Fellow musicians including Noel Gallagher and Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek have paid tribute to John Entwistle, bassist for The Who.

Entwistle, considered one of the most influential rock musicians of his generation, died of a suspected heart attack on Thursday in a Las Vegas hotel, aged 57.

Entwistle's band mates, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, cancelled their plans to tour the US on Friday. All three had been friends and colleagues for more than 40 years.

Oasis frontman Gallagher said: "John was one of the great bass players of all time in one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time.

"They don't make 'em like him anymore, and he will be sadly missed."

Entwistle described as a "genius"

Ray Manzarek, keyboardist for the Doors - The Who's contemporaries - described Entwistle as "one of the great, great rock 'n' roll bassists of all time. A real genius".

Musician Sammy Hagar added: "He just was the most humble rock stars I have ever met, besides having the best hands of any bass player in the history of rock and roll."

Shock

As well as playing with The Who, Entwistle had his own band, called simply The John Entwistle Band.

Steve Luongo - who played drums for the group for the past 15 years - said Entwistle's influence on the music had been invaluable.

John was much imitated and never beaten

Robin Goodridge Rock band Bush

"As a musician, he did for the bass guitar what Jimi Hendrix did for the guitar," said Luongo.

But Entwistle was also a talented artist and art was one of his lifelong passions.

He had arrived in Las Vegas before his band mates for an art exhibition featuring his work at Grammy's Art of Music Gallery at the Aladdin Hotel-Casino.

Fans lay flowers outside the venue where The Who were due to play

The gallery's assistant manager Diana Tabor said staff and fans were in a state of shock.

"I'm emotionally distraught just now, it's just devastating. I just had to break the news to a client who broke down in tears," she said.

In Las Vegas itself, fans have been visiting a special commemorative plaque put up soon after Entwistle's death.

'Legacy'

Flowers and messages have also been laid at small memorial area just outside The Joint concert venue at The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

The news was also greeted with sadness at the Glastonbury Festival, which started on Friday in the UK.

Rock band Bush were formed in the Shepherd's Bush, west London, close to Acton, where The Who's first incarnation as The High Numbers began in 1963.

A great player in a great band: His legacy will live on those joyous singles and defining albums

Mark Fichera, a fan in Australia

Drummer Robin Goodridge told BBC News Online: "I grew up with them, they were the first band that I mimed the music to. They were one of our biggest influences, they and Led Zeppelin were the backbone of English rock for many years.

"John was much imitated and never beaten."

The Charlatans' bass player Martin Blunt said: "His bass-playing style was totally unique, he made it sound really different, and he had his own way of playing, it looked really effortless."

Dan Fisher, guitarist with cult band Cooper Temple Clause said: "He was one of the best bass players ever. We do fantasy band line-ups and he's always in there. "

Users of BBC News Online have also begun sending their own tributes to the musician.

Entwistle was also a talented artist

Tim Hutton, from the US, added: "It is a sad day. He was truly the best rock bassist ever.

"I imitated his style, poorly. But who could be as good as him?"

Meanwhile, Mark Fichera in Australia concluded: "A great player in a great band. His legacy will live on those joyous singles and defining albums."