Substitute for Who tour opening

Palladino has a reputation of one of Britain's top session musicians

LOS ANGELES, California -- British rockers The Who will begin their U.S. tour on Monday just four days after the death of bass player John Entwistle having hired a substitute to fill in for their fallen comrade.

Session specialist Pino Palladino has played with Elton John, Dave Crosby, Joan Armatrading, Eric Clapton and Phil Collins among others and was recently hired for Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee concert, "Party at the Palace."

The group's guitarist/songwriter, Pete Townshend, said on his Web site on Saturday he had made only one request of the Welsh native -- "that -- at first -- he play as loud as he can bear!" The Who made the 1976 Guinness Book of Records for playing the loudest concert.

Entwistle, 57, known as "the Ox" and "Thunderfingers," died of an apparent heart attack in his Las Vegas hotel room on Thursday, a day before the group was scheduled to open its tour in the city.

With singer Roger Daltrey leaving the decisions to Townshend, The Who surprised fans on Friday by saying that the tour would go ahead as a "tribute... to an irreplaceable friend," starting on Monday at the Hollywood Bowl.

The tour had the blessing of Entwistle's son, Christopher, who said his father would have wanted the show to go on.

CNN NewsPass VIDEO CNN's Tim Lister looks back on the career of bassist John Entwistle of The Who (June 28) Play video Fans at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel Casino pay their respects (June 27) Play video   AUDIO "My Generation" 153 / 14 WAV sound "My Wife" 161 / 14 WAV sound "Boris the Spider" 206 / 19 WAV sound   MORE STORIES • Who's Entwistle dies  • Obituary: The quiet artist  • Entwistle tributes pour in  • Novel to go unpublished    EXTRA INFORMATION Gallery: Memories and tributes    RESOURCES EW.com: All About The Who  • In Memoriam: John Entwistle

Christopher Entwistle added that his father "lived for music and will always live within The Who's music. This is what he would have wished, and our love goes out to the remaining band members and the entourage that makes up The Who family."

Townshend said on his Web site: "I simply believe we have a duty to go on, to ourselves, ticket buyers, staff, promoters, big and little people. I also have a duty to myself and my dependent family and friends. I also want to help guide Roger and the rest of the band at this time, all of whom have been shaken by John's death."

Townshend said his immediate mission was to complete the three-month tour "in good heart, and to remember John in my quiet and private times.

"It is easy for me to smile when I remember John. I loved him unconditionally. I will try hard not to fall into any of my usual mini-depressions on this tour. Pino is determined to enjoy the music, and so am I.

"We are musicians, entertainers. We can do it. We have the right tools. No worries."

Palladino previously worked on Townshend's 1985 solo album, "White City: A Novel" and on a Daltrey-led 1994 Who tribute album. His diverse credits include collaborations with the likes of soul singers Erykah Badu and D'Angelo, rockers Don Henley and Eric Clapton, and bluesman B.B. King.

Townshend added he and Daltrey did not expect Palladino to "emulate, parody or copy" Entwistle's audacious style.

An autopsy was performed on Friday by the Clark County coroner in Las Vegas. The results were not announced immediately pending the results from toxicology tests.

The Who drew rave reviews for its last tour of North America and grossed $21.1 million in ticket sales, enough to rank the group 21st among all touring acts in 2000.

Although the band decided to return to the road without Entwistle, his death left in doubt the outcome of a new studio album the group had begun preparing -- their first since 1982's "It's Hard."

Organisers of a previously planned all-day film festival celebrating The Who said Entwistle would be saluted in a special tribute during the event Sunday at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.