The Who Begins Its Swan Song

By Brian Donlon

USA TODAY

The Who kicked off its final U.S. concert tour at the Capital Centre in Landover, Md., Wednesday night to a sold-out crowd of 18,787.

The band's explosive lead singer, Roger Daltrey — clad in white jacket and black shirt and pants — launched the show with a spirited drive through the group's 1971 hit "Substitute," which segued into "I Can't Explain," the Who's first U.S. release from 1965.

The crowd inside the arena was wildly enthusiastic, joining in on vocals, swinging Union Jacks to salute their British heroes and chanting, "Who! Who! Who!" Less than 60 minutes into the show — when Daltrey and lead guitarist Peter Townshend, cigarette dangling from his mouth, hit the "We're all wasted!" line from the adolescent anthem "Teenage Wasteland" — near pandemonium spread through the arena.

Reports that this would be the band's last tour heightened the excitement, though most fans seemed to believe the group would be back.

Carl Henning, 27, of Waldorf, Md., was among the doubters. "They'll tour again," he said. "Bands always do."

AP DALTREY: Spirited singing