By BRIAN B. KING
Associated Press Writer

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y.
lAPl —- Between 27.000 and 30,-
000 rock - music fans jammed
the highways into this resort
community Monday evening, to
pack the Saratoga Performing
Arts Center amphitheater and
its surrounding lawns for an ex-
plosive performance by The
Who.

Famed for their precedent -
setting rock Opera. “Tommy,"
and their audio - electronic gim-
mickry, The Who — a seven -
yeareold quartet of British musi-
cians — were every bit as fren-
zied in their singing as most of
the fans were in their apprecia-
tion and pushing.

No serious injuries or inci-
dents were reported to officials.

Medics at an ambulance out-
side one gate to the sylvan con-
cert setting said “quite a few”
cases of drug - abuse reactions
were treated but they were un-
able to give a figure. A spokes-
man at Saratoga Hospital said
at least six drug overdoses were
treated there and one person
was brought in after being hit
in the head with a bottle.

At least two dozen “fender -
bender” accidents were seen on
the roads leading to and from
the center. including along the
Adirondack Northway.

Among those injured by caus-
es other than drugs was a stage-
hand whose identity could not
be obtained. He was kicked in
the groin late in the concert by
Peter Townshend. leader of The
Who. who ran across from his
far-side microphone when the
production-crew member fought
with a youth attempting to get
on the equipment - packed
stage.

Miss Ruth Klippstein.
associate professor of Human
§utrition and Food_at the State

Minimal {risking at the en-
trances failed to keep out eith-
er cameras or alcoholic bever-
ages. both specifically prohibit-
ed at SPAC, or the marijuana, ‘
hashish. beer. wine and Fris-
bees openly enjoyed among the
crowd.

There were several brief fist ‘
fights in the stands, broken up
by participants’ friends.

The spectators, almost all of i
whom were of student age and ,
“hippie" appearance, rushed ~
the aisles of the reserved - seat .
section as soon as a group pre- 1
ceding The Who began playing. ‘
Efforts by young ushers and, la- ;
ter, management represent- '
tives, to clear the aisles and ex- i
tricate fans. who took seats oth-
ers had paid for were futile.
Cries of “Sit Down!" became 1
an integral part of the evening.

The SPAC of ficials delayed The 1
Who’s act in an attempt to clear .
the amphitheater aisles and .
move the general - admission
fans back onto the lawn — a ‘
sea of blankets. picknicky ‘
groups and litter, dominated by
an American flag brought by a
spectator and a new closed-cir-
cuit television screen.

But that move was greeted by
jeers, paper airplanes. obscene
gestures and little movement
backwards. The Who came on.
finally — to cheers as loud as
the music, amplified through at ‘
least 10 microphones and close 1
to 30 speakers. , 1

Still it did not seem enough '
for the thousands — sitting on
rafters. in aisles. on each oth-
er. on the lawn. in the trees. in
cars outside the fence: making
love; listening in awe, or Danc-
ing every bit as intensely as
Drummer Keith Moon Beas;
seeking a light from the patrol-
men, who apparently decided to
avoid the amphitheater in order
to keep control on the lawn.

Before and after. it was one
huge traffic jam of smiling peo-
ple and police calling all
problems “minor?