'My Generation' Boys in Stage Scuffle

By Iain McKelvie.

Newbury

A scuffle between members of the beat group The Who broke out as they were finishing their act in Newbury last night.

Five hundred teenagers became heated as officials held drummer Keith Moon and guitarist Pete Townshend apart.

The climax ended a quarter of an hour early because of the row.

The incident happened at the Town Exchange in Newbury — a hot spot place as The Who were finishing their hit number 'My Generation.'

For no apparent reason Moon, dressed in yellow jeans and a white tee-shirt, kicked his two bass drums over.

Then guitarist Townshend, wearing a brown suit, threw his white guitar at Moon. He rushed over to him, and it was then officials jumped in and parted them.

Cut short

The act was cut short and three of the group went upstairs to the dressing room.

Suddenly Moon, brandishing his boots, ran down the stairs shouting "Where is Townshend?"

He rushed to his drums and pushed his foot through one of them. He then walked off to the back of the stage.

The show, which was scheduled to finish at 11pm, was stopped at 10.45 after he shouted to the audience to applaud but the teenagers started booing.

After the incident bass guitarist John Entwistle said "We have known each other since we were at school. It is not a way of blowing off steam and it could be said it is just a part of the act."

But 17-year-old David Woodwards who was in the audience said "I have seen the act five times and this has never happened before. It was definitely a scuffle. We are all very annoyed because we don't think we have had our money's worth."