Who’s farewell rocks Kingdome

SEATTLE (AP) — More than 55,000 rock fans swarmed into Seattle’s Kingdome Wednesday night for a thundering concert by England’s reigning rock ’n roll rowdies, the Who.

With screams and yells, fans thundered back at the band and a warm-up punk rock group called The Clash.

“Forget the Who, we came for The Clash,” said Tim Hallmark, 20, of Everett. “The Who are good and this is their farewell tour but this is kind of a breakthrough for a punk band.”

Fans ranged from teen-age girls in gaudy fingernail polish to punk rockers with safety pins in their ears to middle-age professionals.

The Who advertises its current U.S. tour as its last. But rock ’n roll retirements have little staying power — and tend to attract bigger crowds. Tickets for Wednesday night’s show cost $16 each.

During the 1970s, the Who was touted as among the loudest manmade sounds on Earth — in the same decibel range as a 747 on takeoff.

The Who’s lead singer, Roger Daltrey, bounded and bounced around stage. Shy reserve also was not a strong suit of other band members, John Entwistle, Kenney Jones and Peter Townshend.

Huge letters, W-H-O, framed the stage and spotlights swept the audience. In the darkened dome, matches and cigarette lighters flickered.

Kingdome personnel and law enforcement officials kept an orderly queue. There were some arrests for sale and possession of drugs, intoxication and minor assault.

Several people, along with an usher inadvertently knocked down, were taken to a hospital for observation but no serious injuries were reported.

Dave Dines, King County police officer, said the crowd was “a little rowdier than usual. The Rolling Stones crowd last year was more mellow and easier to handle, but this gang isn’t too bad.”