To the Editor: Since the recent tragedy at the Cincinnati Who concert, many columnists have been deploring the Who and rock music in general, citing the performers' "lack of responsibility" on the one hand, and the "emptiness" of the audience on the other. I take exception to these views. Peter Townshend, rather than not caring about today's youth, has long been a spokesman for young people trying to fit into a society. Perhaps Joan Beck would feel better if teenagers accepted the values of her generation. After all, "Charlie's Angels" is hardly empty, is it? From the early "My Generation" through "Won't Get Fooled Again" to "How Many Friends" and up to the present "Who Are You," the Who have challenged the values our consumer-oriented, mass-media society would cram down our throats. As the group's current string of sold-out concerts indicates, a very large audience is listening. Those of Ms. Beck's and Dorothy Storck's persuasion would do well to stop berating the surface elements of rock, the loud volume and the singer's sneakers, and ask themselves what their world is lacking to produce this teen-age wasteland. As for the events in Cincinnati, consider what would happen if a large traffic accident claimed the lives of several drunken, boisterous Eagles' fans while leaving a sold-out game at the Vet. Would the media so quickly indict pro football for "lacking responsibility?" Would the football fans be labeled "empty?" Hardly. Rather, better traffic control would be examined, just as most rock promoters are studying better crowd control, as evidenced by last week's two Who shows at the Spectrum. I for one am grateful to the Who for voicing the questions I feel about today's society. And I hope I never grow so old and secure as to not hear young people crying for direction and meaning in their lives. Long live rock. GEORGE PHIPPS Elverson.

To the Editor: Never before have I felt more compelled to respond to column as I now feel compelled by Joan Beck's inane Op-ed piece bemoaning the moral irresponsibility of rock groups such as the Who. What happened in Cincinnati is truly deplorable and loathsome, but those that operate the arena were far more responsible for the deaths than were the Who. The tragedy was not caused by the crowd's lack of moral fiber caused by listening to rock music. It was caused by the mismanagement of the entire affair by people not associated with the rock group. It could have happened to any crowd, waiting for any event under similar circumstances. I am sure that if Ms. Beck had looked close enough, she would have found that the decisions were made for economic reasons. The arena could make more money by selling general-admission seats and it would have had a bigger mess to clean up if it had allowed the concert-goers into the arena an hour earlier. I am also sure that if she looked even closer she would find that those who made the decisions are bastions of the Cincinnati community, respected members of the business establishment. Are any of those people stepping forward to shoulder the burden of blame? MICHAEL S. KRIVDA Levittown.

Irresponsible? To the Editor: I could not allow Joan Beck's Dec. 11 Op-Ed piece, "Rock groups are morally irresponsible," to pass without comment. The Who's Peter Townshend was quoted neatly out of context,

Letters should be brief and written on one side of the paper. The writer must sign his name for publication, and give his address and a telephone number through which the letters can be verified, although neither street addresses nor telephone numbers will be published. The Inquirer reserves the right to condense.

proudly proclaims what we've all been waiting to hear: "Rock groups are morally irresponsible." I don't know whether to laugh or scream. First of all, Ms. Beck's assertion that the dead were victims of "fans so impatient … that they walked right over the bodies" is not only illogical but also supremely inaccurate. Sure, the fans were impatient, but I sincerely doubt whether there were any individuals in that crowd so pathologically driven as to calmly stride over bodies. This, however, is only one small example of the kind of ridiculous misinterpretation that pervades Ms. Beck's column. Somehow, she is able to construct a connection between rock concerts and the "sexual permissiveness" of today's youth. Then, in a real reactionary tour-de-force, Ms. Beck manages to blame rock music for "millions of pregnancies … and hundreds of thousands of abortions and illegitimate births." Get serious, Ms. Beck. Granted, rock music can accomplish many things, but I sincerely doubt whether it can make you pregnant. JEANNE FIANDER Brookhaven.

Who's to blame? To the Editor: Re: Ms. Beck's Op-Ed article about the rock group Who. How is it possible to blame our music for the United States' problems? We have all been raised with philosophy of individual success. It is the corrupt morals of each and every one of the 18,000 people who pushed and stepped on those 11 people. They are to blame.

About the high prices of concert tickets and albums. If an audience wants to pay those prices, they will! How much do people pay to see an orchestra or the ballet? Society should point the finger at itself when it comes to adolescent pregnancies, abortions, drug and alcohol abuse. How many girls get pregnant just to escape their parents? How many just want to be unconditionally loved? MARY QVINLAN Levittown.

Greed kills To the Editor: This is in reference to the recent disaster at the Who concert in Cincinnati. I do not think the people are to blame; the city force and the owners of the stadiums are not to blame. Greed on the part of the promoters is the culprit to be dealt with. Over 10 years ago, I first realized the dangerous potential of the mob scene when the band had to keep asking the audience to move back because people were being crushed near the stage. Promoters, in their desire to reap higher profits at the inconvenience of ticket purchasers, have never cared for the safety of the audience. Eleven people are now dead. Whatever happened to the old policy of setting a price for a ticket with a seat number on it? They cost enough, and the profits for the promoters are substantial, but if they can find a way to cram more people in, they will do it at the price of the viewing audience. LADISLAV MEDVED Philadelphia.