Jon Button

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Jon Button's path to The Who began long before he stepped into their touring lineup. Born in Fairbanks, Alaska, into a musical family, he was the youngest of five siblings and started piano at four, switching to bass at seven. By his teens, he was already playing in jazz and blues bands and with local symphonies and orchestras. After winning music scholarships in high school, he attended the University of North Texas' music program. Moving to Los Angeles in 1994, Button found work on film and television scores, including the Emmy Award winning Batman Beyond. His recording credits include Borrowed Heaven by the Corrs and Tour Fijación Oral by Shakira. He has performed live and toured with Michelle Branch, Rachael Yamagata, Mandy Moore, Shakira, Sheryl Crow, Roger Daltrey, and The Who. A notable early moment with The Who came when he played upright bass during an acoustic concert associated with the band's Super Bowl performance. In 2009, he toured as bassist in Roger Daltrey's band for the Use It or Lose It tour, and that band opened for Eric Clapton during several dates in 2010, with more tour dates scheduled for 2012. Button is currently playing on tour with The Who, having replaced Pino Palladino.

In Their Own Story

The call came to replace Pino Palladino on tour with The Who. Button had already shared stages with Roger Daltrey, having toured as his bassist for the Use It or Lose It tour in 2009, and had even opened for Eric Clapton during several dates in 2010. But stepping into The Who's touring lineup meant locking into the engine room of one of rock's most explosive bands. Button brought his experience from decades of session work—film scores like Batman Beyond, albums like Borrowed Heaven by the Corrs and Tour Fijación Oral by Shakira—and his history of playing both electric and upright bass. He had already played upright bass with The Who during an acoustic concert tied to their Super Bowl performance. Now, night after night, he anchors the low end, replacing Palladino's distinctive style with his own steady, groove-driven approach. The band keeps the schedule moving, with more tour dates planned beyond 2012.

Reader's Guide

Instrument and Role: Jon Button plays both electric and upright string bass. In The Who's touring lineup, he replaced Pino Palladino, taking over the low-end foundation. His role is to lock in with the drums and provide the harmonic and rhythmic bedrock for the band's classic catalog. He is not a lead instrument but the structural spine of the rhythm section. Key Musical Contributions: Button's discography shows his range: from the Emmy Award winning Batman Beyond soundtrack (1999) to Borrowed Heaven by The Corrs (2004) and Tour Fijación Oral by Shakira (2007). He has played on over a dozen albums, including The Who's Tommy Orchestral with Roger Daltrey (2019) and The Who with Orchestra Live at Wembley (2023). His live work includes the musical benefit Live 8 and the Use It or Lose It tour with Roger Daltrey in 2009, which opened for Eric Clapton in 2010. Personality in the Group Dynamic: The source does not describe Button's personality directly, but his career shows a versatile, in-demand session and touring musician who has worked with a wide range of artists—from pop (Mandy Moore, Michelle Branch) to rock (Sheryl Crow, The Who) to Latin (Shakira, Jesse & Joy). He is a professional who moves between genres and roles, from film scores to arena tours. What Made Him Irreplaceable: Button's ability to play both electric and upright bass, his experience across commercial, film, and television scores, and his history with Roger Daltrey made him the natural choice to replace Pino Palladino on tour with The Who. His track record of playing with well-known artists and on major recordings shows he can handle the demands of one of rock's most iconic rhythm sections.

Did You Know?

• Jon Button was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, and started learning piano at age four and bass at seven.
• He played on the Emmy Award winning Batman Beyond soundtrack in 1999.
• Button played upright bass with The Who during an acoustic concert associated with the band's Super Bowl performance.
• He toured as bassist in Roger Daltrey's band for the Use It or Lose It tour in 2009, which opened for Eric Clapton in 2010.
• Button has been married to actress Terryn Westbrook since 2011, and they have one child.