-fingered dexterity of bassist Joel Pelletier as John Entwistle to the Hi-watt amps and energetic chord work of guitarist Chris Propper as Pete Townshend... The extremely talented France DiCarlo on drums resurrects the force of nature that was Keith Moon and pummels the skins with manic intensity...
The Who Show offers an authentic replication of a by-gone sound for Who fans. They rock heavily with conviction and play the songs the way they were intended to sound."
Oscar Jordan, Music Connection Magazine, 1/9/08 (read the full review here ).
2008 The Who Show live photos in the Gallery

(3/22/08) NEW The Who Show live photos by rock and roll photographer Heather Harris taken at the 3/22/08 OC Pavilion performance are being posted in the Gallery, a truly wonderful experience shared with over 300 audience members! These new live shots feature Joel BEING JOHN ENTWISTLE with 5 of his basses, the Hartke stack (feared by soundmen throughout Southern California), a 70's velvet suit (with 20" bell bottoms!) and the Isle of Wight-style Skeleton jacket. This was simply an amazing show - Heather was there photographing The Who in the late 60's and 70's, and she says this show was a true WHO coliseum show recreation!
The Who Show receives HOLLYWOOD FAME AWARD at the World Famous Whisky-A-Go-Go

(11/28/07) The Who Show was awarded "Best Independent Revival Rock Act 2007" (aka BEST TRIBUTE ACT) at the first annual HOLLYWOOD FAME AWARDS , founded and hosted by Al Bowman, creator of the prestigious LA MUSIC AWARDS. France DiCarlo (Keith Moon) and Joel Pelletier (John Entwistle) were there in person to accept the award. Awards were given to bands from across the United States, and special presentations were made to Kat Kramer, in honour of her father, film producer Stanley Kramer; Liberty DiVito, long-time award-winning drummer for Billy Joel (and now Paul McCartney); and 35-year radio veteran and K-Earth DJ Gary Brian. The event was held at West Hollywood's world famous Whisky-a-Go-Go on the Sunset Strip.

Here I am at a 10/28/07 performance of THE WHO SHOW in Anaheim, CA, sporting my recreation of John Entwistle's SKELETON SUIT, worn by the original THE WHO bassist at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970 (see insert). John permanently retired his rather ill fitting and uncomfortable leather version after that legendary performance, but I plan on wearing mine at many future gigs (plus I get to lose the beard)!

NEW T-SHIRT AVAILABLE

If you understand this, you'll HAVE to have one!
Professionally silk screened on Hanes cotton t-shirts, more sizes and styles to follow:
Temporarily out of stock, please email if you are interested!
Endorsements:An unexamined life in not worth writing about, never mind living! Musical influences also include Stravinsky, Bartok, Beethoven, Berg and Hindemith, but that's a whole different story... For more info, video and free MP3's of my pre-THE WHO SHOW music go to http://www.joelp.com.
Sounds Like: Hopefully one day like this!

Type of Label: None

My Blog

Seeking rabid Who fans with opinions!

Many Who fans worldwide are descending on Los Angeles for this Saturday's VH1 HONORS THE WHO concert taping. We have 2 gigs this weekend bookending the VH1 show to celebrate WITH our fellow Who fans. ...
Posted by Joel Pelletier, bassist for The Who Show on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:44:00 PST

Being John Entwistle

My latest music project, which has become a larger "art piece", is agreeing to perform in a Who tribute band, The Who Show. When I decided late last year to return to live rock performing, I knew it c...
Posted by Joel Pelletier, bassist for The Who Show on Fri, 21 Sep 2007 11:24:00 PST

Tribute Bands - Real Music?

In December 2007 I joined a tribute band, The Who Show (more info on my music page). I began getting the itch to play live LOUD rock music again in mid-2006, having semi-retired from live original per...
Posted by Joel Pelletier, bassist for The Who Show on Fri, 21 Sep 2007 11:20:00 PST