Episode #238 | 6.17.25

The Who Pt 2: A Crowd Crush, a Death Trap, and a Tragedy in Cincinnati

Listen free:

In this episode

They came for the loudest rock band in the world. They got a death trap. In a freezing plaza outside Cincinnati’s Riverfront Coliseum, thousands of Who fans surged forward to get a spot up close in the general admission crowd. But when the doors stayed locked, panic set in – and the crush began. Eleven never made it out. This is a true story of maximum rock ‘n roll, deadly chaos, and the Who.

Sources

Before I Get Old: The Story of the Who, by Dave Marsh

Who I Am, by Pete Townshend

Thanks a Lot Mr Kibblewhite: My Story, by Roger Daltrey

Rock & Roll Tragedy: Why 11 Died at the Who’s Cincinnati Concert (Rolling Stone)

They Survived the Who Concert from ‘Hell.’ Now, They Finally Have Closure (Rolling Stone)

Pete Townshend interview, Cleveland 12/6/1979 (Tom Modern)

Lawsuits settled in concert tragedy (Bowling Green Daily News)

“Eleven kids dead, but what the fuck?”: Pete Townshend's reflection on The Who's concert disaster (Far Out)

The Who: The Night That Changed Rock (WCPO)

Lawsuits settled in concert tragedy (google.com/newspapers)

On December 3rd, 1979, Tragedy occured before a Who concert at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Aset of doors were unlocked early and a mass of concert-goers stormed in, resulting in the deaths of 11 people. The Who were never informed of the tragedy and proceeded with the performance (reddit)

Credits

Hosted by Jake Brennan.

Written by Zeth Lundy

Mixed by Matt Beaudoin.

DISGRACELAND theme song, “Crenshaw Space Boogie,” written and produced by Jake Brennan. Performed by Jake Brennan, Bryce Kanzer, Jay Cannava, and Evan Kenney. Mixed and engineered by Adam Taylor.

*illustrations by Avi Spivak @avispivak