The flu wiped out The Who last night before 15,000 disappointed persons in Boston Garden. Actually, only drummer Keith Moon was afflicted by the bug but, after only two selections, the rock supergroup was forced to call it a night.

Producer Don Law said a makeup date will be announced sometime today. Lead singer Roger Daltrey of the rock band had earlier told the crowd a postponement date tomorrow was being negotiated. According to the group’s current itinerary, The Who were scheduled to perform tonight in New York City’s Madison Square Garden with tomorrow left as an open date.

However, should Moon’s illness require a few days’ recuperation, then the group would be unable to meet a new Boston commitment until some time next week.

Despite the glum reaction of the audience to the news of the postponement, the Garden exodus was generally orderly.

The abrupt termination of the concert triggered a sustained wave of bitterness among some 200 concert-goers who had either discarded or lost their ticket stubs. It had been announced from the stage that stubs would be required for the issuance of rain checks.

As the crowd filed from the Garden, a sizable gathering milled outside the East Lobby office. These persons voiced the same complaint. They had purchased hard-to-get tickets at $9.50 each (plus 50-cent service charge in some cases) and, had disposed of their stubs and no longer had proof of purchase.

“Refund! Refund!” rose their chant. Others clamored: “Rain check! Rain check!” They were obviously bitter at the turn of events. First, it was chagrin at the sudden end to the concert, then that reaction yielded to anger when they learned that the absence of stubs might deprive them of tickets to the makeup concert.

Sample reactions from those in the Garden ranged from stoicism to white-hot fury.

One young man philosophically noted: “It happens … people get sick.”

Another exiting concert fan smilingly remarked: “The next concert will be better.”

One frustrated youngster, hurling abuse at the Garden, the producer, The Who and everybody within hearing distance, hollered: “One song, that’s all!” A security guard mischievously corrected him: “They did two songs.”

Actually, it wasn’t accurate to label the incident a total no-show on the part of The Who. They completed two selections before drummer Moon tossed in the towel.

The Who had opened with an old chestnut, “Can’t Explain” and followed with “Substitute.” Then, the usually taciturn bassist John Entwistle stepped to the mike to deliver the bad news to the capacity turnout.

“Keith Moon is in very bad shape,” he intoned. “We’re going to try to work things out.”

As the crowd sat stunned, the British rock-and-rollers retired to their dressing-room, only to return onstage five minutes later.

This time, Roger Daltrey, the group’s lead singer with the Orphan Annie eyes, gave out the diagnosis.

“He’s got the flu,” said Daltrey, who, for awhile, had been bitten by the acting bug (cf. “Tommy” and “Lisztomania”).

Earlier, the Steve Gibbons Band, a new entry on the rock scene, performed. A bluesy, boogie-styled unit, it featured several selections from its debut MCA album. The Who, in particular, are vociferous boosters of this fledgling band.

The big news however, was the concert that closed down early. Producer Law recounted how Moon had been ailing for the past few days and his fellow musicians had hoped he would be fit in time for last night’s opening of part two of The Who tour. It was small consolation to Fred Picinni of Bedford.

“It’s bad enough the concert had to end like this,” he said. “How about my train fare? Round trip cost me $8!”