About

Hi I have finally come clean and admitted to myself that I am totally addicted to going to rock concerts.  I have also realised that all attempts at treatment are futile, and anyway I don’t want to be cured! This blog is part of my treatment, in creating a permanent record of the gigs that I go to. So far I have just succeeded in listing the gigs I have been to over the past two or three years.
Update on 29 Dec 2011. My new years resolution is to write a blog each day, which will be a challenge, as at the moment I have been posting when I go to a concert, which is roughly about once a week. I’m going to use this project to catalogue my concert experiences over the years. So for some of the blogs, I’ll select a concert that I attended, and try to remember as much as I can about it (which may be difficult as my memory is not good these days). This will take me back to the late 60s and early 70s and will include concerts by The Who, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Abba, T Rex, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Kate Bush and events such as Reading Festivals, Donington Monsters of Rock, Live Aid and Live 8, and significant recent reunions such as Zeppelin at the O2 and Cream at the Albert Hall. I have a collection of ticket stubs and programmes from many of the concerts that I have been to (I have almost always bought a programme) and will scan these in and include them within my posts. I’m going to start my project on January 1st 2012, and aim to write 365 blogs in 365 days. When I attend a new concert, that will be my blog for the next day; I’ll fill the other days with selected past concerts, and other things that interest me. I’ve just checked, and I have around 1,000 ticket stubs, so there should be plenty of concerts to write about. I’ll also be including memories of some significant gigs where I don’t have a ticket stub, such as club gigs, or gigs where the ticket was given up at the door.
Update on 10 April 2012. I have managed a post a day so far this year, but this is taking up a lot more time than I figured! However it is fun doing it. I’ve jumped around a little but have decided to revert to working through it alphabetically. I’ve worked through all my letter A ticket stubs and programmes and am now on letter B. I’ll continue to jump around now and then and feature gigs I am attending and relate past gigs to those where I can. This is going to take years…..

110 responses to this post.

  1. Posted by Paul Salley on July 31, 2010 at 5:31 pm

    Hi Peter,

    I saw your response to my post about Jimmy McCulloch and yes you would be a huge help to the project. That is incredible that you saw Jimmy several times in the 70’s. Would you mind sharing your memories of seeing Jimmy in concert with Mayall, Jimmy McCulloch Band, Stone the Crows, Wings and Small Faces? Also, if you have tour programs from Jimmy McCulloch Band, STC, Wings (1975 Tour Program) and Small Faces, I would love to see those. I have tour programs from Jimmy’s time with John Mayall and Wings. I have the Wings Over America program as well as the 1976 UK tour program.

    Hope to hear from you soon about Jimmy. My email is salley_22@hotmail.com

    All the best,
    Paul

    Reply

  2. Hi Peter – you’ve seen even more bands than me! Interested in your reviews of those I’ve also seen.

    Here’s mine… paulmclaughlins.com/OTR

    I’ve decided just to do this decade, with some references to the previous 5!

    And please have a look at this – http://youtu.be/v_OSGnnbl3s
    Views mean prizes (for me)
    Thanks…
    Paul
    PS You must see The Overtures/ Bootleg Sixties. They are fab.

    Reply

  3. Great name for a blog!

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  4. Amazing blog mate.A massive project for you.Happy days !
    Norm.

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  5. Posted by Doug Walker on April 19, 2012 at 9:46 pm

    Finally found your site after many wrong addresses from Norm! Great to be reminded about some of the gigs we all went to & like you I still have all my ticket stubs, programmes, posters, T shirts and even badges from those that we went to! True, if we’d stayed at home & put all that money in sensible savings accounts we’d probably be nearly millionaires by now, but that wouldn’t have been as much fun!
    Always good to see you, Norm & Will at the shows and I’ll be returning to read more about them in the future!
    Keep up the good work….
    Doug.

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on April 20, 2012 at 5:48 am

      Hi Doug Good to hear from you. Many thanks for the encouragement. This is taking me more time than I had imagined it but I am enjoying doing it.
      See you at a gig soon Peter

      Reply

  6. Posted by david wilkinson on May 22, 2012 at 8:51 pm

    nice reading about all the bands you saw,i remember seeing quite a few of them with you over the years,and if you want any details you might have forgot,just email me,,,

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on May 22, 2012 at 9:03 pm

      Hi Dave Great to hear from you. I’ve started quite a project here…it is taking me a lot more time than I realised, but I’m going to keep going and try to cover everything I’ve seen which I reckon will take a few years….so far i’ve been dotting around, but am also working through alphabetically and am only up to B. Thanks for the offer which I will take you up on… I have forgotten a lot, my memory is not good these days…best wishes Peter

      Reply

  7. Hi Peter,
    I just checked your blog.. I love all your reviews here!! Very enjoyable! You have seen so many bands..amazing! I have seen several rock bands as well, but not as many as you did so far. Kasabian, Coldplay, Beady Eyed, 30 Seconds To Mars (Jared Leto is quite crazy but in a good way), Neon Trees etc.. I am also working for the new british band: “Some Velvet Morning”. They are from the North of London and released their single “How To Start A Revolution” and their album “Allies”. Maybe you will enjoy them as much as i do everyday 🙂
    http://www.deezer.com/fr/music/some-velvet-morning/Allies-1626554
    See you soon on blogs! and big congratulations again for your blog!
    Best wishes
    Laurène

    Reply

  8. Hi Peter; good blog thanks for your fine work, I found it looking for details of the 1972 Grangemouth Festival after finding my own ticket last night. How come 40 years has gone past so quick. I fear your memory has fared better than mine though.

    I’m going to post my recollections at http://blog.eyesoremerch.com. I’m not spamming but that’s where I work, selling band T shirts on line. At last, I’m doing something I really love.
    Permission to use your newspaper clipping with the set times would be greatly appreciated.

    rock on

    Alex

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on January 12, 2013 at 5:32 pm

      Hi Alex Good luck with your blog. Please do use the cutting. My memory is not too good and lets me down quite a bit of the time 🙂 Peter

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  9. Hi there Peter! Came accross your blog, good stuff! In fact brilliant, to be exact :)! I am too young to have seen bands from the seventies live, but I love the era nonetheless, I collect tickets from back then, and I saw you have a lot of them (or at least scans of them). Is there any chance you’d consider selling any? I would be an easy target for you if so LOL. The Bon Scott era tickets are pieces of rock history.

    Thanks anyway and wish for happy days to come for both you and your blog!. Best wishes from Norway. PS, I have just started a blog to, so gotta advertise it: http://www.rockmetalmemorabilia.com

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on March 5, 2013 at 7:35 am

      Hi many thanks for the encouragement. I’m enjoying writing this blog but it is proving to be a major undertaking.
      Sorry but the tickets and memorabilia are part of my own collection and not for sale
      Good luck with your blog
      Best wishes Peter

      Reply

  10. Hi Peter, nice to read your reviews as back in the 70’s, I saw many of the bands you review, the first being Budgie in 1972 at Bolton Albert Hall with Judas Priest as support. Anyway, I decided to start my own LIVE label about ten years ago, specialising in great live recordings-all previously unreleased and we are now on our 24th release! We have featured live albums by Alex Harvey Band, Thin Lizzy, Trapeze, Climax Bliues Band, A Band Called ‘O’, Heavy Metal Kids, Kokomo, Caravan, Gong, Groundhogs, Soft Machine, Pink Fairies and many others-all with the artists OK and collaboration.
    If anyone has a live radio/sound desk/personal recording of any band from the 1970’s on any format: ie: cassette, 1/4″ reel, videotape that is well mixed and reasonable quality, then would love to hear from you with the prospect of a future release?
    It can be part of a set, the whiole show or just a couple of tracks. Thanks, Mike-Label Manager-MLP

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  11. Hi Peter.
    Fantastic blog. I was born in Newcastle upon Tyne and my first gig was T. Rex at the City Hall in 1973. I seem to have attended so many gigs that you did around the mid – late 70’s so this brings back great memories. I left Newcastle in 1978 and like you (apart from a spell in the late 80’s due to the appearance of children) have never lost that addiction to live gigs. Keep up the great work.
    Regards
    Kieran

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on May 31, 2013 at 3:25 pm

      Many thanks for your support Kieran. I am enjoying writing about my gig experiences, although my memory lets me down sometimes. I haven’t got to writing about T Rex yet. I was probably at the gig you refer to. I remember seeing them twice in one night at the City Hall, as I went to both the early and late shows. It may have been 72 or 73. I think Quiver were support and it was at the time of Metal Guru. The place was pandemonium. My mate and I were right down the front and I had a young girl (who I had never met before) on my shoulders screaming at Marc. He did an acoustic set (probably Debora, Lifes a Gas and Pinball Ricochet?) sat cross legged on an indian carpet. They were just awesome. Happy days. Peter

      Reply

      • Hi Peter
        Wow, I don’t think you have any problem with your memory. I was 13 at the time and don’t have much recollection of the gig except not being able to hear very much music because of the screaming! I seem to remember that the support were Sutherland Brothers and Quiver. I have collected most of my tickets from the gigs I’ve attended and my one regret is that I don’t have this ticket. I seem to remember giving it to my younger sister.
        I only discovered you’re blog yesterday and I’m looking forward to reading some more of your memories and perhaps jogging mine.
        Kieran

  12. I’m a fellow concert addict, and I’m enjoying your blog very much! Glad I found it. 🙂

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  13. This really is an epic Blog going on here – each day brings a new surprise. I did something similar myself (but on a much smaller scale) recently.

    http://therockandrollknife.blogspot.co.uk/

    Keep up the fine work – the end is in sight !!

    Reply

  14. Posted by sisaket on September 6, 2013 at 9:42 pm

    Hi Vintagerock-great blog as a Redcar resident during the 70’s fab to relive the memories of all those gigs at the Bowl-as I went to virtually everyone until I left for Bristol in summer ’78- especially seem to remember drinking endless cans of shockingly bad ‘American malt larger’ before lurching around the dance floor bit at the front-also great to read your review of Beachboys at Wembley-agree totally with the review-didnt Joe alsh come out of a box during the Eagles set? anyway thanks for reopening the memories

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  15. hi the wagon wheels from Blackburn headline at the grand clitheroe on sat 5th oct 2013 with special guests the slydes/ the most ugly child/Christian tama Roberts

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  16. It looks like we banged heads at a few of the same gigs!
    Ah….bring it back…
    Al

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  17. Hi Peter,
    Really enjoyed your lecture today at Sunderland Uni. Its unfortunate that some of the bands you’ve seen in the past are unheard of by many of my era, even the greats such as Led Zep. Fortunately i’ve had a good upbringing by parents who are similar to yourself, which I couldn’t thank them enough for. I would give an arm to have been at some of the local mayfair and locarno gigs you’ve got on here! Hope you keep persuing the lecturing. I’m in a blues rock band myself, we’re called Spectrum and I think our stuff would be of interest to yourself, our singer toured with Simon Kirke of Free a couple years ago. Have a listen if you get time, you can have a listen on http://www.spectrum.bandcamp.com to our two CD’s. We play around the doors quite alot, and I bet you won’t have to que overnight for a ticket, haha!

    All the best
    Dan

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on November 30, 2013 at 8:38 am

      Hi Dan Many thanks for your support. I enjoyed doing the lecture, and found it good fun. It was great to meet you all, and to share some of my memories with you. I’ll certainly have a look at your site and try and catch one of your gigs Thanks again Peter

      Reply

  18. Posted by Ian Murdoch on July 19, 2014 at 11:49 am

    Just joined, Superb site, look forward to some serious reading..😎🎼🎹🎶🎸🎷

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  19. Hi mate…enjoyed browsing through some of your stuff…. I’d like to , with your permission use a couple of your personal reviews of Slade gigs to add to Slade In England…I would rewrite them slightly and ask for more detail..let me know if in principle you don’t mind!

    Mucho regards

    DG

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  20. Hi just stumbled upon this site. There’s so many memories in here of so many of the same gigs I attended at the City Hall and Mayfair not to mention Whitley Bay Esplanade (sure I saw the Tygers there at somepoint….) etc etc. My first gig was Rainbow in ’81 front row of the balcony for the second night, still remember it so well… its amazing to read a little about such memorable gigs I also attended. Keep it up and all the best. DM

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  21. Hello Peter, just discovered your blog after doing a search on Kiki Dee. I am very impressed with your record of musical history and the fact that you have kept all of those concert tickets in such good condition over the years. Visiting this site was like taking a stroll through a Museum Of Music. Excellent blog; I will visit this site again. Well done! Michael

    Reply

  22. Excellent blog, thanks very much for getting it all down “on paper” (so to speak). You’ve brought back so many memories and even reminded me of a couple of gigs that I’d forgotten I’d attended (how highly does that speak of the bands involved?!), it’s kinda weird to think that we may have been stood within feet of each other a number of times over the years… then again, given some of the bands concerned, maybe not so weird after all 🙂

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on October 17, 2014 at 4:31 pm

      Hi Dick
      Many thanks for your support. I’m pleased that you are enjoying my ramblings.
      This started as a small project, but is taking up much more time than I imagined.
      I’m enjoying trying to remember all the gigs I went to, and I’m pleased I can do so before my memories fade too much 🙂
      I still have some way to go yet…. Cheers Peter

      Reply

  23. Very impressive endeavour Peter! I have been building something similar, albeit on a much smaller scale and note a couple of intersection points – Split Enz in 1976 and the Stiffs Greatest Stiffs Live tour of 1977. You also mention Graham Parker and there’s a very detailed account of his tour with Australian band The Sports in 1979 as well. All here on my modest effort http://roadrunnertwice.com.au/ Cheers and best of luck with the blog

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  24. Hi, there. You posted an image of a comic entitled “The Otters Story,” based on John Otway. I’ve been trying to locate a copy of that for some time now and was wondering how you happened upon yours. Any info would be wonderful. I’m paying quite nicely should one become available. Please, let me know!

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on March 3, 2015 at 7:13 am

      Hi Victor Thanks for your interest in my blog. I bought my copy of “The Otters Story” at an Otway gig in the late ’70s or early ’80s. I don’t recall which gig it was. It is part of my collection and sorry it isn’t for sale. Best wishes Peter

      Reply

      • Thanks, Peter! One quick question: is there an artist’s signature present? Maybe if I can locate the artist he’ll have a copy.

      • Posted by vintagerock on March 3, 2015 at 2:17 pm

        Sorry I can’t see any artist signature (or name), or date or publisher. Sorry I can’t help Cheers Peter

      • Thanks again! Well, my search continues. I don’t know if you’re in touch with Otway fans on a regular basis, but if you bump into anyone who has a copy of the comic, in reasonably good condition, I will pay £100 for one.

      • Posted by vintagerock on March 3, 2015 at 6:06 pm

        Ok Victor Good luck with the search Will keep my eye out Cheers Peter

  25. Hi Peter, I have just done an Interview with Jeff Rich (former Status Quo Drummer). Would it be okay to use the photo that is on your wordpress from the Judy Tzuke days that also features John ‘Rhino’ Edwards’?

    Thanks,

    Glenn Milligan of http://www.metalliville.co.uk

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on April 4, 2015 at 8:12 pm

      Hi Glenn Fraid the photo of Rhino isn’t mine so the permission is not mine to give. I photographed it from a Judy Tzuke programme. Cheers Peter

      Reply

  26. Hi Peter. Need to get in touch with you but don’t know how to do so via Blog pages. Can you email me please? Thanks, James

    Reply

  27. Posted by Kenneth Treadwell on July 23, 2015 at 8:41 pm

    Hi Peter old friend interesting blog was looking for info about Backhouse park concerts and thought you might know got to hear about your blog from Rob Norman,nice to see posts from Norm and Doug.keep up the good work.

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on July 24, 2015 at 10:32 am

      Many thanks Ken Great to hear from you. I have been trying to recall all those happy days 🙂 where did the years go ? Peter

      Reply

  28. Hi,

    I’d love to speak to you about seeing Madness in Newcastle in ’79. Im doing a piece for my local paper!

    Would you be interested?

    Phil

    Reply

  29. Posted by Emma Love on October 23, 2015 at 10:35 am

    Hello Peter,

    Love the blog. I’m working on a music crowdsourcing project and wondered if I could send you an email with more information?

    Regards

    Emma
    EmmaLove@7wonder.co.uk

    Reply

  30. Posted by oliver on March 26, 2016 at 4:28 pm

    Great stuff this blog mate – reading through i was at so many of these gigs and to say its been a trip down memory is an understatement. My first gig was that monumental Who show at the Odeon in October 71, then Zeppelin two weeks later at the City Hall. Me and my school friend got the bus in from Gosforth; 14 years old and a mixture of excitement and nerves. I’m not sure we quite knew what to expect but the sheer wild volume of The Who – when they got to doing the Tommy stuff at the end, an album that was the like the Bible to me at that age, it was like a religious experience, Amazing Journey in particular. Wish like you i’d gone to see some shows around elsewhere in the UK but it never ever occurred to me. In fact, i never went to see a gig outside the North East until i was 24, when a group of us went to see Floyd doing the Wall at Earls Court in 81; we were in a great spot near the front and i can tell you theres rarely been a scarier experience than when those bricks started tumbling; it genuinely looked like you were gonna get got! Anyhow, great reading, keep it up. Final point – was reading your section on Free – what a band. Now like you i gather, i only saw them once and though i don’t have the stub, I’m positive we mustve been at the same rearranged gig. In my memory, i couldn’t go because i got the flu, but my mate said that the gig didn’t go ahead due to power cuts (the early 70’s eh). And they played two nights a couple of weeks later. Now i saw a full show like you describe and they were brilliant. My brother however who was older and a huge fan went to both nights and said one of the nights the gig once again was abandoned, this time due to Kossof’s drug problem. Cant find any info about it, any memories; cheers.

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on March 26, 2016 at 6:01 pm

      Thanks Oliver
      Pleased you like the blog.
      My memories of the Free gig are fading, and I’m not sure about the rearranged gig. I recall seeing a full show and that Bronco were support. I also saw them at Sunderland Top and Sunderland Mecca.
      The Who and The Stones are still my favourites.
      Wish I’d gone to the Wall show. By then I was seriously into punk, and foolishly passed on it
      Happy days Cheers Peter

      Reply

  31. Posted by oliver on March 27, 2016 at 1:11 pm

    Ah well, it’ll have to remain a mystery. My brother is certain night 2 at the City Hall Kossoff was all over the shop, but that night 1 (which mustve been the gig i went to) was brilliant. Yeah The Wall was terrific, i’d just started teaching and had steady money of my own for the first time, so trip to London etc, bring it on. Never forget Gilmour atop The Wall doing Comfortably Numb, backlit against the darkness. People around us had obviously done some bad drugs and were agog in terror when giant inflatables started coming into view. Its funny you should say about punk, i appreciated some of that more later – I’m ashamed to admit i though the Pistols were awful at the time, i thought that album was dreadful. Of course now i fully admit its one of the best rock records ever but some things evident later. As it happens i enjoyed your entry on The Clash v Rush; i wasn’t massively into punk but there was something about The Clash i liked even them, particularly the London Calling record; however i wouldn’t have considered missing Rush at the City Hall, particularly that year, with Spirit of the Radio, Limelight etc. So anyway, what would you say was the best gig you ever saw? I would have to say Springsteen at the City Hall in 81; we were on the right hand side balcony, not terrific seats, but the atmosphere and energy that night was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. My first gig of course, the Who in 71; honourable mention out of too many to Genesis in 73 at the City Hall on the back of Selling England, never saw a band project anything quite like that; plus Queen 74 first time i saw them, Sheer Heart Attack period – big disappointment i never saw that 79 show at the City Hall, id gone off them for some reason – madness! Coming up to date, me and my partner went to see U2 at Glasgow last November and even for someone as old and disliking of long periods of standing as me, it was pretty special.

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on March 27, 2016 at 3:09 pm

      Thanks Oliver. Not sure what I would rate as best gig I saw, but off the top of my head I would rate The Who at Newcastle Odeon in 1971, Sex Pistols in Whitby 1976, Bruce Springsteen at Hammersmith in 1975, Genesis Sunderland Locarno 1971, Slade Sunderland Locarno 1972, Deep Purple Newcastle Odeon 1974, Van Morrison Newcastle City Hall 1973, Rolling Stones Newcastle City Hall 1971 and 1973. Cheers Peter

      Reply

  32. Hi Peter, would you mind me using the image of the 87 Bowie ticket you have on your blog in a book I’m writing on the Pioneers of UK Live Music Production. It will be in an interview with a lady who came from Sunderland and started the first touring catering company, and she did that gig with Bowie in 87. You might also like to see my recollections of tour managing those early days in the 70’w and 80’s at http://roadstories.co.uk/dates-and-tours.html

    Reply

  33. Posted by oliver on April 9, 2016 at 2:02 am

    Some of my fav gigs (tried to limit to one gig per band to give decent over view):

    The Who (Newcastle Odeon, Oct 30 1971) – my first gig, the sheer volume is the overriding memory, theres no overstating how exciting The Who were; the Tommy section sticks in my memory pretty vividly as that album was pretty biblical to me at the time; i was 14 at the time and me and my mate from school used to regularly go with my cousin and his mate who were five years older than us and used to do the ticket buying as they were fanatical gig goers – ergo, they did the over night queuing, bless them. Happy days.

    Led Zeppelin (Newcastle City Hall, Nov 11 1971) – another loud, seminal gig; Zeppelin were just untouchable, truly god like at the time (well they still are); i do remember being a tiny bit scared of the wired hippy guy next to me who looked on the verge of wig out from start to finish; still, it was the only time i saw Zep, and it was awesome.

    Roxy Music (Newcastle City Hall, Mar 29 1973) – went by myself as everyone i knew thought they were dreadful posers but i loved that first album; this was the last tour with Eno, and i recall vividly being beyond intrigued by the crazy ear splitting noises emanating from his briefcase synth; a deal of it was strange and bemusing to me at 15 but I feel privileged i saw this line up – i do remember the eerie power of In Every Dream… they looked and sounded like no one else.

    Genesis (Newcastle City Hall, Oct 26 1973) – My mate was the Genesis fan, i thought they were ok; this gig changed that. Simply awesome… the final sections of Musical Box and Suppers Ready, and the huge stretch out in the Cinema Show, were incredible. Gabriel was magnetic.

    Queen (Newcastle City Hall, Nov 7 1974) – I saw them plenty after but back here just around the time of Sheer Heart Attack they were unbelievably potent – i remember leaving thinking id seen one of the very best rock bands on the planet; Freddie’s charisma was different level.

    Paul McCartney & Wings (Newcastle City Hall, Sep 16 1975) – I did queue and fail for this one; very close to the box office before we were told none left, gutting; paid over the odds from a tout on the night but as a Beatles fanatic since forever, i had to see McCartney at the City Hall; the extortionate fee aside, what a gig; feels more and more special as time moves on, seeing a Beatle in such an intimate setting, and sounding tremendous.

    Rush (Newcastle City Hall, Jun 12 1980) – Rush were at this time i think simply the best band on the planet; absolutely awesome; i went to the NEC and Wembley in the later 80’s to see them, but nothing ever compared to this storming performance; three guys creating one of the greatest noises I’ve ever heard.

    Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band (Newcastle City Hall, May 11 1981) – I had an awful cold and actually considered giving my ticket to my friend who offered to buy it off me; I’m so glad i quickly trashed that evil thought; if one man can make you forget you feel like rubbish, its the boss; this might actually be the best I’ve seen, but it is slightly coloured by the fact that i was busy infecting those around me on the left balcony with my dreadful germs; still, it was truly electric and genuinely moving, and i hadnt ever seen a performer quite like him; energy levels through the roof.

    Pink Floyd (Earls Court, Jun 13 1981) – The Wall was a pretty divisive album – some people i knew hated it and thought it was bloated pompous nonsense, and the less punky crowd (myself included) thought it was a masterpiece; in all honesty since then I’ve had a love/hate relationship with it over the years, but I’m currently back loving it again, and I’m delighted i made the effort to see it live; save for some idiotic morons in the crowd who made you realise why Roger Waters wanted to build the damn wall in the first place, the experience was monumental, if very cold; the big emotional moment was a back lit Gilmour soloing atop the wall during Comfortably Numb; i recall getting teary, it was pretty overwhelming; oh and seriously drugged out people having mini seizures when the giant pig hoved into view; quite funny actually.

    AC/DC (Newcastle City Hall, Oct 5 1981) – Never got the chance to see DC with Bon, which i regret; this was canon era DC though and ear splittingly great.

    Def Leppard (Newcastle Mayfair, Feb 25 1983) – High n Dry was one of my fav rock albums of that era, and i missed them on that tour, so was determined to see them next time they played the toon; in later years post Hysteria they went massively off the boil but they stormed the Mayfair that night, playing flawless versions of all the then new Pyromania stuff, which sounded utterly terrific and instantly memorable on first listen, always the acid test.

    Rainbow (Whitley Bay Ice Rink, Sep 8 1983) – Blackmore was on fire, and the band tight as hell; awful venue and i remember wishing it was at the City Hall, but tremendous gig; really loud as well as i recall; shame they split, i really loved all the various incarnations of Rainbow; like Dr Who, you always thought they’d just regenerate again; sad.

    Lindisfarne (Newcastle City Hall, Dec 24 1984) – Saw these local hero geezers loads over the years but this Xmas Eve gig sticks in the memory as being particularly special – everyone clapping in unison during Stormy Weather gives me the chills just thinking about it; they were troubled times, coming from a mining family; maybe thats why, i don’t know; God bless Alan Hull, he is sadly missed, gone far too soon.

    Dire Straits (Newcastle City Hall, Dec 5 1985) – Despite being maybe the biggest band in the world at this point, they did multiple nights at the City Hall, simply because they loved the venue so much; its a truly special place, feels like a shrine to me, quasi religious; anyway packed out City Hall, Brothers in Arms era, career spanning set, Knopfler on commanding form, nothing not to love.

    Marillion (Newcastle City Hall, Jan 22 1986) – I truly loved Marillion, but unfortunately they ceased to be Marillion in any serious form when Fish left; the version since then holds zero interest to me. But back here they were seriously seriously good; Fugazi was particularly epic that night, and my memory is of band and crowd seriously up for it.

    The Smiths (The Palladium, Oct 26 1986) – Romantic weekend in London, in love properly for the first time, and the weirdest Sunday Night at the Palladium ever; The Smiths were awesome that night; id seen them at a seriously rowdy and ill tempered gig at the Mayfair earlier in the year attended by scum punks who looked as if they’d crawled directed out of 1977, like nam veterans in the jungle who didn’t realise the war was over; this was different, great atmosphere, Morrissey and Marr on great form; remember feeling that they’d only go from strength to strength – ok you can’t always be right…

    Iron Maiden (Whitley Bay Ice Rink, Nov 25 1988) – Maiden have always been cracking good and one of the best live bands you’ll see; once again in the unforgiving Ice Rink of doom and bloody cold, but they were sensational; i loved and still love the Seventh Son album they were touring, the proggiest incarnation of Maiden and all the better for it.

    REM (Newcastle City Hall, May 26 1989) – When REM were hungry, dynamic and still with that air of mystery; Stipe was an unusual but unique frontman, and this gig made me a life long convert; vividly recall everyone shouting out the Leonard Bernstein line in Its the End of the World. And the rat atat tat dynamics of Orange Crush, Buck’s crunchy riff ringing around the City Hall; magic.

    Aerosmith (Newcastle City Hall, Nov 21 1989) – Had always wanted to see Aerosmith, so was actually very excited when this date was announced; they were riding high with Pump at the time and were not only back to their best but had actually moved up another notch; pure rock n roll fun, the ultimate party band, just great feel good rock n roll music.

    The Black Crowes (Newcastle City Hall, Nov 25 1992) – Criminally under rated; fantastic rock n roll band, really really enjoyed this show, they had a seemingly endless supply of great riffs and tunes; sad i never got around to seeing them again.

    The Velvet Underground (Edinburgh Playhouse, Jun 2 1993) – I was determined to see the Velvets and its shocking to think how easy it was to get tickets; i was so surprised the demand wasn’t higher; quite simply, in 1993 i still don’t think they were that well known; still, i don’t want to over egg that side too much, the Playhouse was still pretty much full up, and i watched with fascination; i got into the Velvets in the mid 80’s and grew to love those albums; it seemed special at the time, now it feels monumental. Crabby buggers and not the warmest, but they seemed genuinely happy to be playing together again; though it didn’t last!

    Oasis (Whitley Bay Ice Rink, Jan 19 1996) – Pretty much everyone loved Oasis at the time; they quickly became unbelievably boring but originally they were great; this gig was tremendous, really loud, and they looked and sounded like they wanted to be the biggest band in the world; i was in my late 30’s and surrounded by people who were unreasonably disgustingly young; i was feeling just a tad old all of a sudden. Ha of course now its a case of oh to be 38 again!

    Neil Young & Crazy Horse (Glasgow SECC, Jul 20 1996) – Id always loved Neil and have seen him a few times in various guises but this gig in Glasgow with Crazy Horse was absolutely brilliant; its hit and miss with Neil and the Horse but this night they were on, and Neil’s singing and guitar playing were sensational; they did a version of Like a Hurricane so epic that i like to think its still playing in some alternate dimension.

    Radiohead (Wembley Arena, Nov 16 1997) – My partner wanted to go to this one more than me but I’m so glad i let myself be led because they were spine chillingly good; very loud, unbelievably intense and coaxing crazy, wild, thunderous noises out of those three guitars; they made Wembley Arena feel intimate – quite a feet.

    Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (Shepherds Bush Empire, Apr 19 1999) – Another bucket list band that didn’t disappoint; my only time seeing Tom P and in a terrific venue; they rocked the house and sounded great. Listen to her Heart was the highlight.

    Black Sabbath (Birmingham NEC, Dec 22 1999) – I missed them in 1997 but got last minute tickets for this; we had a simply amazing time; it was quite something to be seeing this line up again, sounding so powerful, with an NEC home crowd going crazy.

    Pearl Jam (Cardiff International Arena, Jun 6 2000) – Another ‘not my choice’ which turned out to be a sensational gig; they guys are up there with the best, and their performance was pretty breath taking; Vedder is an incredible front man, the sound was great and they played well over two hours; been a major fan ever since, though they are one band that make far more sense live than on record.

    David Bowie (Hammersmith Odeon, Oct 2 2002) – A special night. Not the awful ‘name changing, re branding’ ceremony as the Hammersmith Odeon once again got some awful beer company monicker; no Bowie playing a huge, career spanning set full of hits and surprises, on sparkling form, in an intimate setting. I never saw Bowie at the City Hall and always regretted it; this made up for it.

    Manic Street Preachers (Newcastle City Hall, Apr 14 2005) – Loved MSP for years; they’re the last of a dying breed, creative, dedicated, principled, trashy, and simply a great rock band; they seem to get lost in Arena settings, but this City Hall show was stunning, high volume, high energy rock; i was a little too near the side PA and was pretty deaf for days after.

    Pet Shop Boys (Gateshead Sage, May 24 2007) – Id never seen PSB but always loved their high art intelligent approach to pop music; this was a superb show, very theatrical, but loads of fun in the great setting of the Sage; hit after hit, and a welcome respite from guys with guitars; something different.

    Amy Winehouse (Newcastle Academy, Nov 18 2007) – By the time this show came around it was circus freak era for Amy; it was unlikely shed even do the show. She was certainly distracted but credit to her she sang fabulously on the night, one of the best singers I’ve ever heard live, it wasn’t slick, it was raw and full on emotion, it was like she was exorcising demons out there; a few days later the rest of the tour had been cancelled and appearances here after were pretty shambolic, often tragic; this was sadly the last gasp.

    Blur (Newcastle Academy, Jun 25 2009) – I’ve rarely been at a gig where a band has got a reception like Blur did this night. The Academy was ram packed and they were stunning; i saw them back in the day and thought them pretty limp actually; not this time, the sheer energy and focus of this performance was something else; highlight for me was the waves of atonal noise Coxon rang out of his guitar during the epic solo on This is a Low – spine tingling.

    Suede (London 02 Arena, Dec 7 2010) – A band it took me until this era to truly appreciate; their first two albums are up their with anyones, particularly Dog Man Star; they were magnificent at a packed out O2, fabulous greatest hits set, and the kind of really nice London hotel i pretty much insist on now – the days of flee pits are over, I’m too damn old.

    The Rolling Stones (London 02 Arena, Nov 29 2012) – This is the best time I’ve seen the Stones. Paid a fortune for good seats and it was worth it. The highlights – Lady Jane (wow!), the incredible Florence minus her Machine going toe to toe with Jagger on a knife edge Gimme Shelter, and the roof raising roar that greeted Keef’s introduction. Unforgettable. Thats my lot for the Stones now – it’ll never be this good again.

    Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds (Manchester Apollo, Oct 30 2013) – Wanted to see Cave and the Seeds for years, finally got around to it; what a gig; I love the album he was touring, Push the Sky Away, and the version of Jubilee St from that album was stunning; his intensity on stage and the power and precision of that band is something to behold.

    Kate Bush (Hammersmith Odeon, Aug 29 2014) – One i couldn’t miss. And was anyone disappointed. Im not ashamed to say i cried when she walked out on stage; the mixture of the crowds overwhelming love toward her and how obviously humbly moved she was by it was too much for me. The theatrical section was brilliantly rendered but the real magic was Kate and her fabulous band thundering through the likes of Running up that Hill; and Kate alone at the piano for a very touching Among Angels. Unforgettable – the half bottle of wine and picnic that came with our package was rather nice to, though a full bottle wouldn’t have gone amiss for £400!

    U2 (Glasgow SSE Hydro, Nov 7 2015) – As good a gig as I’ve ever seen. Bono and co have the ability to draw everybody in a huge venue into an intimate feeling that is truly magical. The staging was very clever, but its a tribute to how good they are that it was the emotion that stayed with you; the piano/vocal strip down of Every breaking wave – a latter day U2 classic – was heart stopping; the final half hour of hit after hit a testament to what great songwriters they are; at 58 I’m winding down from as much gig going now but this was as good a reminder as ever that ill never truly give it up. Bring on the next one.

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on April 9, 2016 at 6:30 am

      Wow Great memories Oliver Some excellent gigs there. Very jealous about the Velvet Underground, I never got to see them and regret not going to see them on that tour. Thanks for sharing Happy days Cheers Peter

      Reply

  34. Posted by oliver on April 9, 2016 at 6:57 pm

    Aye some gigs take on greater significance over the years, the Velvets is certainly one of those; at the time i was as much looking forward to a lovely couple of days in Edinburgh, my second favourite city! Anyway, heres one for you…worst you ever saw? It terms of rank disappointment, Queen at Wembley Arena in 1984 takes some beating, Freddie’s voice was utterly shot, the band sounded pretty good but murky sound mix in the cavernous setting didn’t help; impression was of a band on the way out. Side note – had mates round to mine for beers/barbecue the day of Live Aid, and can vividly remember Queen coming on and thoroughly expecting them to be awful based on this gig…20 minutes later we were applauding in my front room in Fenham; astonishing; fell in love with them all over again, though an operation on my knee meant i missed them at St James’ Park and never saw them again, sadly.

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on April 9, 2016 at 7:35 pm

      Hi Oliver I preferred Queen in the early days. I thought they were awesome when they supported Mott at the Coty Hall, and the first time they headlined there. I was at Live Aid in Wembley and thought Queen were great, but I preferred The Who, U2 and Bowie on the day, to be honest. Best Queen gig I saw was probably the free show in Hyde Park. Happy days Peter

      Reply

  35. Posted by David on April 23, 2016 at 2:18 pm

    I’ve spent an enjoyable couple of hours checking out various acts listed on your site and it seems we attended a good few of the same gigs: Genesis, Hall & Oates, Nils Lofgren, Blondie, BJH, Santana, Yes, Pink Floyd, Man, Caravan, Camel, Steve Hillage, Hawkwind, Can, Edgar Broughton, and many more. I can remember sitting in my seat at Newcastle City Hall time and again and seeing many of the same faces. I wonder if I’d recognise yours circa the 1970s City Hall?

    Your gig-going achievements certainly make mine pale in comparison. Ironically, while I now work at a music magazine (R2, formerly Rock’n’Reel: a great publication that I recommend unreservedly) I hardly get to gigs these days. Last one I went to was the Pitmen Poets (Bob Fox, Benny Graham, Billy Mitchell and Jez Lowe) in January.

    Reading your blogs brought back some of the magic of those earlier days. I still have most of my concert tickets for the gigs and the odd programme, too. I was also at a couple of Reading festivals and a couple of Knebworths. In fact, it was trying to remember which two Knebworths I’d been to that resulted in me discovering your blog. It’s a great read, and I take my hat off to you, sir!

    Reply

  36. Posted by vintagerock on August 17, 2016 at 5:22 pm

    Hi this is David, Peter’s son. My dad sadly had an accident at the end of April. He fell down the stairs at home and broke his neck, so his gig going has been curtailed for the time being as a result. Apologies for the delays in replying to comments.

    My dad is due out of hospital in a months’ time and hopes to resume gig going, although this will be at a reduced rate as the injury has left him quite disabled.

    David

    Reply

  37. Posted by Kieran McPeake on August 18, 2016 at 7:47 am

    Hi David. Really sorry to hear about your dad’s accident. Send him my best wishes and hope he makes a speedy recovery.
    Kieran

    Reply

  38. Great blog – love all the Wishbone Ash stuff too. First saw them at Fairfield Halls in 1976.

    Reply

  39. Posted by Alan on March 21, 2017 at 2:02 pm

    Great blog – was looking for some gig listings in Newcastle to refresh my ageing memory when I came across it and have just spent (a long) lunch time checking out some of the bands I saw from around 73 onward. There are gigs I have spotted your attendance at that I also attended but some of my memories differ from yours. Most notable was a Family gig at the City Hall around 72. It was my first gig (and nearly my last) as I thought they were so bad. Chapman was stoned or pissed and could not stand up without support from the mike stand. They had silver foil on the floor (I assume to reflect light) which ended up getting ripped up. There had been a line up change with Ashton coming in on keyboards – he messed up the tune on one song and Chapman shot him a looks could kill as he attempted to recover by playing “Jingle Bells”. The whole thing was shambolic and did not last very long – I left very disappointed thinking if this was what gigs were like I would not be wasting any more money on them. My faith was restored at my second gig at the City Hall; Led Zeppelin. I have been hooked on live music ever since.

    Reply

  40. Posted by Ian Prior. on April 12, 2017 at 6:27 pm

    Enjoyed reading the stuff about Gary Moore when he played locally with Skid Row. If anybody saw that concert …or the Sunderland one ( I assume same set)..am I right in thinking that Gary did a solo song at front of stage with some sort of floor drum..I’m sure it was “Ramblin on my mind”…played lots of bluesy / jazz bits. I wonder if there is any footage of this? regards to all.

    Reply

  41. Posted by Ian Prior. on April 12, 2017 at 6:55 pm

    ps that was of course The Mayfair!

    Reply

  42. Posted by PAR CAN on April 30, 2017 at 2:34 pm

    Hey Peter
    Met you in the pub next door to the Brudenell Social Club before The Tubes gig in 2015.
    I took the pic of you guys with my old mate & employer Prairie.
    Just a couple of things I hope you won’t mind me adding to your Tubes data.
    1977 support was Wire
    1979 there was no support as there had been 2 shows planned, Squeeze were playing I think in Middlesbrough that night
    1981 support was The Spangs.
    I have a couple of pix I took of you guys, but can’t upload them here.
    PAR CAN

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on April 30, 2017 at 3:36 pm

      Hi great to hear from you and thanks for getting in touch

      Thanks also for the Tubes data

      Would love to see the photos. I’ll email you separately

      Best wishes Peter

      Reply

  43. Can’t find an entry for the White Stripes? I saw them Jan 2004 at Birdlington Spa, and they were awesome… I think you would have enjoyed them! If you would like to go back in time and hear this show, please let me know!

    Reply

  44. Just found your blog. It’s proving very useful as I am scanning my archive of rock pics and,as i kept no notes at the time,this is helping me date my pics!
    http://rikwalton.com/music/index.html
    cheers Rik

    Reply

  45. Posted by Chloe Fenech on April 10, 2019 at 7:11 pm

    Hi Peter,

    I’m writing a PhD on female British blues in the 1960s/70s…saw some of your stuff on Stone the Crows, was wondering if you could pop me an email and I could ask you a couple of questions? It’s just always nice to hear things that fans of the band have to say!

    My email is
    chloe_fenech@live.co.uk

    Reply

  46. Greetings! I just wanted to say how much I enjoy reading your posts of shows from years’ past! Today of all days is a very special one for me. At this very time, 40 years ago I was about to set off on a 600-mile adventure from my then college room at Kingston Poly to the magnificent City Hall in Newcastle to see the one and only Robin Trower! Your blog https://vintagerock.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/robin-trower-newcastle-city-hall-12th-february-1980/ sums it all up beautifully! Thank you!!!

    Reply

  47. Hi, I am very late to this party so I don’t even know if this blog is still being added to. Stumbled across it when I was looking up the 1977 Stiff Records tour & discovered that we were at quite a few of the same gigs in the 70s.
    My first gig was as far back as 1972 when I saw Deep Purple re-open the Rainbow. I think they were the loudest band in the world at the time – couple with another 45+ years of gigs and it probably explains my tinnitus these days!
    I’m trying to reassemble the list of gigs I have been to – an impossible task given all the small bands in small venues that I have seen. But I am trying it on my FaceBook page anyway!
    Thanks for the blog and the memories.

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on April 15, 2020 at 11:39 am

      Hi Steven and welcome to the blog

      Yes I am still adding to it sporadically, but I had a nasty accident and I don’t get to so many gigs now

      Thanks for your interest and support. Stay safe Peter

      Reply

  48. Posted by Richard Muir on May 7, 2020 at 7:12 am

    Love this blog, I’m from South Shields and starting going to concerts in 1978 and went to many of those listed at Newcastle City Hall and Newcastle Mayfair. A welcome trip down memory lane. Thanks for sharing your memories.

    Richard

    Reply

  49. Hi Peter,

    Such a comprehensive piece of work this blog mate, so many entries, just out of interest what would you say are your most memorable/favourite gigs over the years?

    Best regards,

    Ross

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on March 17, 2021 at 7:13 pm

      Hi Ross difficult to say but off the top of my head I would say

      The Who Charlton 1974
      The Rolling Stones Newcastle City Hall 1971
      Slade Lincoln Festival 1972
      Sex Pistols Scarborough Penthouse 1977
      Live Aid Wembley Stadium 1985
      Cream reunion Albert Hall 2005
      Led Zeppelin reunion O2 London 2007
      The Groundhogs Bay Hotel Sunderland 1971
      Dave Davies and Ray Davies Islington town Hall 2015
      Pink Floyd Newcastle City Hall 1972
      David Bowie Newcastle City Hall 1972
      Bob Dylan Blackbushe Aerodrome 1976
      Led Zeppelin Sunderland Locarno 1971
      Kate Bush Sunderland Empire 1979
      Bruce Springsteen Hammersmith Odeon 1976
      T Rex Newcastle City Hall 1972
      Deep Purple Newcastle City Hall 1972
      The Clash White Riot tour Newcastle University 1977
      Bob Marley Leeds University 1976
      Mott the Hoople with Genesis support Sunderland Locarno 1972
      Black Sabbath Newcastle City Hall 1972
      Many many others I have forgotten!
      Basically too many and too difficult to call!

      Difficult question! Best wishes Peter

      Reply

  50. Hi Peter,

    Some great gigs there, always regretted not going to Live Aid, not that I was much into many of the people on the bill, but it was a historic event for sure, I did go to the Mandela concert in 88 at the old Wembley, which was a great day atmosphere wise. There’s some of the more hard rock/metal bands in your list I was never much into, but looking back it would’ve been cool to have seen Zeppelin for example. Kate Bush at the Empire, yeah I recall that at the time, but I wasn’t that deep of a fan until her later albums. Anyway, for what it’s worth, my top forty below, kept to one per band/artist to get a nicer cross section…

    The Who, Newcastle Odeon, Saturday 30 October 1971
    Van Morrison, Newcastle City Hall, Friday 27 July 1973
    The Rolling Stones, Newcastle City Hall, Thursday 13 September 1973
    Roxy Music, Newcastle City Hall, Monday 28 October 1974
    Status Quo, Newcastle City Hall, Tuesday 9 March 1976
    Dr. Feelgood, Newcastle City Hall, Friday 17 September 1976
    Marvin Gaye, Sheffield City Hall, Wednesday 29 September 1976
    Lindisfarne, Newcastle City Hall, Friday 23 December 1977
    The Kinks, Newcastle City Hall, Monday 22 January 1979
    ABBA, Wembley Arena, Saturday 10 November 1979
    Talking Heads, Newcastle City Hall, Tuesday 27 November 1979
    The Clash, Mayfair Ballroom, Thursday 12 June 1980
    Stevie Wonder , Wembley Arena, Saturday 6 September 1980
    Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Newcastle City Hall, Monday 11 May 1981
    The Pretenders, Newcastle City Hall, Monday 30 November 1981
    Joni Mitchell, Edinburgh Playhouse, Wednesday 20 April 1983
    Bob Dylan, St James’ Park NUFC, Thursday 5 July 1984
    The Everly Brothers, Newcastle City Hall, Tuesday 30 October 1984
    Leonard Cohen, Manchester Apollo, Wednesday 27 February 1985
    The Smiths, Carlisle Sands Centre, Monday 13 October 1986
    Elvis Costello, Newcastle City Hall, Saturday 31 January 1987
    R.E.M., Newcastle City Hall, Friday 26 May 1989
    Paul McCartney, Wembley Arena, Saturday 13 January 1990
    Richard Thompson, Newcastle City Hall, Friday 1 November 1991
    The Velvet Underground, Edinburgh Playhouse, Wednesday 2 June 1993
    U2, Celtic Park CFC, Saturday 7 August 1993
    Diana Ross, Newcastle Arena, Monday 30 June 1997
    Eurythmics, Manchester Arena, Friday 26 November 1999
    Steely Dan, Hammersmith Apollo, Sunday 10 September 2000
    Love, Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Wednesday 28 August 2002
    David Bowie, Glasgow SECC, Friday 28 November 2003
    Tom Waits, Hammersmith Apollo, Tuesday 23 November 2004
    Prince, The O2 Arena, Thursday 13 September 2007
    The Police, Wembley Arena, Saturday 20 October 2007
    Arcade Fire, Newcastle Arena, Monday 29 October 2007
    Sex Pistols, Manchester Arena, Saturday 17 November 2007
    Neil Young & Crazy Horse, The O2 Arena, Monday 17 June 2013
    Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Edinburgh Usher Hall, Friday 1 November 2013
    Kate Bush, Hammersmith Apollo, Friday 29 August 2014
    Gorillaz, Manchester Arena, Friday 1 December 2017

    All the best mate,

    Ross

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on March 19, 2021 at 10:46 am

      Some great gigs there Ross some of which I was at. Others I regret missing such as Marvin Gaye and the Velvet Underground reunion. Happy days Peter

      Reply

      • Indeed Peter, I was looking at your reviews of the boss and Van the man at NCH, evocative. I’ve seen Springsteen numerous times over the years and he’s pretty much always pure class, but that night at the City Hall was something else, queued in the pouring rain for tickets as I recall, demand was insane, and then I was hospitalised with a stomach ulcer but the rock gods were on my side as the gig was postponed due to Boss having flu! Van was just unbelievable at that 73 show, I’ve seen him a few times since but nothing has ever come close to how good he was that night, wasn’t long before my 15th birthday and I was there with my mate in all our soul mod finery, incredible night. That seminal live album they released off of the back of that tour always reminds me how good it was.

        Yeah, Marvin was pure class, some of my happiest early music memories are listening to all those great duets with Tammi with my cousin, and I remember finding out he was touring but not playing Newcastle, but Sheffield wasn’t too far so we drove down to queue for tickets in awful weather, but it was worth it, the gig was amazing, and Marvin was a proper showman, his connection with the audience was immense, we were eating out of the palm of his hand, and that voice, incredible. One of those gigs I look back on with not a small amount of emotion, feels really special. VU was easier, Credit Card hotlines were in operation by 1993, and although the Playhouse was packed out, it didn’t feel at the time like there was a massive clamour to see them, it was different times, they were still very much a cult band. They were incredibly grumpy and taciturn but they sounded great, and it was such a thrill to actually see this legendary band you’d only seen from old black and white footage on stage playing all those seminal songs. Reminds me of how much I loved a trip to Edinburgh Playhouse, such a great old venue, saw Joni Mitchell there as well, it’s mainly used for musicals now, which is a shame.

      • Posted by vintagerock on March 20, 2021 at 12:25 pm

        Yes Ross you are right about Van Morrison at the City Hall in 1973. I should have included that in my list; it was one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen. Yes the Playhouse is a lovely theatre; I’ve seen a few people there Frank Zappa, Burt Bacharach, Kris Kristofferson, Steely Dan, Neil Young, Bob Dylan and others. Happy days Peter

  51. Hi Peter, congrats on such a thorough and detailed blog, these memories of yours are not only entertaining but a resource for anyone such as me interested in reading about the greatest era for live rock music, particularly centred on our region in the North East; with that in mind, I wonder if I can pick your brains about the Odeon as a venue in Newcastle in the 60’s and 70’s? As someone born in the late 70’s I used to see movies with my mam there growing up but had no idea that Sabbath, Dylan, the Who etc played there. I’m interested, was it used as a cinema alongside its use as a venue in those days? And what was the capacity in relation to the city hall? I love to hear any recollections you have of the place, their sadly doesn’t appear to be any pictures of the interior from that period, all my memories are of when it was a 4 or 5 screen cinema. Anyway, love to hear about those times, what was the place like for atmosphere/sound/acoustics etc, and any particularly brilliant shows/gigs you recall? I’d appreciate your thoughts, and again, the blog is really a great read, cheers.

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on January 20, 2022 at 12:53 pm

      Hello Steven thank you for your interest in my blog. I am pleased you are enjoying reading it. The Odeon was a cinema alongside a concert venue in the 60s and 70s. I first went there in 1971 to see The Who. It was used as a venue because it was bigger than the City Hall. It had very large stalls and a massive balcony. I think the capacity was close to 4000 and the City Hall was around 2400. If you were at the back of the balcony you could only see tiny figures on the stage far, far down. I saw The Who twice, Black Sabbath, Humble Pie twice, Wishbone Ash, King Crimson and The Faces there; maybe some others, oh yes Deep Purple. Later it was converted into a multiscreen cinema and continued to host concerts for a little while using the balcony only looking down on the stage. I saw Leo Sayer and America/Poco in this configuration. In its day it was a lovely great venue. It is such a shame that we have lost such great cinemas. The tickets were always on sale at the Queens, I think to allow queueing around the square where the library is now. Happy days Peter

      Reply

      • Thanks for that Peter, very interesting, you saw some killer gigs there, Ive seen the Who and Sabbath but to have seen them back in the 70’s must’ve been quite something. I loved going to the Odeon when I was a kid, saw all the classic Disneys there with me mam! So I guess it was a capacity applicable to Hammersmith. I was also laughing in recognition re your description of Whitley Bay Ice Rink, the first gig I ever saw was their in 1992, Metallica! It was as you say absolutely freezing, though at 14 moshing away to the above I didn’t care so much! Still it was a proper boon when the arena came along. Went to see Sam Fender there just before Christmas, Pet Shop Boys and Tears for Fears this year, great to have live music back again. As you say, happy days. Best wishes Peter, and thank you for being kind enough to indulge my curiosity

      • Posted by vintagerock on January 21, 2022 at 12:32 pm

        Thanks Steven you are very welcome. Happy days Peter

  52. Posted by Ian Stafford on January 24, 2022 at 7:14 pm

    Hi Peter, another vote for a fantastic website, such great resources and history all tied up with some great recollections and stories, well done!
    I’m trying to find out who I saw John Cooper Clarke with at City Hall circa 1977-1981, he was definitely a support act along with another if memory serves me correctly. I think it was either Iggy, The Jam or Blondie. I know he supported Elvis Costello but I wasn’t at that concert. Any ideas? Finding support acts is quite difficult!

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on January 25, 2022 at 12:27 pm

      Hi Ian I’m afraid my memory does not serve me well! I think it might have been The Jam but can’t be sure! It all seems so long ago yet some days it seems only yesterday. Happy days Peter

      Reply

      • Posted by Ian Stafford on January 25, 2022 at 2:27 pm

        Thanks Peter, yes the old memory starts playing tricks now! All the best, Ian

      • Posted by vintagerock on January 25, 2022 at 3:36 pm

        Thanks Ian.Those were happy days. One of the reasons I did the blog was to log my memories before they go altogether! Cheers and thanks for your support Peter

  53. Dear Paul

    I will start to read your blog

    I started a little later than you in 1978 at Earl’s Court with Bob Dylan, when I was 17. Then a few gigs, not as many as I would have liked, but 41 years later I’m still giging. My last was The Hu in Cologne in 2020. My next is Joe Bonamassa in May. My past include Pink Floydx2, Bowiex2, Live Aid, Queen and miscellaneous others. You can never get enough. Thank you for your Dylan review, if on that Saturday, I was there too in the arena. It’s difficult to describe the gig unless you were there. Awesome doesn’t come at all close.

    Reply

  54. Posted by Kieran McPeake on June 9, 2023 at 12:07 pm

    Great to see you get a mention in The Guardian today Peter, re: Sex Pistols
    Kieran

    Reply

  55. Posted by Andrew John Barker on July 27, 2023 at 4:48 pm

    Hi Peter
    would you mind contacting me re: 72 Pink Floyd gig. many thanks Andy

    Reply

    • Posted by vintagerock on July 27, 2023 at 5:12 pm

      Not at all Andrew

      Happy for anyone to email me about any of my concert memories

      Please email me on peter.smith19@btinternet.com

      Look forward to hearing from you and I will also put you in touch with Bob at the same time

      Best wishes Peter

      Reply

      • Posted by Rebecca Jay on February 16, 2024 at 9:25 pm

        I just read your blog post about the Bob Marley and the Wailers concert at Leeds Uni in 1976. I’ve just been to see the film with a friend and was trying to remember the chronology relative to the film of when they toured in the UK. I knew it had to be 1976, as that was the last year, I was Publicity Secretary for Leeds university union concerts. I was blessed (looking back on it) to have been right at the heart of so many of those amazing gigs through 1974/1975/1976.

        My job was publicise the gigs in the record shops in Leeds, and as far as Wakefield. On the night, my job was to make sure that the artistes had the refreshments etc. that they wanted. I now realise what an extraordinary job it was…and I have a few tales to tell!

        My main memory of the night is very similar to yours. Sweat and perspiration dripping off the ceilings, and the whole place appearing to move and dance as one. It was so so hot. I also took various refreshments to the dressing room and it is fair to say that I could barely see the band for the smoke, but I didn’t care!

        Anyway, delighted to have read your blog, and so happy that you have taken the time to document all those gigs you’ve been to over the years.

        Thank you!

      • Posted by vintagerock on February 17, 2024 at 9:40 am

        Hi Rebecca many thanks for sharing. Yes it was very hot that day, in fact it was a very hot summer as I recall. You were so lucky to have such a great job! Happy days Peter

  56. Posted by ER on October 25, 2023 at 8:10 am

    I’m guessing others have already asked, but would you consider selling any of your ticket stubs? Thanks

    Reply

  57. Posted by Diana on March 27, 2024 at 5:16 pm

    Hi Peter

    Hope to see you at some of the gigs x

    Reply

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