VETERAN rockers The Who attracted their newest crop of British fans when they kicked off the UK leg of their 25th anniversary comeback tour.

Many of those in the 12,000-strong crowd at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre last night were not even born when the group formed in 1964.

Their three surviving members, guitarist Pete Townshend and singer Roger Daltrey, both 44, and bassist John Entwistle, 43 on Monday, seemed undeterred by the generation gap as they sang a medley of their golden oldies from the 60s and 70s.

The fans, many of whose parents formed the ranks of The Who's original support, responded by singing

The band's original drummer, Keith Moon, died of a drugs overdose 11 years ago.

Daltrey, just back with the band from a warm-up tour in the United States, told his audience: "It's great to be back in England in a country where they understand what you're saying."

Reforming after their bitter split seven years ago, the group seem set to cash in on their new following. Unofficial estimates put their earnings from the tour at £60 million.

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DALTREY: "Great to be back."