The Who had just come to the end of their act.

Cymbals flew one way, the bass drum toppled from the rostrum and fell towards the screaming teenagers pulling at the curtains in an effort to keep them open.

Stage lights were flashing first on and then off while we tried to work out whether vocalist Roger Daltrey, arms waving frantically in the middle of the stage, was in fact at the end of Generation or intending to continue.

Two road managers dashed on stage to replace the drum kit only to see drummer Keith Moon kick over the tom-tom.

In the wings, hall staff employees were attending as best they could to young girls overcome with Who emotion.

"Audiences like that come few and far between these days," said Keith Moon. "We react to the crowd.

"A good reception and we do the sort of show we did tonight."

Great show, indeed; but did the boys not mind about the self-inflicting damage to their equipment?

"Not at all," said Pete Townshend. "I would quite happily smash my amp to pieces if the show was going that way."

All in all a fantastic night, and an ending that will be remembered for a long time to come.