Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Sunderland news Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Where did that time go?

For those of us who were there, it beggars belief that it’s 30 years since David Bowie played his biggest ever North East show.

Much earlier, the pop and rock superstar had performed landmark gigs at Newcastle City Hall in 1972 and 1973, returning for a trio of celebrated shows at the same venue in June 1978,

Later he would grace Newcastle Mayfair in 1991, Newcastle Riverside in 1997, and he was the first major artist to appear at Newcastle Arena in 1995.

But it was his concert at Roker Park, the then home of Sunderland AFC, on this day in 1987 which attracted his biggest North East crowd.

More than 36,000 fans descended for the show on a day which began with sunshine, but ended with torrential rain.

Bowie, in fact, might have performed at St James’ Park had a Chronicle story from March 1983 come to fruition.

We reported how promoter Harvey Goldsmith was considering promoting a summer show at the Toon’s home following the success of the Stones a year earlier - but the plan was scrapped.

It wasn’t until April 1987 that we announced Bowie would be performing in the region.

The 40-year-old star star - resident in Geneva, Switzerland at the time - would appear at Roker Park on his 100-city worldwide Glass Spider tour.

It would be the first, but not last, major rock show hosted by Sunderland football club.

Ticket sales were brisk, and with a 40,000 crowd expected, we told how special car and coach parks would be set up, and late night train services extended. The support acts were confirmed as Big Country and the Screaming Blue Messiahs.

But, come the big day, the show was not without its problems. With Bowie’s Boeing 747 aircraft temporarily grounded in London, the thousands of fans in the ground “were blissfully unaware of last-minute delays”.

Then came the show, with our reviewer reporting: “Bowie descended from the arms of a giant glass spider looking like an ageing teddy boy.

“He took on the role of a circus impresario in charge of a multi-national band and team of wild dancers.

“But the significance of a great deal of the show was lost on much of the crowd...”

The start of the show also saw the singer address the crowd in a now notorious gaffe when he declared: “Good evening, Newcastle.” Oops!

If the stage show was undoubtedly stunning, our reviewer reckoned “the music seemed to leave the fans wanting”.

Bowie had chosen to play a sizeable chunk of new and more obscure material, but “when the audience was treated to some of the star’s hits - Heroes, Fame, Absolute Beginners and China Girl - they went down a storm.”

Towards the end of the show, the superstar again put his foot in it, announcing: “You didn’t let it rain. It’s so nice not to play in the rain”.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Cue a downpour which soaked the large outdoor crowd (myself included).

Nevertheless, the show came to a memorable climax when Bowie played Let’s Dance and Modern Love.

Our review concluded: “The crowds danced and sang with gusto - and I got an impression of what a great night it could have been.”

And with that, David Bowie was gone, leaving behind a churned-up football pitch, thousands of discarded beer bottles, complaints about volume levels, but a host of memories for fans at the show.

He may not have played Ziggy Stardust, but we still loved him...