Who’s Returning to Rhode Island?

B

ack in 1979 there was a tragic event at large public gathering that left 11 people dead and scores injured. It didn’t involve a maniac firing an automatic weapon, however, it was a stampede at a Who concert in Cincinnati, Ohio. A huge crowd trying to push through a single doorway to try to get the best seats resulted in the deaths and injuries and as a result, the Who’s scheduled appearance in Providence, RI was cancelled by that city’s mayor. But now, the Who have announced that anyone who still has a ticket for that cancelled show can use it to get in to their upcoming performance of Quadrophenia.

It’s a nice gesture by the band, especially considering they weren’t the ones who cancelled the post-Cincinnati show. But many die-hard Who fans are finding themselves faced with a difficult choice. Free admission to a Who show is nice and all, but those tickets have become collector’s items, so will fans want to part with them?

One commenter on the BBC news site on which the story appeared had this advice:

“I would take that ticket to the gig but pay to get in,” says someone calling himself Floydmoist Bleumonge. “Then I would demand to meet the band and have it signed by them. Then I would cherish it until I sell it on eBay or pass it on to my kids at some point.”

We’re not sure this strategy would work, and besides, we think each 1979 ticket should be good for two admissions, since only half of the original band is still alive. Of course, by 1979 the Who was already down to three original members, as Keith Moon had passed away in September of 1978. So maybe each ticket can be good for 1.5 admissions. Still, it’s good to see a band of the Who’s stature doing something nice for its fans.