Would The Who Consider playing Cincinnati again?

[ukcats]

We all know what happened in Cincinnati in December 1979. We also know that none of it was the fault of The Who. We also know that they haven't been back since. This bothers me because to the uninformed it could be construed as some sort of admission of wrongdoing by The Who, when of course nothing could be further from the truth.

I noticed Pete on his website diary recently said they would play festival dates again as a mark of respect for the fans who died in Cincinnati.

Perhaps it would be fitting closure to play Cincinnati again. Unfinished business.

I would guarantee a sellout,raucous crowd and a very emotional night...in a very good way...if they did.

I would think it might be tough for Pete and Roger to make the decision,but if they did I think it would energize them, and I think it would be the right decision.

If anyone has any contact with anyone associated with The Who,please ask them to consider playing Cincinnati.

[JD]

I went to the Vegas show in 2002 and you could see in both Roger and Pete just how tough that show was for them. I always think it's good to challenge your fears as most fears are worse then the actual event. JD

[Berkeley]

There was an interesting comment in (I think) Before I get Old about the Cincinnati tragedy. It basically said what you did--that The Who did not know about the situation outside the coliseum and had they did, that most certainly would have asked for doors to be opened, etc. But it also said that the band, like most other big draws at the time were guilty of using festival seating to sell more tickets, make more money, etc. It went on to say how ironic it was that a band that had once been so close with its audience (much more than others) would allow itself to endorse festival seating.

I basically agree with you, but that was an interesting and valid point.

[sara]

jd said:

I went to the Vegas show in 2002 and you could see in both Roger and Pete just how tough that show was for them. I always think it's good to challenge your fears as most fears are worse then the actual event. JD

[kantou]

I was at the 79 concert in cincinnati and would love to see them come back...i would gaurentee a sellout and would be a nice closure on the 79 incident

[COLTOM]

here's a link to a report on the incident

www.crowdsafe.com/taskrpt/

I recall watching a television show about this - just a couple years ago on VH1 as I recall - and it basically said that even though the venue knew they had a crowd, they wouldn't open the doors.

Now I don't recall if they meant the people who ran the auditorium or the promoter - maybe someone here will remember.

[ukcats]

Anyone know when USA dates will be announced?

[pkeets]

>like most other big draws at the time were guilty of using festival seating to sell more tickets, make more money, etc.

Guilty? Is there something inherently wrong with festival seating, then? I think the problem was with this particular venue and the way the crowd was managed--combined with the late sound check, which no one had any idea would cause a panic.

[Berkeley]

Sure, all those things factored in, and there was no way the band could have known something that terrible was going to happen. It could have happened to any band.

Is there something inherently wrong with festival seating? I think the point made in the book was that festival seating creates an environment in which is it much more likely that something could go wrong.