Pete Townshend, who has had hearing problems and played full tilt only rarely, still showed flashes of fire.

Roger Daltrey, still athletic but showing wear, seemed pleased to be on stage.

And why are you doing this post-farewell tour?

The big question about The Who this year is not who but why? Why is a group that already has given one farewell tour, in 1982, and has very little new material suddenly the hit of 1989?

Ask the fans, and the answer is simple.

"This is the last chance," they state confidently. After this, they add, it must be the end of The Who. A new rock generation has come of age since the British band's last tour, and when it comes to farewells, these young fans say they won't get fooled again.

For the vast majority of them at Sullivan Stadium on Friday, there can have been little means of comparison. The Who's golden age came before some of them were born. Classic songs like The Kids Are Alright, which this tour has adopted as a slogan, were hits in the mid-'60s. And Keith Moon, recognized as the energy pivot of the group, has been dead for 11 years.

Nonetheless, for the second time in three days, 55,000 of New England's bravest put up with horrendous traffic (you thought Compton Terrace was bad?), an evening chill (68 degrees, according to one radio station) and extortionate charges ($25 for a ticket 6 if you could get one 6, $10 for parking, $10 for a souvenir program, etc.) to welcome the group to the home ground of the New England Patriots.

Did they get their money's worth? Judging by the mood in the stadium and individual comments, the answer is a resounding yes.

Not under pressure

"How to Succeed Without Really Trying" would be a better slogan for this outing. Unlike in '82, the group doesn't seem to be under pressure. Back