Years Haven't Dulled Sound from The Who

By Bob Von Sternberg

Beacon Journal Staff Writer

It's been almost six years now since two high school friends and I stood clapping and hollering in the balcony of Cleveland's Public Hall, astounded by what we had just heard.

The Who had finished three hours of the most exciting, earthshaking music we had ever heard. Those were the days when dope wasn't a required part of concert-going, but we — and a lot of other people — staggered out of the hall feeling very high.

We knew this was what rock and roll was all about and since then that concert remained THE concert; it was the pinnacle of rock's adrenelin rush and everything I heard afterward was judged against it. No one else was able to match what the Who had done that night.

A LOT OF good music has been played since then, but that didn't diminish the memory. Mistrusting my memory's objectivity, I expected to be disappointed by the Who's appearance Tuesday at the Coliseum.

It didn't happen. For almost two hours, the four members of the Who proved they were better than ever and better than just about anybody else who does rock and roll.

They loped onstage to a standing ovation by the 22,000 who packed the Richfield arena. Guitarist Peter Townsend plugged in and smashed out the opeing chords to "I Can't Explain" — the 10-year-old song that gave a rowdy bunch of mod English guys their first exposure.

A guitar, a bass, drums and voices comprise the Who's sound, the same components of a host of other good and bad rocks bands. But from the first minute of the concert, it was again obvious that musical mode virtually belongs to them. They sound like no one else.

Guards keep ticketless fans outside

RICHFIELD — Security guards avoided a repeat of last January's window-smashing spree at the Coliseum Tuesday night by keeping a tight rein on about 75 ticketless youths who roamed outside the building during a sold-out rock concert.

"We were ready for them this time," said one guard as part of the 22,000-member audience streamed toward the parking lot following a performance by English rock band, the Who.

Even though the concert had been announced as a sellout, guards said 75 to 80 teenage boys spent nearly an hour trying to get into the building.

THE CIRCUMSTANCES resembled the sold-out Led Zeppelin concert last January when more than $30,000 in damage was caused by fans without tickets who smashed windows and doors trying to get into the building.

Coliseum officials subsequently sued then Sheriff Robert Campbell for $1 million, charging that he failed to respond to pleas for help in controlling the violence.

The suit was settled out of court in October and all claims were dropped.

Although sheriff's deputies were not called for assistance Tuesday, they transported one Coventry Township man to the Summit County Jail after he was arrested by guards for assault and disorderly conduct.

Raymond Rose, 18, of 4046 Lake Vista Rd., was arrested after allegedly assaulting a Coliseum guard.

COLISEUM officials said they boosted the size of their security force to deal with the overflow crowd, including renting guard dogs for attendants.

"They all said they had tickets, but we knew we were full here," a guard said of the youths. A few large groups circled the building, attempting to enter the locked building.

"Most of them just stood around outside of the door, trying to figure out how to get in,"

THEIR MUSIC rolled out of the speakers in huge swaths, tight and controlled. At the same time, though, the music seemed in danger of violently careening out of control.

The individuals in the band are another reason they were so impressive. Praise of the Who must begin with Townshend, the leader and songwriter whose vision did most to create the band.

As a guitarist, he is neither subtle nor complex. He hammers out monstrous chords and brief, searing solo runs that are unparalleled for their perfect simplicity. Not merely content with playing, though, he laced his performance with the visual flash that has been central to the band's image.

He assaulted the strings, his arm flailing like a windmill. Insane leaps and bounds into the air accompanied some chords. He threw screams of feedback — another of his trademarks — at the crowd that clamored for even more.

Roger Daltry, vocalist and sometimes-actor, bellowed out songs in fine voice, strutting and heaving his hand mike like a lasso. Drummer Keith Moon leered and cavorted like a madman, all the time laying down a possessed rhythm for the others to follow. Bassist John Entwistle was the visual counterpoint, standing stock-still, only his playing fingers moving.

THESE ARE familiar identities to followers of the band, all having been crafted and nurtured during the Who's decade of playing. There was never a hint that any of it was contrived or simply walked through for the benefit of rabid fans — the onstage energy seemed completely genuine.

They touched most of the bases of their career, including "My Generation" (with the infamous lyric: "hope I die before I get old"), "Summertime Blues" and "Won't Get Fooled Again."

As expected, they offered part of "Tommy," the song cycle that brought them the most fame.

THE DAYS are gone when the Who climaxes its act with smoke bombs and destroyed instruments; they didn't suffer from it.

The motley audience — they ranged from longhairs in their 30s to teenagers — left with that same dazed look we had six years ago. And now I'm left with two nights of music that have to rank as THE