Star Photos by Tom Sweeney

The Who’s Daltrey sang to a boisterous crowd of 17,500 at the St. Paul Civic Center Wednesday night

Band leader Pete Townshend

Sometimes old warhorses just need time to rev up. Or sometimes the old horse just ain’t what she used to be.

Whatever the case, The Who, the revamped warhorse that ranks with the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin as rock’s biggest bands, seemed tired Wednesday night at the St. Paul Civic Center. However, once the celebrated British band revved up, the music was magical. The momentum, unfortunately, never lasted long enough to make the uneven 105-minute performance especially memorable or even fulfilling.

Momentum seems to have been plaguing The Who in recent years. In 1978, it looked as if the band, whose influence and importance is rivaled only by the Stones and Beatles, had completely run out of steam. Leader Pete Townshend felt unstimulated, he said, and the band seemed locked into its past. The Who was ready to disband.

Then, in November 1978, drummer Keith Moon died. It turned out

The Who Turn to Page 5B

The Who’s stoic bassist, John Entwistle