When Bruce “Springsteen bossed it at St James’ Park

IT was the decade when stadium rock arrived in Newcastle for the first time.

- DAVID MORTON

In 1982, The Rolling Stones became the first major act to perform at St James’ Park. Two years later, it was the turn of Bob Dylan and in 1986, Freddie Mercury and Queen lit up the home of the Toon with a stunning performance.

On this day 40 years ago, meanwhile, 35-year-old American superstar Bruce Springsteen stopped off in the midst of his Born In The USA world tour to play the first of two sold-out shows that have become the stuff of legend.

Nearly four million fans would watch ‘The Boss’ during his sprawling global jaunt, and 76,000 of those turned out on Tyneside on the nights of June 4 and June 5, 1985, netting more than £1m. It would be the star’s first return to Newcastle since appearing at the City Hall in May 1981.

Tickets had gone on sale at St James’ on May 1 and lengthy queues instantly formed to snap them up. The ticket price - £14.50 - was considered hefty at the time, but as student Duncan Reid, 18, told a reporter: “It's worth it for Bruce Springsteen.”