The Doors Newcastle City Hall 1972
Support from Sandy Denny and Hawkwind
This was a pretty impressive line-up when I look back on it. I went along with my friend John, largely to see The Doors. This was post-Jim Morrison, at a point where the three remaining members were touring without any replacement singer. The line-up was Ray Manzarek – keyboards, vocals; John Densmore – drums, percussion; Robby Krieger – guitar, vocals; plus touring musicians Jack Conrad – bass guitar, and Bobby Ray Henson – rhythm guitar, back vocals, percussion. Ray and Robby took vocal duties, and they were promoting their recent album Other Voices. The advertised support act was Sandy Denny, who was touring as a solo artist, having left Fairport Convention a few years earlier. Hawkwind weren’t advertised at all, and were a nice surprise on the night. We arrived at the show not late but were suprised to find a band on stage that was obviously not Sandy Denny. At first we had no idea who they were, but were impressed by them and realised we were watching something which was quite weird and pretty special. Then they played Master of the Universe, which was in heavy rotataion at the local Mecca at the time, and we realised who we were watching. This was the classic Hawkwind, with naked dancer Stacia, Lemmy, Dik Mik, Dave Brock, Nik Turner, Del Dettmar, Simon King, and possibly Robert Calvert. There were certainly lots of them on stage. I recall great lights, a strong smell of joss sticks in the hall (the band were giving them out to the audience) and a set of great songs, which blended from one into the next. This was pre the release of Silver Machine, but I suspect the song will have featured in the set at that time. We were both blown away by Hawkwind and remain life long fans of the band to this day. Sandy Denny sat at a grand piano centre stage; I can’t remember what she played, but I suspect it was taken from her solo album Sandy which was released in 1972. The Doors were OK, but many of the songs were new and unfamiliar to us. The only old songs they played were Light My Fire and Love Me Two Times. We were both disappointed that they didn’t play Riders on the Storm. A great gig, and a great introduction to Hawkwind, who were at their height at that time. And all for 75p!
17 Sep
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by Stu Wheatman on July 18, 2020 at 7:18 am
Hi Peter – I’m researching and writing about The Doors and interested in chatting with people who saw them live. The post-Morrison band is also of interest and, as Newcastle is my home town, really keen to talk to you about your experience. Let me know if this would be of interest to you – much appreciated.
Stu
Posted by craig platt on January 10, 2023 at 4:39 am
WHO are you? Get it? I was in Kenton School then, and we were at ALL of the same concerts. The night after Jethro Tull played Thick as a Brick for one of the first times I was there, and next day I was backstage warming up for a orchestra gig and the dressing room was FULL of liquor bottles. To be honest, I was appalled…..
Posted by vintagerock on January 10, 2023 at 12:46 pm
Hi Craig we must share similar musical tastes! These were happy days my friend Peter
Posted by Craig Platt on January 11, 2023 at 4:19 am
So great to hear from you! I’d love to chat further sometime, but this was beyond close to home for me. e.g. Were you at Roxy Music on their debut tour? No clue of exact date but ’72 or ’73?
Posted by vintagerock on January 11, 2023 at 12:41 pm
I am afraid I foolishly missed that one as I saw Roxy music at the Lincoln Festival in early 1972 and figured I didn’t need to see them again so soon. Big mistake Craig. Another regret Peter