By Alex Webb BBC News Online entertainment staff

Steve Luongo, the drummer in the late John Entwistle's band, said it was "truly a privilege" to have known The Who's bass player, who died on Thursday aged 57.

Luongo, who met Entwistle through a mutual friend at a music trade fair in 1987, told BBC News Online that they had shared a "musical marriage".

Let his fans know that he loved them all dearly

Steve Luongo

"The first thing I asked him was 'do you want to play?' and he said 'anytime'," the drummer said.

"We played for 15 years together and we had a chemistry that was undeniable.

"We knew from the first notes we played we'd enjoy working together."

Luongo added that Entwistle's family was "in shock".

New York-based Luongo played in the bassist's group, called The John Entwistle Band, when Entwistle was not working with The Who.

The John Entwistle Band has toured internationally, and completed a tour of Japan in 2001. They have also released a number of CDs in their own right, most recently Music from Van-Pires.

Working with Entwistle was "a musical marriage"

The drummer, who has also worked with singer-songwriter Todd Rundgren, described Entwistle as one of his musical idols.

"The Who defined a sound, and were the soundtrack to a large portion of my younger life," said Luongo, 49.

"Being a drummer, Keith Moon gave me permission to do anything I wanted on a set of drums - something I took full advantage of."

The drummer described his experience of playing with Entwistle as "a gift, a privilege".

"It was like going to post graduate rock'n'roll college - he taught me more in 15 years playing together than in the rest of my career."

Luongo said The Who were "the soundtrack to a large portion of my life"

Mr Luongo, clearly upset by the news, added: "You need to let his fans know that he loved them all dearly.

"He'd stand in the rain assigning autographs until the pen ran out, or there weren't any more autographs to sign.

"It was truly a privilege to know him."

He added that Entwistle had shown no sign of ill health before his death.

"Not at all, on the contrary," he said.

'Inspiring'

"John would see doctors before every tour, including with The Who, and any indication of anything, they wouldn't have let him go out."

The drummer added that his friend was "the most inspiring musician I've every known - and one of the most inspiring human beings I've ever known".

"He remained so grounded in the face of all that adulation."