THE WHO, WHAT AND WHERE—Part of an estimated crowd of 30,000 surrounds the stage at Anaheim Stadium during rock concert featuring the British group the Who. Times photo by Doris Jeannette

Anaheim Rock Concert: Ecstasy Without Agony

The Who’s outdoor concert Sunday at Anaheim Stadium was a success almost as much for what it wasn’t as for what it was.

Ever since the horrors last December of Altamont, there has been a general uneasiness—both inside and outside rock circles—about the large, outdoor gatherings.

But Sunday’s concert, easily the most important local pop music event since the appearance here last fall of the Rolling Stones, proved that a large, outdoor rock concert can be held without serious incident. In fact, it was much more relaxed Sunday at Anaheim than at the typical indoor rock concert. One of the reasons for the easy atmosphere was that the estimated 30,000 person were free to sit on the grass and crowd in front of the stage.

At indoor concerts, ushers are forced, because of fire regulations and other safety considerations, to keep the aisles clear when young rock fans feel the desire (and they always do) to crowd in front of the stage. This confrontation is eliminated in the outdoor setting.

After the 5½-hour event Sunday, Concert Associates’ Jim Rissmiller and Steve Wolf, who produced the Anaheim concert as a test of the “controlled” festival idea, said they were delighted with the results and will begin immediately on plans for future ones.

As at Woodstock, there was a clear feeling of comradeship on the field at Anaheim. People shared drinks (mostly soft drinks and water), blankets, food and ice. They also cheered the new “peace” version of the U.S. Flag which flew from the center field pole.

By ROBERT HILBURN

Times Pop Music Critic

But Anaheim was clearly Woodstock without difficulties. There were plenty of restrooms, refreshments and shade nearby. About a third of the audience, in fact, preferred to sit in the grandstands rather than on the ground. The stage was placed at what normally would be home plate in a baseball game.

It was clear that the attraction Sunday was almost as much social as musical. Blues Image, the group that opened the show, was almost ignored as people hopscotched over each other to get choice locations, threw spinning plastic toys into the air and ate from picnic baskets.

It wasn’t until midway through Leon Russell’s stint that the audience came to life. Russell, who did several of the songs from his new Shelter album, is an excellent writer-singer-pianist in the funky, Southern-rooted tradition. Both he and John Sebastian, who followed with many of the same gentle sensitive songs he did at Woodstock, received standing ovations.

But the afternoon really belonged to the Who, one of the half dozen best groups in rock history. Not since the Stones’ all night concerts at the Inglewood Forum has there been such a clear demonstration of the sociological link between rock music and its young audience.

In “My Generation,” Peter Townshend, the group’s chief creator, issues a youthful declaration of independence: “People try to put us down/Just because we get around./Things they do look awfully cold/Hope I die before I get old.”

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