At the conclusion of this appearance at The Oval cricket ground in south London- at a famine relief benefit, no less- The Who left behind a pile of destruction. Fifteen songs, and a heap of broken drums, smashed guitar, and ringing ears. This was The Who in 1971. 

It was also The Who just as its most enduring and popular album, Who’s Next, had arrived. As was the case, the quartet was working in the stage versions, integrating the new songs into a set of the tried and true. “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” with its synth programming in particular, shows off some rough edges. As well, this was nearing exemplary Who in the band’s ambition for four pieces to fill the space around, and eardrums of, 35,000. 

It was raucous and aggressive and evolutionary, pulling rock-and-roll by the hair into a new decade. Singer Roger Daltrey was, perhaps, never more commanding and shaman-like, retaining his Tommy-period aesthetic. His voice, given the aforementioned Who’s Next material now in the repertoire, tested like never before. The famous “Fooled Again” scream, was not yet famous. The tens of thousands on the pitch had no idea what was coming.

Guitarist Pete Townshend is electricity, personified. His guitar sings, snarls and swirls, consuming anything in its cyclonic path. John Entwistle earns his ‘Thunder Fingers” nickname with his bass-work, opposite Hurricane Moon on drums; Keith always a cacophonic wonder, always a rhythmic rock, despite or because of his invincible flourishes.

It’s not a perfect performance. It wouldn’t be The Who if it was. Perfection was never the goal.

Power. Fury. Impact. These were the objectives. If their instruments suffered casualties, it was an acceptable cost. As the emcee conveyed in parting, noting the band-inflicted debris field onstage, there could be no encore. And, for The Who in 1971, at this summit, how could anything follow that?