Affectionately known as "Thunderfingers," John Entwistle, legendary bassist for The Who, died in Room 658 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 27 June 2002, one day before the scheduled first show of the Who's 2002 United States tour. He had gone to bed that night with a stripper/groupie, Alycen Rowse, who woke at 10 a.m. to find Entwistle cold and unresponsive. The Clark County medical examiner determined that his death was due to a heart attack induced by a cocaine overdose. His funeral was held at St Edward's Church in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, England, on July 10, 2002. He was cremated and his ashes were buried privately. A memorial service was held later that year, on October 24th at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London. Entwistle's huge collection of guitars and basses were auctioned at Sotheby's in London by his son, Christopher, to meet the anticipated taxes on his father's estate.
On Pete Townshend's website, Townshend and Roger Daltrey published a tribute, saying, "The Ox has left the building — we've lost another great friend. Thanks for your support and love. Pete and Roger.