Who Hits Pontiac with Blast of Volcanic Energy

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By Neil Wertheimer

Journal Special Writer

Rumors of the Who’s demise seem to have been greatly exaggerated.

Performing before a crunchingly packed Pontiac Silverdome crowd of more than 70,000 people Thursday night, the famed British rock group erupted with a volcano of energy and a wealth of classic songs that together produced a reassuringly spellbinding performance.

Marring the evening was a disturbingly destructive crowd. Broken glass formed an enormous ring around the Silverdome, while numerous teenagers were taken away by ambulance, apparently the result of reckless drinking.

Some also succumbed to the inhuman heat and crowding on the main floor and had to be carried to safety. To keep the people in front of the stage cool, a spray of water was continuously hosed on them. In the words of Roger Daltrey, the crowd was truly a teenage wasteland.

Opening the long evening of rock music was an uneventful, 30-minute performance from Eddie Money and a furiously wonderful hour of music from the Clash.

In the midst of what they say is their final American tour, the Who is at the peak of its popularity.

The group’s legendary performances and famed catalog of music, coupled with the possibility that fans will not be able to see the group again, has been more than sufficient in rousing ticket buyers across the nation.

THURSDAY, THE group’s two-hour set carefully mixed newer material with old without ever holding back on energy. Of the 24 songs The Who performed, only six were from after 1978.

Throughout the performance, lead singer Roger Daltrey twirled his microphone into a blur while guitarist Pete Townshend pounded out power chords with vicious arm swings and leaps.

The Who’s Roger Daltrey heats up the Pontiac Silverdome crowd.

Bassist John Entwistle was his usual stoic self, remaining subdued in stance but urgent in his playing.

The group opened with the sixties classic "Substitute", and then segued into "Can’t Explain," another hit from almost two decades ago.

Following a not-so-interesting mix of newer material, the group launched into a seething version of "Behind Blue Eyes" and "Baba O’Riley," both from perhaps the group’s most famous album, "Who’s Next."

A three song encore of "Summertime Blues", "Magic Bus" and a rousing "Twist and Shout" brought to close what may have been the best — and last —

Who performance in this area.

THE WHO OF today is a much different group than that which recorded many of the classic songs most popular in their shows. The drumming of Kenny Jones, for example, is impeccably precise, contrasting the humor and spontaneity of the late Keith Moon.

The group also has added keyboardist Tim Gordon to the stage line-up, freeing guitarist Peter Townshend and providing a more layered, textured aura to the music.

Important to the Who’s success is a crucial mix of lyrical imagery and musical rawness, which has led to the popularity of such anthems as "Won’t Get Fooled Again", which closed the show, and the recurring themes from the albums "Tommy" and "Quadrophenia." The increasingly polished sound served to enhance the music, with no sacrifice to its power.

THE CLASH’S performance was consistently strong, with a mix of songs from recent albums, although played notably harsher than the studio versions.

The Clash may be the perfect rock band. It has brought together throbbing energy, sharp bitterness and arresting melodies and made a seamless marriage. It has buffered the extremes of what was once known as punk by bringing in ethnic elements to its songs. Urgent rhythms pulse through much of the group’s music, and the tension is increased by desperate vocals.

Highlighting the Clash’s set was the opening "London Calling", the raucous "Police on my Back" from the triple "Sandanista" album and "Should I Stay" from the group’s recent album, "Combat Rock".