The Police Newcastle Mayfair 14 June 1979
The next time I saw The Police was at Newcastle Mayfair. By then they had hit the charts with Can’t Stand Losing You, So Lonely and Roxanne, and had built up a strong following. They were on the brink of the mega-stardom which was to follow, starting later that year when they hit No 1 in the UK with Message in a Bottle and Walking on the Moon. I was spoilt for choice this night. Dire Straits were playing the City Hall, and The Police at the Mayfair. Which gig to go to? Well I tried to go to both, as I often did in those days. So my mate and I saw Dire Straits at the City Hall, and then raced down to the Mayfair for the Police. I’ve already written about the Dire Straits gig which was sold out and great; this was the first time they had played the City Hall and it was at the time of Sultans of Swing. 
For once the timings worked. We arrived at the Mayfair in time for the Police’s set having missed support acts The Cramps and Bobby Henry. The Mayfair was packed, and the Police were just great. Sting was on top form and was getting heavily into his Yo..Yo..Yo.. reggae cum jazz / scat singing at the time. It was very clear that this band was much more than a punk band, and were a great pop act. I always found it strange going into a gig late. Its like arriving at a party where everyone has been drinking all night and you come along sober. When we entered the Mayfair it was packed, hot, sweaty and the Police were just coming on stage. Sting was wearing his boiler suit, Andy was chopping out some great guitar rhythms and Stewart was at the back pounding away on his drums. A great night. The next time I saw the Police was when they returned to play two triumphant shows at the City Hall.
24 May
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by Mitch on May 24, 2013 at 8:59 am
I thoroughly enjoy reading your daily blog. You’ve certainly been to some great gigs – the recent blog on the Iron Butterfly / Yes / Dada concert sounds a cracker !
I was at The Mayfair for this one and I remember The Police played ALL of their debut LP apart from the final track Masoko Tanga – including Can’t Stand Losing You….twice.
Set List was – Can’t Stand Losing You, Truth Hits Everybody, So Lonely, Fall Out, Born In The Fifties, Hole In My Life, Beds Too Big Without You, Be My Girl-Sally, Peanuts, Message In A Bottle, Roxanne, Next To You.
Encores – Landlord, Can’t Stand Losing You, No Time This Time.
Posted by Greg Turnbull on January 15, 2017 at 2:44 pm
Yes, amazing to hear one track twice, maybe they were short of material? Great show though; the OP didn’t miss anything with the Cramps – all that spit really put me off!
Posted by vintagerock on May 24, 2013 at 9:45 am
Many thanks Mitch and thanks for the setlist Peetr
Posted by Richard Heraghty on November 30, 2015 at 3:28 pm
You missed the support …the Cramps!!! Ps Sting give me the £1 to buy the program picture which i still have😍
Posted by vintagerock on November 30, 2015 at 4:05 pm
Sadly yes I did miss the Cramps that evening. But hey! Sting is a friendly guy! Cheers Peter
Posted by Tim Parsons on October 25, 2020 at 9:03 am
I’m often asked for the best show I ever promoted, the answer is, probably, one of the best nights, having put on both The Police and Dire Straits that same day. We all had a great after show party at the Mayfair, we’d only been MCP since the start of 1978, it really felt we were flying when we could be involved in such iconic nights!
Posted by vintagerock on October 25, 2020 at 11:21 am
Hi Tim good man! Many thanks for giving me so many happy memories. Happy days Peter