Greenwich Visitor THE


May 2011 Page 4 THE WHO, CHARLTON, MAY 1976: THE


The Divine Comedy (Neil Hannon solo) and José González double bill Weds July 27


Tues July 26


Mark Ronson & The Business Intl + support and special guests Thurs July 28 Status Quo +


Chris Difford’s Songs in The Key of London


The Pogues + support Sun July 31


Squeeze + support Sat July 30


Nine Below Zero Fri July 29


WHERE


Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich. Supermap ref: J8


Tues July 26 to Sun July 31. 5.30pm


WHEN BOOK


www.seetickets.com or call 0844 209 7325


College setting ‘was stunning’


LAST year’s inaugural Summer Sessions starred Jools Holland,Seth Lakeman and The Levellers and Deptford-based Athlete. The band said: “Playing the Greenwich Summer Sessions was the highlight of our summer last year. “The setting at the Old Royal Naval College was stunning and the atmosphere was fantastic. Hope we get the chance to play there again sometime...”


IT COST £4 a ticket, attracted at least 60,000 people and found its way into the Guinness Book of World Records for being the loudest


concert ever. On May 31 1976 a line-up, which included


The Outlaws, Little Feat and the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, entertained the masses in Greenwich borough for an entire day – none more so than final act, The Who. As one of the UK’s biggest bands, having


already released seven studio albums and the famous Live At Leeds, it came as no surprise that more people turned up on the day than planned – some say in excess of 10,000. Forged tickets were rife and the police, fearful


WE COULD FOR MILES MILES AND


We’re ready to rock with the Summer Sessions in Greenwich and a two-day On Blackheath pop festival on the horizon. But they won’t be as loud as the ear- splitting day when The Who rocked the world. Matt Jarvis donned his ear plugs...


of a riot, eventually let everybody who turned up into the concert arena. The Who had played at the Valley – Charlton Athletic Football Club’s ground and one of the biggest stadiums in the country at the time – two years previously and this time, with the added numbers, it was even more packed. Despite spells of beercan-throwing and the odd punch-up near the stage (one leading to guitarist


Pete Townshend to later ask fans to “Pack it in”), most were there to have a good time. As the sun began to set, the opening chords


of I Can’t Explain exploded across the streets of Greenwich and beyond. Pete Young, 63, remembers it well: “London’s


were great, especially The Who – they could wake the dead!” The specially-built 76,000-watt PA measured


often sunny in May and 1976 became the hottest year on record, but it rained most of that day. “It didn’t spoil things, though. All the bands


120 decibels fifty metres from the stage and was reportedly heard 10 miles away Among music purists the concert has become famous over the years for the clarity of its sound


Get this poster: http://www.allposters.co.uk


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