Explore nostalgic moments from Newcastle in 1985 through 10 captivating archive photographs
Newcastle: Back in the summer of 1985, something special happened at St James’ Park. It wasn’t a football match, but a concert by the legendary Bruce Springsteen. Can you believe it? He played two sold-out shows there, and the energy was electric!
Tickets were just £14.50, which is a steal for a rock superstar. This was during his Born In The USA tour, and fans were buzzing. It was his first time back in Newcastle since a memorable gig at City Hall in 1981.
Both nights saw around 35,000 fans singing along to hits like Born In The USA and Dancing In The Dark. The Chronicle even said it was like a “shock to the system” when Springsteen and his band hit the stage. What a moment!
We’ve got some great photos from that time, showing fans who were lucky enough to be there on June 5. But that’s not all; the photos also capture other scenes from Newcastle 40 years ago.
For instance, Newcastle United players were gearing up for an end-of-season tournament in New Zealand. One of those players was an 18-year-old Paul Gascoigne, who would soon become a football legend.
Meanwhile, shoppers were bustling around Northumberland Street, long before it became fully pedestrianized. And at the Mayfair Ballroom, folks were celebrating VE Day’s 40th anniversary, a significant moment in history.
In the wider world, 1985 was a big year for music. The Live Aid concert in July had fans from Newcastle heading to London to see icons like Queen and U2. It was a massive event, raising money for famine relief in Ethiopia.
That year also saw the end of the miners’ strike, which had a huge impact on many communities in the North East. Plus, it was a tough time for football, with disasters at Heysel Stadium and Valley Parade.
On the TV front, shows like EastEnders and Miami Vice made their debut, while movies like Back To The Future were all the rage. And let’s not forget the music charts, where Madonna and Tears For Fears were topping the lists.
These 10 photographs really take you back to what life was like in Newcastle 40 years ago. It’s a trip down memory lane!
