The Who live at Leeds, again

The Who recreated its legendary 1970 Leeds University concert in England by playing in the same venue as it kickedoffa European tour.

Guitarist Pete Townshend and singer Roger Daltrey, the two surviving founding members of the band,also unveiled a plaque on Saturday evening at the university's students union dining hall. It was alsothe site of the 1970concert, immortalized in Live at Leeds.

Live at Leeds is considered one of the top live rockalbums.Readers of Q music and entertainment magazine recently voted it to be the top live album of all time.

"I love it in Leeds," Townshend said at the ceremony.

"Without those unions to play, the venues were thin on the ground, so my big thanks to Leeds and others for being there," Daltry added.

The Whomade it big with hits such as My Generation, Pinball Wizard and Who Are You.

The 1970 gig came in the wake of the band's triumphant appearance at Woodstock in New York and included the last complete live performance of the rock opera Tommy.

At the time, the band was at its prime, having released Tommy in mid-1969 and drawn fervent fans on an extended world tour. The Leeds concert was created to capture the exuberance of their tour.

Only six of the 34 songs captured that special night were included in the LP, which had a 14-minute version of My Generation.That version makes forays into other Who songs.

Paul Goulden, 53,was in the audience at the1970 concert.

"Everything was exploding ," hetold the Guardian newspaper. "Everything you thought was music and everything else was being taken to pieces there and then."

The other two founding members of the band have since passed away. Drummer Keith Moon died of a drug overdose in 1978 and bassist John Entwistle died of a heart attack in 2002.

Who Are You launches 2006 concert

Thousands of fans lined up overnight for 2,100 tickets available for Saturday's show.

Townshend told the crowd that pirate radio stations and universities were vital to the rock scene during the 1970s.

The band launched the night with Who Are You followed by I Can't Explain and Substitute before heading into new songs including the new mini-opera, Wire & Glass.

The idea to recreate the gig came from BBC radio music host Andy Kershaw, who once served as entertainment secretary at the university.He approached the band's manager who immediately agreed to get the band to perform.

"This is the perfect, perfect venue to start this tour," said Townshend. "I'm so happy."

The Who's tour will take them to Germany, France, Spain, Austria and then to North America in September.

The band's new studio album is expected to be released inlate June.