The Rolling Stones Newcastle City Hall 4th March 1971
Memories from a long long time ago
I was 14 years old when the Rolling Stones 1971 UK tour took place. I’d read about the tour in the music press and SO wanted to see them. Incredible as it seems now, this was billed as the “Farewell to England” tour, and anticipation was high for these shows, all of which had sold out immediately. I was determined that somehow I would get to see them when the tour opened on March 4th at Newcastle City Hall. There were two shows at the City Hall, an early evening show at 6.30pm and a later show at 9pm. I persuaded my parents that I would go along on the night to the early show, and see if I could pick up a ticket outside.
So the day of the show arrived. I rushed home after school, quickly had something to eat, and set off on the bus to Sunderland, and then on the train to Newcastle. I arrived at the City Hall with a little time to spare, and approached a few shady looking guys who were loitering around outside the venue. Some of them did have tickets to sell, but they wanted way above face value, which was between 75p (or 15 shillings) to £1. I only had a couple of pounds, which I had managed to scrape together from my pocket money, and their prices were way above what I could afford.
Time was moving close to 6.30pm and I was beginning to lose all hope of seeing my heroes. I then heard a couple of guys talking as they crosssed the road to the venue, and one of them said to the other that he had a spare ticket. I went straight up to them and asked them if I could buy it, and offered him £1 for the 75p ticket. To my joy he agreed to sell it to me, the deal was done, and I headed straight into the City Hall. My seat in Row AA was towards the back downstairs, but was still a pretty good view. A few moments later, the support band took to the stage, which to my surprise and delight, was The Groundhogs, who had just released the Split album. The Groundhogs set was short, probably around 30 minutes, and consisted of tracks from Split, including Cherry Red, Groundhog and Split Part 2, as well as earlier songs Garden and Eccentric Man. This show started a lifelong obsession with The Groundhogs, as well as the Stones, for me.
After a short interval, a guy took to the stage and introduced “The greatest rock n roll band in the world: The Rolling Stones” and we were off and into Jumping Jack Flash! I’m not exaggerating to say in that moment my life changed for ever. This was the concert that finally and totally hooked me on rock music and rock concerts; and there was no going back for me from that point on. Mick Jagger was wearing the same pink satin suit and cap that he wore onstage for a recent Top of the Pops performance of Brown Sugar. Keith looked great, as cool as ever, playing a perspex see through Zemaitas guitar. New guy Mick Taylor looked too young and pretty to be a Stone. Bill and Charlie looked like a rhythm section should. The band were accompanied by Bobby Keys on saxophone, Jim Price on trumpet and Nicky Hopkins on piano. The crowd seemed surprisingly reserved to me, with everyone remaining in their seats throughout the show. The Stones were great, and it was a dream come true for me to actually see them. Jagger was amazing. I can still remember the menace of Midnight Rambler as he whipped the stage with this belt. I travelled home on the train still buzzing about the concert, part of me not quite believing that it had actually happened, that I had really seen the Rolling Stones. I couldn’t wait to get home and tell my parents , who had doubted that I would mange to get into the concert. And I also couldn’t wait to get to school the next morning so that I could tell all my friends, and brag about the whole thing! Setlist (something like): Jumping Jack Flash; Live With Me; Dead Flowers; Stray Cat Blues; Love In Vain; Midnight Rambler; Bitch; Honky Tonk Women; Satisfaction; Little Queenie; Brown Sugar Encore: Street Fighting Man. I’ll continue to reflect upon my Stones concert experiences over the coming weeks. I really do hope that they do tour, as rumoured in this their 50th year.
8 Jan
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by Push on January 12, 2012 at 1:46 pm
I’d loved to have seen the Stones in 1971 – especially supported by The Groundhogs!! “Garden” is one of my all-time favourite songs.
Posted by Diane Finn on January 4, 2013 at 11:13 pm
Great memories, we queued for 6 hours and got the last seats way up in the gods for the evening gig – the Stones were amazing and the vision that was Mick in silk is a lasting memory. My daughter went to see them a couple of years ago – makes me real happy that my kids share my love of 60/70’s bands.
Posted by Ronnie Howells on December 16, 2017 at 5:37 pm
On the day after the gig I was working at Wynyard Hall near Stockton-on-Tees, the family seat of Lord Alistair Londonderry, who was well know to mix with the Beatles, Stones etc. I was eighteen and working (decorating) in one of the bedrooms above the hall’s main entrance when a cream Mercedes pulled up and who should climb out but Mick Jagger, Bianca and Charley Watts. By this time I was hanging out of the window with my mouth open. Mick said to me, ‘Is Alastair in?’ I mumbled something back about having to ring the doorbell,’ By this time the door had been opened and as they went in, they each waved and smiled at me. (I think this must have been something to do with my shoulder length hair and the fact that I was wearing a pair of Pete Townshend white overalls.) I spent the next few days saying to myself ‘Mick Jagger actually spoke to me.’ – Unforgetable.
Posted by Mark Taylor on July 25, 2018 at 7:56 am
I was at the later evening show, and I remember towards the end, the PA developed a fault which caused an extremely loud screeching noise on top of the music. It was very unpleasant, and I found it difficult to stay in the room. A lot of other people left, I assume for that reason, so for the 15 mins the venue was half empty. Does anyone else remember this?
Posted by Mark Taylor on July 25, 2018 at 7:57 am
I should have said “for the *last* 15mins the venue was half empty”
Posted by Seven30Five on February 15, 2025 at 11:52 am
Hello Peter,
It’s a joy reading your reviews. Truly appreciate you sharing your stories online.
I see that you attended the Stones Newcastle 1971 show.
There is a big mystery surrounding these 2 shows. No audio recording is known to exist of both shows. The mystery is the Stones playing wild horses and/or cant you hear me knocking at one or both newcastle shows.
Do you remember the Stones playing these two songs? Or remember that they did not play them? Maybe you know someone that attended the evening show?
Any kind of information about the newcastle shows is appreciated. Thank you.
Posted by vintagerock on February 15, 2025 at 1:26 pm
Hi Tim
I am pleased that you enjoy reading my blog. I am afraid that after all this time I have few recollections as to what the Rolling Stones played that night. Any setlist is something I picked up from the Internet or a forum somewhere. And sorry I don’t know anyone who went to the late show. As a 14-year-old I was simply sitting in awe of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in particular.
Sorry I can’t help any more Peter