Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend are going ahead with The Who's US tour, as they come to terms with the death of bassist John Entwistle.

Entwistle was found dead in his Las Vegas hotel room on Thursday, the day before the legendary British rock group were due to kick off their tour.

The band's two remaining members said the three-month tour, which will now begin in Los Angeles on Monday, would now be dedicated to the 57-year-old.

"It will go ahead as a tribute to John Entwistle and to the loss of an irreplaceable friend," Daltrey and Townshend said in a statement.

The show goes on: Entwistle, Daltry and Townshend in 2000

"The Entlewistle family is in full support of the decision to continue and feel this is what John would have wanted," the statement added.

Entwistle's son, Christopher, said his father "lived for music and will always live within The Who's music".

"This is what he would have wished, and our love goes out to the remaining band members and the entourage that makes up The Who family."

Sudden death

Entwistle is believed to have died of a heart attack, and an autopsy was performed on Friday by the Clark County coroner in Las Vegas.

But a spokeswoman for the coroner said a final outcome would not be announced until the results of toxicology tests were known, which would take between two to 12 weeks.

Las Vegas authorities said there was no sign of trauma, violence or drug paraphernalia.

Entwistle was due to open an exhibition of his artwork

Entwistle's sudden death came almost 25 years after The Who's original drummer, Keith Moon, died of an accidental drug overdose.

Zak Starkey, son of former Beatle Ringo Starr, is due to play drums on the tour. Its first two dates, in Las Vegas and Irvine, California, will now be rescheduled.

British session player Pino Palladino, who has worked with Townshend on solo projects, will fill in for Entwistle on the tour.

The death of the quiet man, known as The Ox, whose calm presence contrasted with his bandmates' energetic onstage activities, leaves in doubt plans for a new studio album.

Daltrey, Townshend and Entwistle had been preparing their first new material since the 1982 album It's Hard.