A Sell-Out at the Coliseum

THE WHO

By Rick Nelson

Special Writer

When The Who concerts at the Coliseum Tuesday and Wednesday were announced, John Morrison of the John Bauer Concert Company explained the immediate sell-out by saying, "We've got people asking for tickets who only go to one concert every five years, and that one is The Who."

Few of those attending the 8 p.m. shows will remember the very first incarnation of The Who. Two members of a Dixieland band (Peter Townshend and John Entwistle) formed a band called The Detours with one of their high school's most notorious roughnecks, Roger Daltrey. Few will remember that, after they became The Who, they changed their name to The High Numbers and even recorded two "mod" songs, "I'm the Face" and "Zoot Suit."

With the late Keith Moon on drums they became The Who again, and the legend began. One of the best-known discotheques in London, The Marquee on Wardour Street, gave them a chance on a slow Tuesday night. They played places like The Marquee and the Brighton Aquarium through the summer of '65. "My Generation" became the anthem of the times.

That song has held up. It speaks to young people who hear it for the first time today as well as it did 15 years ago.

And The Who has picked up fans all through the group's career. "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" and "I Can't Explain" solidified the band's standing in England. "The Kids Are Alright" furthered the cause on this side of the Atlantic. Albums later came "Magic Bus," the album and the single.

Riding the crest of trends (and anticipating them), The Who produced the rock opera "Tommy." Another slew of fans got on the bus. "I'm Free," "See Me, Feel Me," "We're Not Gonna Take It," "The Overture from Tommy," and "Won't Get Fooled Again" put The Who at or near the top of the heap. Songs like "Squeeze Box" and "Slip Kid" have helped keep it there.

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The Who, clockwise from lower left, Roger Daltrey, Peter Townsend, John Entwistle and Kenny Jones.