[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

25 Years Ago Today



August 2, 1971 - Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY.  THE
WHO. 15 miles from my home. I'd bought my pair of tickets months earlier.
13th row. A Monday. My day off. I'd only just recently picked up "Who's
Next." I'd been bragging up the Who for the past four years. Now it was time
for them to put up or shut up. Previous attendance record at SPAC (your
basic shed type arena) was around 28,000 for Chicago (Aaack!!). Driving
Route 87 (the Northway) to the show. Exit 13, a couple of miles from SPAC.
Traffic is backed up to there. Get to the parking lot, the place is mobbed.
Gotta pick up a t-shirt and poster. No t-shirts. No special poster so just
buy a generic Who poster. Still have it. People on the lawn as far as you
can see. Warm up is Mountain? No, Mylon. Who the heck is he? He comes on -
boring. The Who hit the stage. Unbelievable!!! "Love Ain't For Keeping."
Daltrey twirling the mike, Townshend jumping, windmilling, Moon crazy,
Entwistle quiet, bored looking. Everyone is on their feet, standing on their
chairs. Hard to see. "Sit down." "There, that did the trick." Yeah, right.
Wad up the program and throw it at the people ahead of us. I wished I'd
saved the program. Someone jumps on the stage, roadies start to drag him
off, Townshend goes over and starts kicking him! Staged? Looks real to me.
The couple next to us says "We've had enough" and leave. They probably
enjoyed Chicago. Townshend's SG meets its maker. Who got it after the show?
Probably sitting in a box in someone's garage near here. Pictures from the
show in Jeff Stein's book. Attendance estimates range from 37,500-42,00.
Lots of unpaid that crashed the gate. 

There are some things and dates in life you just never forget.

Joe


- - - - ------------------------------

From: Mark Tilson <marktil@vossnet.co.uk>