Policing the stadium with a watchful eye from an upper level

The crowd on the floor of the stadium pushed closer. Ten minutes into the first set, lead vocalist Daltrey asked the audience near the stage to take a step back. The crowd eased back, but after the next song he repeated it again: "Let's everybody take a step back. If something happened here tonight, we couldn't face ourselves."

Silverdome keeps tight control over usual rowdy crowd

Some came to see a favorite rock band in a live concert, others wanted to be a part of history.

Whatever their reasons, 41,000 fans filled the main-dome of the Pontiac Silverdome Friday to see legendary British rock group The Who in concert.

Last week's tragedy at another Who concert in Cincinnati in which 11 people died in a stampede outside Riverfront Coliseum, was all but forgotten by this crowd. Many said it simply couldn't happen here.

It didn't, but there were some rough moments in the crowd and Silverdome officials acknowledged that extra security precautions were taken in light of last week. They declined to elaborate but it was reported that extra security had been ordered.

Beer usually sold in concession stands during concerts and athletic events, was not available at Friday's concert. A worker said that as far as he knew, it was the first time sales were prohibited.

AS USUAL There was a lineup outside the stadium well before concert time. Alfonzo Limon, 19, waited from 2 p.m. until 8:30 when the Who came on stage. "They're like the Rolling Stones or Led Zeppelin," he said. "You don't get many chances to see them."

Most of the fans at the concert were in grade school when The Who began gaining prominence in the late 60s. If they missed out on tickets to the Nov. 30 concert at the Masonic Temple, the Pontiac Silverdome performance was their chance to see the group perform in Michigan for the first time since Dec. 6, 1975.

That concert was the first performed in the Silverdome.

General admission tickets were sold to 75,000 then, and Julie Montgomery of the Silverdome public relations

See THE WHO, Page E-2

Frisbee-throwing filled the hours before The Who concert began at 7:30 p.m., continued during it and after it ended at 11 p.m. A 22-year-old bank teller from Toledo arrived at the stadium a little before 8 p.m. and had trouble finding a seat in the dark. But, she said, "I wouldn't miss it for the world. They're history — like Woodstock."

Lead singer Roger Daltrey performs with endless energy during the sold-out concert

Journal Photos by Bruce Edwards

Three fans of guitarist Pete Townshend labeled themselves with matching shirts

Joe Snyder of Flushing waves his souvenir program from his seat on the floor