Roger Daltrey’s Visit to FHS

Nearly 40 Years After “Who Concert Tragedy,” Roger Daltrey Returns to Cincinnati.

Visit by front man of rock band, The Who, documented by Greater Cincinnati video agency

CINCINNATI/NORTHERN KENTUCKY—February 26, 2019 – Roger Daltrey, lead singer for legendary rock band, The Who, returned to Cincinnati, July 2, 2018, to meet with organizers and supporters of the P.E.M. Memorial Scholarship Fund. Mr. Daltrey’s visit was captured and has been produced as a mini-documentary (Click to Watch) by RESLV (pronounced Resolve), an international full-service video agency based in Greater Cincinnati.

The P.E.M. Memorial Scholarship Fund was founded in August of 2010 in remembrance of Stephan Preston, Jackie Eckerle, and Karen Morrison, three Finneytown High School students who died at a 1979 concert performed by The Who in Cincinnati. Approximately, 2,000 people rushed the entrances of Riverfront Coliseum prior to the December 3, 1979 concert resulting in 11 total deaths.

You can view the mini-documentary here:

In the mini-documentary, Mr. Daltrey speaks about the 1979 tragedy publicly for the first time. He told organizers and supporters of the P.E.M. Memorial Scholarship Fund that he and guitarist, Pete Townshend took the incident very hard. “One day I hope Pete will come (to Cincinnati),” said Mr. Daltrey. “Maybe we will come together… (Pete has) this kind of tough exterior, but he’s not at all.”

“Roger Daltrey’s visit has been very healing and cathartic for the Finneytown community,” said Fred Wittenbaum, member of the P.E.M. Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee. “We are not reliving the past, but carrying forward the memories of Stephan, Jackie, and Karen. We’re grateful that, through paying it forward with music and opportunity, we’ve grabbed the heartstrings and attention of the band.”

“This is a story of tragedy, new opportunity and reconciliation. Telling it through the mini-documentary is a tremendous opportunity and an enormous responsibility,” said Nick Shell, co-founder of RESLV video agency. “We’re thankful to all the entities, big and small, who helped us secure rights to music, footage and the stories of the young people who were lost in 1979.”