The Police Gateshead Stadium 1982
Support Acts: U2, The Beat, Gang Of Four, Lords Of The New Church.
Sting: “Seven years ago I left this town and I said I would make it. It’s nice to come back and make you part of the success.”
Another one day event headlined by The Police. This one was local to me (no three hour drive home; great 🙂 ). The weather was ok, dull but no major rain problems. Attendance was estimated at around 12,000; well below the capacity, and there was lots of empty space in the stadium. The Police were good, but for me and most of he crowd, the revelation of the day was U2. I had seen U2 a few times before this gig, and thought they were good, but it was at this Gateshead gig that I realised just how powerful a U2 performance could be. Bono was simply sensational; his singing, passion, energy and performance were amazing. He climbed all over the lighting towers and had the entire crowd on his side by the end of their set. The Police found it hard to follow U2, and Sting wasn’t in a particularly good mood; but after a slow start, all those hits got the crowd singing along. The standard Police three piece line-up was augmented by a brass section for this show.
From reviews of the time:
“U2 took advantage of the day’s upswing to reinforce the numerous claims made on their behalf to be ‘the next big thing’. Currently cooped up in the country getting their third album together, they exploded with a barrage of pent-up energy that no amount of pastoral activity can fulfil. “(Sounds)
“The Police were totally predictable. Coming on over a tape to ecstatic applause from the half empty stadium, Sting yodelled and changed basses for every other song in sight …. I can’t say that they played badly – they’re much too professional and slick for that – but their many hits were trotted out with a lack of excitement which suggests that their days as a group may be numbered [interesting comment in hindsight]….The audience loved it – but then at £8.30 a time they could hardly afford not to could they? ” (Record Mirror)
U2 setlist: Gloria; I Threw A Brick; A Day Without Me; An Cat Dubh; Into The Heart; Rejoice; Electric Co; I Will Follow; Out Of Control. Encore(s): A Celebration; 11 O’Clock Tick Tock; The Ocean
The Police setlist: Message In A Bottle; Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic; Walking On The Moon; Spirits In The Material World; Hungry For You; When The World Is Running Down; The Bed’s Too Big Without You; De do do do, De da da da; Demolition Man; Shadows In The Rain; Driven To Tears; Bring On The Night; One World (Not Three); Invisible Sun (with Bono); Roxanne; Don’t Stand So Close To Me; Can’t Stand Losing You; Regatta de Blanc; Be My Girl; Can’t Stand Losing You; So Lonely
Archive for the ‘Gang of Four’ Category
20 Feb
The Police & U2 Gateshead Stadium 31st July 1982
8 Jan
Gang of Four, Pere Ubu & Delta Five Newcastle Mayfair 1981
Gang of Four, Pere Ubu & Delta Five Newcastle Mayfair
This was a pretty strong triple bill, with three influential bands on the same bill. I went along with my mate Norm, and neither of us were very familiar with the material of any of the bands. I’d seen Pere Ubu once before at an early gig at Newcastle University students union in 1978, and remember being fascinated by the very engaging frontman David Thomas. We’d both seen Delta Five at Darlington Arts Centre a years or so earlier. Gang of Four were new to both of us. 
I remember the night as an evening of interesting music. Music critic Paul Morley has described the Gang of Four thus: “The Gang spliced the ferocious precision of Dr. Feelgood’s working-class blues with the testing avant-garde intrigue of Henry Cow”, which summarises their strange blend of music; I would also add an element of funk into the mix. The programme is quite interesting and is in a stapled paper fanzine format. Its very much a home made affair with a few pages produced by each of the three bands, lots of black and while photos and a family tree of the Gang of Four, Delta Five and the Mekons. Quite studenty, with listings of the names of absolutely everyone involved with the tour; the lighting people get a page, as do Minou and Hamish who did the zine, badges, visuals and shirts. Very democratic.Gang of Four were promoting the Solid Gold album at the time of the tour.
Vintagerock's Weblog. 