Wife of Who legend dies at 43 (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Wife of Who legend dies at 43

THE girlfriend of the late Who bassist John Entwistle has died in America, aged just 43.

Lisa Pritchett-Johnson - who lived with the legendary rock star at his mansion in the Cotswolds until his own death in the USA in June 2002 - was found dead in a house in Memphis, Tennessee, with a quantity of cocaine at her bedside.

An inquest will now be held to determine the exact cause of her death. Friends say she had never got over the death of Entwistle and died of a broken heart.

The vivacious self-styled 'rock chick' was Entwistle's partner for 13 years until his death, aged 57, on the eve of a Who tour of America.

She had described him as her 'soulmate' and said they were planning to marry.

A statement posted on Tennessee-based news wire Eyewitness News this week said: "Lisa Pritchett-Johnson was found dead in a Bartlett home on March 6.

"Our sources tell us Pritchett-Johnson inherited millions of dollars from his estate last month. She was raised here in Memphis.

"Her mother and stepfather were in the Memphis Police force.

"An autopsy will determine how Lisa died. A family member tells us she had recently been ill."

Insp Steven Johnson of Bartlett police said they had been called to a house in Bartlett, a suburb of Memphis, by a member of the household.

He revealed: "The call was made by a member of the household and she appeared to have been dead for several hours.

"There was some cocaine near her - 1.6 grammes of cocaine was found in her personal belongings.

"We don't know if it was an accident or an overdose or a suicide or something else. We are waiting for the medical examiner's report."

Mr Entwistle was found dead in a Las Vegas hotel room in June 2002 after a drug-fuelled romp with exotic dancer Alison Rouse.

Ms Pritchett-Johnson was forced to move from Quarwood under the terms of Mr Entwistle's will and she lived in a cottage on the 42-acre estate.

She claimed a share of the pop star's legacy, along with his mother Queenie, 80, and son Chris.

Before she and Mr Entwistle met, she dated Joe Walsh, guitarist from The Eagles.

In late 2003 Ms Pritchett-Johnson was prosecuted for drink-driving and was also arrested on suspicion of possessing cocaine.

She accepted a police caution for the drug offence and was banned from driving for two years and fined £400 (pounds) today for driving while twice over the drink drive limit in Entwistle's Rolls Royce in Stow on the Wold.

Today a friend, Barbara O'Hare, who lives in Liverpool, said: "Lisa was a dear friend of mine, a great lady.

"I find comfort in the thought that she and John are in rock'n'roll heaven." A memorial service will be held in memory of Johnson and Entwistle at St Edwards Church, Stow, at a date to be confirmed.