"Who" Still a Revelation

There was no mistaking the emotional ingredients of the spontaneous roar from 8,000 throats when The Who raced on stage at the Empire Pool, Wembley, for their first London tour date in two years.

For more than a decade they have been the most exciting live act in British rock music, reflecting all the turbulence of a shifting society. And, uniquely for those years, it is the original four men who still display a cohesion in performance which is the envy of all competitors, the goal of all aspiring bands.

With such a reputation to sustain, it is astonishing that every Who show provides novelty; on this occasion we heard Pete Townshend playing guitar with subtlety and power, while Roger Daltrey proved definitively that his voice is unmatched in its strength and clarity. Keith Moon, whatever his offstage excesses, is a superb drummer and John Entwistle, the retiring black-clad bass guitarist, remains a perfect foil for the demonic activity around him.

They played some tracks from their splendid new album, but this was chiefly a night for reliving an era. The Who rose brilliantly to the occasion.

J.C.