Robert Plant Newcastle City Hall 24th March 1988
Robert Plant was back on tour in the UK in 1988, calling at Newcastle City Hall again. This time he had a new band, with Doug Boyle on guitar, Chris Blackwell on drums, Phil Johnstone on keyboards and Charlie Jones on bass.
Plant released his fourth album, Now and Zen in February 1988. The album was a return to a blues rock style reminiscent of Zeppelin and even featured Jimmy Page playing guitar on two of the tracks. The single “Tall Cool one” was also released around the same time. The UK tour was named the Non Stop Go tour, and for the first time a few Zeppelin classics were featured as part of the set. For the UK shows Plant played “In the evening”, “Trampled under foot” and “Misty mountain hop”; 
further Zep songs were added as the tour progressed and made its way across to the USA. The Newcastle gig was a great show, I particularly enjoyed it because it was the first time I had seen the old songs performed for some ten years. Support came from the excellent It Bites who were on top form and played the classic “Calling All The Heroes”.
Setlist (something like): Helen of Troy; Little by little; Billy’s revenge; In the evening; In the mood; Heaven Knows; Big log; Dimples; Trampled under foot; Tall cool one; Misty mountain hop; Other arms; Break on through (the Doors classic featured as an encore on several nights of the tour).
Thanks to John for the picture of his poster from the Non Stop Go tour.
Archive for the ‘It Bites’ Category
11 Feb
Robert Plant Newcastle City Hall 24th March 1988
17 May
It Bites North East gigs in the 1980s
It Bites North East gigs in the 1980s
Yesterday I wrote about the Icicle Works. In my mind I have It Bites catalogued alongside them. They were both bands that I was quite keen on in the 1980s, saw quite a few times with mates, and yet I’ve lost touch with them since. Their musical styles were quite different however. It Bites were much more straightforward rock, albeit on the progier side of classic rock. 
I saw them headline two or three times in the 80s, and also recall seeing them support Robert Plant at Newcastle City Hall. Their hit single Calling All The Heroes, and an earlier single All in Red were great favourites of mine at the time. The band has recently reformed and I caught the end of their set at the Prog Rock festival at the Magnum Centre a few weeks ago. Their music is an interesting mix of rock, pop, prog with a tinge of funk, and they hail from neighbouring Cumbria.
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