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Who fans Christopher Stogdill, Suzanne Molinaro. Jim Bohmer. and Samantha Tillman wait for the concert to

begin in the parking lot at Giants Stadium yesterday.

The Who rocks Giants Stadium
packed with a crowd of 54,000

By KEVIN BABNARD
Deputy Features Editor

EAST RUTHERFORD — The
Who, looking much like the hard-
driving band of old, rocked a sellout
crowd of 54,000 last night at Giants
Stadium.

The band, making the first Amer-
ican stadium appearance of its
25th-anniversary tour, took the
stage to the strains of the theme
song from the television show
“Bonanza.”

They immediately launched into
several songs from the classic al-
bum “Tommy,” including “Over-
ture/It’s a Boy,” “Acid Queen” and
“I’m Free.”

Lead singer Roger Daltrey, gui-
tarist Pete Townshend and bassist
John Entwistle looked fit and eager
to play. Daltrey swirled his micro-
phone in trademark fashion as
Townshend jumped across the
stage.

The band was joined by a horn
section, additional musicians and
three backup singers.

The audience yelled “Who, Who,
Who” during a break between
songs and sang along with “Pinball
WW9”

The show was the first during a
fouronight stand at the stadium.
Concerts are also scheduled for to-
night, Sunday and Monday.

Woodstock

Before the show, fans old enough
to have seen the Who at Woodstock
20 years ago enjoyed the parking-
lot scene with kids who weren’t
even born then. “My Generation”
and “Baba O’Reilly” boomed from
car loudspeakers as ticketholders
cooked hot dogs and soaked up the
bright sunshine.

“It’ll be a great experience,” said
Larry Pishioneri of Highland Park,
who sat in a lawn chair alongside
one with his brother, Richard, of
Freehold

Both men are longtime fans of

the Who, but neither had caught
the band in concert before last
night.

Larry, 37, said he was happy for

the opportunity to catch the Who
during its first American tour in
seven years.

“I was a little bit too young for
Woodstock,” said Richard, 33. He
had wanted to attend the festival in
Woodstock, N.Y., but his parents
turned thumbsdown to the idea

Richard said he didn’t feel awk-
ward waiting in a parking lot that
included many fans 10 to 20 years
younger. “This is our generation,”
he said in reference to the band

Mary Connors, 20, of Manville,
paid a scalper $60 for her ticket, the
original value of which was $23.
“They’re my all-time favorite
group,” she said. “This is, like, my
ultimate concert.”

Connors’ friend, Jody Orth, also ‘
20, said today’s rock groups cannot
compare to the “classic” Who.

“I feel like this is our last chance
to see them,” said Orth, of Piscata-
way. “They’re a legend — when I’m
old I want to be able to tell my kids
I saw the Who.”