Working Out Were (from left) Roger Daltrey, Keith Moon, Peter Towshend —Staff Photo

Wild Applause Greets The Who

Microphones were spun like yo-yos, drum stands were overturned and guitars were used like machine guns by The Who last night at The Auditorium, delighting 4,500 fans.

The London-based group, rated the top rock group in the world, pulled out all stops to cheers and standing ovations.

The four rockers were hard-pressed as they followed one of Memphis’ top groups, The Prelude, who worked more than 40 minutes.

It was the jumping, gyrating and excellent work with the guitar, for which Peter Townshend is known that brought some of the wildest cheers. He worked with Roger Daltrey, lead singer, backed with the perpetual motion of drummer Keith Moon and the hard bass of John Entwistle.

Rocking through with “Shakin’ All Over,” “Summertime,” “Happy Jack” “Heaven and Hill,” “The Water,” “Young Man Blues,” and closing with “My Generation,” The Who had to ask the audience to move back to their seats.

The Who, who records for Decca Records, was making its first Memphis appearance. The group is famous for its 1967 Monterey Pop Festival stunt of burning all their equipment on stage after their show.

They didn’t burn anything or throw their instruments, but they left the drums fall and almost anything else that was loose as they blared their music through 56 amplifiers on the stage.