LI Fans On Their

As the band returns to the Island for a show at UBS Arena on Friday, we asked the group’s devotees to sound off

By David J. Criblez

david.criblez@newsday.com

On Oct. 12 and 13, 1982, The Who played two sold-out back-to-back shows at Shea Stadium on what the band dubbed its Farewell Tour. Fast forward 40 years, The Who is headlining UBS Arena at Belmont Park in Elmont on Friday. Although there are only two original members left, singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend, the boys from Britain are still boomin’.

“Daltrey is 78 and Townshend is 77 — it’s just unbelievable,” says Christopher Oliveri, 51, of New Hyde Park, who has been a fan since 1979. “They’ll know when it’s time to call it a day. But I don’t see them stopping anytime in the near future.”

In celebration of The Who’s longevity and upcoming local gig, here are some of Long Islanders’ favorite classic cuts.

‘Love Reign O’er Me’ YEAR RELEASED 1973 ALBUM “Quadrophenia” CHART POSITION 76

The Who was the first band Joe Bonafede of Bay Shore sunk his teeth into and he declares “Love Reign O’er Me” is the “most perfect Who song.”

“This tune is more sophisticated with massive instrumentation, including the power three — bass, drums and guitar with pounding piano,” says Bonafede, 56. “It proves The Who is more than a good-time rock band. I appreciate the storytelling and introspection of the music.”

Bonafede had an interactive experience with the song the first time he saw The Who in concert in 1982.

“When they played ‘Love Reign O’er Me’ in an outdoor stadium in Buffalo, miraculously it started to rain,” says Bonafede. “It was just such a cool moment.”

THE WHO WHEN | WHERE 7:30 p.m., Friday, UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont INFO 516-460-8950, ubsarena.com ADMISSION $70.40-$1,138.60

‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ YEAR RELEASED 1971 ALBUM “Who’s Next” CHART POSITION 15

Dave Clark of Ridge remembers the first time he heard “Won’t Get Fooled Again” on former New York classic rock station WNEW (102.7 FM).

“The song came jumping out of the speakers and I was like, ‘What’s that?’ ” says Clark, 65. “It has a unique combination of power chords on the guitar and pulsating keyboards plus Roger’s screams.”

“The message was great because it was an anti-counterculture song,” adds Bonafede. “All the boomers from Woodstock ended up becoming exactly what they were fighting against.”

‘Bell Boy’ YEAR RELEASED 1973 ALBUM “Quadrophenia” CHART POSITION None (album track)

Michael Brito, 64, of Elmont closely identified with “Bell Boy” because it tied into his own life experience.

“I can relate to it because for 40 years I was a bell captain at the Helmsley Hotel in Manhattan,” says Brito, who retired in April 2021. “In the song, [late Who drummer] Keith Moon talks about how he always has to run after someone’s heel and keep his lip buttoned down even when you get a $1 tip. I got that!”

The song is sung by Daltrey, but Moon chimes in midway through the track, voicing the title character in an exaggerated Cockney accent.

‘Pinball Wizard’ YEAR RELEASED 1969 ALBUM “Tommy” CHART POSITION 19

Josh Kardisch of East Meadow has a special affection for “Pinball Wizard” because it was the first song he learned to play on guitar.

“The strumming in that is like no other song,” says Kardisch, 64. “You didn’t hear guitar work like that in the mid-1960s. Plus, it has one of the most iconic beginnings of any rock song.”

Surprisingly, the song was specifically written to win over U.K. rock critic Nik Cohn, who wasn’t impressed by the previous “Tommy” songs Townshend played him. Townshend specifically wrote a pinball-themed song knowing Cohn was a pinball fanatic, but views it as his “most clumsy piece of writing.”

‘Baba O’Riley’ YEAR RELEASED 1971 ALBUM “Who’s Next” CHART POSITION None (album track)

The mysterious title of “Baba O’Riley” is a meshing together of Townshend’s two inspirations — spiritual Indian guru Meher Baba and avant-garde composer Terry Riley. The “O” was an Irish touch nodding to the fiddle jig in the song provided by Dave Arbus from East of Eden.

“It’s the ultimate teenage rock anthem that works well in a live concert,” says Kardisch. “Townshend experimented with the synthesizers in the beginning, plus Daltrey had that trademark scream. Every time I hear it I still get chills.”

‘5:15’ YEAR RELEASED 1973 ALBUM “Quadrophenia” CHART POSITION 45

The Who are one of the top 5 artists on Long Island’s rock station WBAB (102.3 FM) with more than 10 songs in regular rotation. But when “5:15” comes on, DJ Joe Rock, who spins tunes on WBAB’s weekday afternoon drive, turns up the volume.

“The horns are so cool and Daltrey’s vocals are even better than [cut off]