MUSIC The Who Lyceum By John Blake

THE WHO were, of course, every bit as magnificent as they always have been.

For two and a quarter hours they pounded and moved people and generally justified their reputation as one of the world’s great rock bands.

But they should never, never have agreed to give their first London concert for two years at this tiny hall.

For those who actually managed to see the group, it was a magic evening.

Pete Townshend made his guitar sing and managed somehow to leap about like a souped-up spring lamb at the same time.

Vocalist Roger Daltrey looked angelic and confirmed that his voice has improved almost beyond recognition.

Drummer Keith Moon was savage yet surprisingly disciplined and bass-man John Entwhistle hid in a corner and held the band together.

It was superb.

But given a more suitable hall, a bigger stage and a sound system which did not squeak and whine, it would have been a whole lot better.

20 FANS HURT IN ‘WHO’ CRUSH Evening News Reporter

MORE than 20 people who fainted or were injured during a London “come-back” concert by The Who pop group were recovering today.

Police barricades were put up and 30 policemen stood by as fans arrived for the show at the Lyceum, in Wellington Street, off The Strand.

Police prevented people from walking on the pavement outside the ballroom and all parking in the area was banned.

Inside, the performance, last night, was halted after three songs when more than a dozen people fainted in the crush in front of the stage.

Singer Roger Daltrey pleaded: “There are people getting hurt at the front here. Why don’t you all sit down?”

Nine burly security men sat at the front of the stage when the show resumed after ten minutes.

Throughout the evening, several people were treated for fainting, cuts, bruises and other minor injuries.

Many fans walked out in disgust during the two-and-a-quarter-hour performance.

Three weeks ago there was trouble when more than 20,000 people queued at The Lyceum to buy tickets for the group’s three London concerts. Less than 9,000 tickets were available.

The second concert in the series is to be held tonight.

Singer Roger Daltrey said: “We don’t want anything like this to ever happen again.”