Who get giant welcome

By Jackie Bailey

A giant band in a giant venue — that was The Who at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre last night.

A wave of excitement swept more than 11,000 fans from their seats as the band came on stage.

The huge new arena was jumping to the first number, Substitute.

And while bouncers managed to restore some order while The Who ran through newer material, fans were soon clambering on to their chairs again for Pinball Wizard, My Generation and a string of Who classics.

With the help of laser beams and massive lighting banks, the microphone-slinging that has become Roger Daltrey’s trademark and Peter Townshend’s well-loved stage antics, the band stormed through a set which gave every member of the sell-out crowd their money’s worth.

Birmingham, at least, still has plenty of time for the band who have survived more than 15 years at the top, know what their audiences want, and can now turn it out in quantity.

The Who play a second set at the NEC tonight.

Roger Daltrey, lead singer of The Who at the NEC last night and again tonight.