The Suncoast’s quasi-hippie element materialized tamely last night for a “Superstar Spectacular” featuring three popular electric bands — Herman’s Hermits, The Who and The Blues Magoos.

Thirty policemen — one with bullets stuffed in his ears—to keep out the noise — kept the more excitable of the 5,000 teen-agers from joining their idols on the Bayfront Center stage.

THE USUAL screaming was conspicuously absent at the beginning of the performance while two local groups, The Ravens and The Lost Element, warmed up the audience. Several mild swoons mixed with a smattering of gleeful squeals greeted the Magoos’ current hit single, “Live Each Day One By One,” and the Who’s best-selling “Pictures of Lilly.”

Roger Daltrey, Who’s lead singer, said before the performance, “We seem to frighten them to death.”

But far from being frightened, the teens exploded into a frenzy when the Who ended their last song, “My Generation,” with a blast of smoke, and the waving of Confederate flags.

The Magoos might have looked on with envy, because mass hysteria is just what they’re after.

Peppy Magoo said, “You might call music our drugs.” Audience excitement helps them get lost in the music, he grinned.

Lead Mike Magoo (they share the pseudonym lifted from a Chinese menu), complained, “We can’t come across in concert.”

A barrage of flash-bulbs offered stiff competition for the startling strobe light effects of the Magoos and The Ravens.

The performers’ dress was more flamboyant than their modish fans’. John Entwhistle staidly played bass for The Who in a blazer fashioned for him from a pair of red and yellow English royal banners. Electric lights flashed constantly through panels in The Magoos’ black leather outfits.

A sizeable chunk of the audience — probably the youngest — were there to worship those clean, unspectacular guys, Herman’s Hermits.

BUT IF they expected what drummer Barry Whitwam called “happy sorts of sounds,” the first number was a surprise. Peter Noone (Herman) bounded on stage to lead a rocky, noisy version of the Beatles’ new song, “I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends.”

Then they swung back into the familiar beat of “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter,” inviting the teens to clap and singalong. They did.