Rick Chapman has it easy for tonight's Who concert at the Pontiac Silverdome. He lives at Opdyke and Square Lake Road, not much of a walk to the arena.

He won't have to take a car and fight the traffic — it's estimated as many 70,000 concert-goers may attend — and he won't have to pay the $5 parking fee.

Chapman says he'll be going with about 15 of his friends to see the Who, the Clash and Eddie Money.

When the tickets went on sale five weeks ago, they each shelled out $15 for the general admission tickets, and today say they'll skip out of school after lunch and head for the Silverdome to stand in line to race for the best possible seats once the doors open for the 7:30 show.

"We waited in line at the Rolling Stones concert last November in the snow," Chapman recalls. "It didn't bother us much. There's a lot of amusing people out there. One guy was standing there letting people pour all kinds of stuff into his hat, and he drank it all. I had a great time."

THAT SORT of street comedy is a common reason many ticket buyers give for going to the concert — they're expecting a party, and most likely, they'll get it.

After all, the Who's has been a bona fide legendary rock 'n' roll band since 1966, when the British quartet's first album was released in the United States and a single hit record called "My Generation" joined the Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction" as a teen anthem.

And it only helps matters that the Who's reputation holds up for live performances, too. Only cynics will describe the band's 1979 show in the Silverdome's "mini-dome" format as anything less than awesome — the Silverdome's poor acoustics aside.

Add to that the Clash, senior spokesmen of the new wave/punk rock movement whose August 14 show at the Grand Circus sold out in four hours; and Eddie Money, who has a pretty solid reputation as a live performer behind him.

THE ODD THING, however, is how many teenagers — that is, high-school students — are going to see the Who.

A 16- or 17-year-old was just being born when the Who arrived in America, and the band hasn't had many recording hits of lasting value, such as "My Generation," "Pinball Wizard" or "Won't Get Fooled Again," for several years.

"A lot of their music has to do with themselves growing up," says Kelly McLain, 16, of Bloomfield Hills. "They make a lot of points about being alone or rebelling against their parents — stuff kids go through now."

THAT THIS inspiration comes from a group of musicians in their late 30s is the strange part. Guitarist Pete Townshend's early songs deal heavily with gang life in Britain, the clash between groups known as the Mods and the Rockers, that even Americans who grew up at the time don't understand.

"I can still relate with him (Townshend), even though it's more like his generation, not mine," says John Moglia, 17, who lives at Adams and Long Lake roads.

The open-mindedness extends to parents, too. The McLains are an example; they know all about the 1979 Cincinnati show, when 11 fans were crushed to death at a rush on the gate.

"There's an element of (worry), but it's subsided," says Walter McLain. "We've always encouraged (music) as another interest. At the shows we've been to, the evenings seem to run well."

The Who has been a bona fide legendary rock band since 1966, when the British quartet's hit record called "My Generation" became a teen anthem. From left: Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, Ken Jones and Roger Daltrey.

Here's how to avoid traffic

Up to 70,000 fans of the Who, Eddie Money and Clash will be driving to the Pontiac Silverdome for tonight's 7:30 concert, but state police Captain Barton Dennis says those not heading for the show needn't be stuck in traffic.

"I don't see any miles-out lines," Dennis says. "We expect a trickle all day long, as the kids get out of school."

Still, Dennis says certain roads should be avoided between 4 and 7:30 p.m. today. I-75 near the Silverdome will probably be crowded, as will the four streets around the stadium — M-59, Opdyke, Featherstone and East Blvd.

Dennis says drivers commuting home from work should use Woodward Avenue, Telegraph Road and Dixie Highway as alternatives. He says those attending night classes at Oakland Community College's Auburn Heights campus should take easterly routes on M-59 and I-75 away from the college and around the Silverdome.

"I'm hoping by 7:30 it should be clear until midnight or so, when the concert lets out," Dennis says.

— Gary Graff