WHO guitarist Pete Townshend borrowed his brother’s bass player, Ealing-based Tony Butler, for a benefit concert last week.

Tony, 22, usually plays with a more lightweight outfit called the Simon Townshend Band. But like Cinderella going to the ball, he was summoned for a brief spell in the company of rock prince Pete Townshend and other Who musicians.

His entry into this high-charisma world came on Friday at North London’s Rainbow Theatre. The musicians all gave their services free, so that proceeds could go to the Rock Against Racism fund.

The money will be used to pay defence solicitors for the black kids still without legal aid after being arrested during the Southall riot. It will also go towards providing new equipment for the Misty reggae band based at People Unite in Southall.

Backstage before Tony Butler’s Rainbow debut there was a marked contrast in attitudes. The young newcomer was keyed up and buoyant, sinking a last-minute vodka. Old-hand Townshend, however, was slumped in an armchair, scowling through half-closed eyes at the assortment of hangers-on at the bar.

A large banner dominated the stage, proclaiming "Southall kids are innocent." And in the intervals between sets from the Pop Group, The Ruts and Misty, we were treated to a special anti-Nazi, anti-Monarchy, anti-police and SPG, anti-Enoch slide show projected onto the safety curtain.

The political bantering was thankfully short and was overshadowed by the entrance of Townshend and friends. Here was a different man from the one I saw before the concert, and just to shake off the cobwebs, he kicked off with the ritual guitar leap.

After five minutes, one of the people standing shoulder to shoulder in the auditorium shouted at his companion — “I haven’t heard rock music like this for a long time.” His friend could only nod his head — everything else was too busy tapping and shaking.

Townshend, drummer Kenny Jones and the Who’s keyboards man, Rabbit, went through the old Who numbers with skilful familiarity. Tony Butler on bass and Peter Hope Evans on harmonica were new to this sort of gig, but just as skilful.

Townshend’s guest Steve Gibbons strolled on in white jacket and leather pants for a burst of Blue Suede Shoes, and then strolled off again. Townshend took advantage of the break to warm up for a few more Nureyev leaps, and Butler came into his own with numbers like Let’s See Action and My Generation.

To paraphrase Townshend’s own line — I call that a bargain, one of the best we ever had.