Wellington’s most unforgettable gigs
Wellington is gearing up for one of the largest concerts in the city’s history. More than 45,000 are expected to pack out Westpac Stadium for tomorrow’s Eminem concert, half of them coming from out of town.
But this is by no means the first time the capital has played host to a big gig: pop, rock and other music stars have been visiting there for more than half a century.
Before the arrival of Westpac Stadium in 1999, venues such as Athletic Park, Queen’s Wharf Events Centre and the Wellington Town Hall had the likes of Elton John, the Eurythmics and Lou Reed grace their stages, while the Cake Tin itself has showcased the talents of everyone from Neil Diamond and Bon Jovi to Guns N’ Roses.
To celebrate Wellington’s big weekend, Stuff has gone back into the archive to pick out 10 of the city’s most memorable music events.
THE BEATLES (Wellington Town Hall, June 22 and 23, 1964)
Beatlemania began from the moment the Fab Four touched down in the capital on June 21 – 7000 screaming fans and 30 police officers greeted them as they stepped off the plane.
So popular were John, Paul, George and Ringo that they performed two concerts each night – at 6pm and 8.30pm. Things apparently didn’t get off to a good start, with John Lennon reportedly unhappy with the sound equipment. Not that it particularly mattered, most people in the audience reported hearing only screams, rather than the music. The venue also had deal with the damage caused by girls stamping on the leather seats with their stilettos.
FLEETWOOD MAC (Athletic Park, March 20, 1980)
If you want proof that the band that now boasts our own Neil Finn has always had internal ructions, then look no further than this infamous evening.
Stevie Nicks recounted to Rolling Stone in 1997 how she and Lindsey Buckingham had ‘‘some kind of a fight’’ onstage.
‘‘He came over – might have kicked me, did something to me, and we stopped the show. He went off, and we all ran at breakneck speed back to the dressing room to see who could kill him first. Christine got to him first, and then I got to him second – the bodyguards were trying to get in the middle of all of us.’’
Although they eventually returned, the crowd began chanting for one of the Kiwi support bands – Street Talk – to take their place instead.
KISS (November 30, Athletic Park, 1980)
It was a bargain. Tickets were just $12.50 and this was the first time the face-painted New York hard rockers, known for their blood spitting, flaming rockets and extravagant stage design, had visited our shores.
This and the Auckland show a few days later were also the last time lead guitarist Ace Frehley would play an entire concert with the band for 16 years.
THE CLASH (Wellington Town Hall, February 7, 1982) Although described by some as the greatest concert they have ever been to, many of those who attended were forced to listen to Joe Strummer and company from the foyer or further away.
Security was so tight for the British punk rockers that only one concertgoer was let into the venue at a time.
Arriving on stage 45 minutes after the advertised start time of 8pm, the band ended up playing three encores with ‘‘the crowd still calling for more as the house lights went on’’, wrote The Dominion’s Irene Gardiner.
DAVID BOWIE (Athletic Park, November 24, 1983)
The Western Springs show two days later might have stolen the headlines because of a recordbreaking crowd but 38,000 also thoroughly enjoyed the delights of The Thin White Duke’s Serious Moonlight Tour in the capital.
‘‘There was a howling southerly, but that didn’t matter when you’re having the time of your life,’’ Radio New Zealand’s Jeremy Ansell recalled, also telling Jesse Mulligan that Bowie stopped the show three times because of problems caused by the venue being overcrowded. ‘‘I distinctly remember him saying, ‘this is madness’.’’
DIRE STRAITS (Athletic Park, December 17, 1991)
The British rock band’s third and final visit to the Berhampore ground was notable for being the last time the venue was used for a big concert.
Around 20,000 gathered to hear Mark Knopfler and the gang but tensions were high as a result of the problems (two stabbings, 54 arrests and plenty of ruined gardens) in the surrounding suburb after a recent AC/DC concert. Just four days before this one, a judge rejected the local residents’ associations bid to stop the event from going ahead.
But while the crowd happily enjoyed themselves despite unseasonable rain, The Dominion’s Bruce Stirling was less impressed with the Philips Compact Disksponsored show. ‘‘A stunning sound system delivered studio quality music in a rugby stadium and the Dire Straits’ hit list came across with all the power, clarity, crispness, and depth of the piece of plastic which sponsored the tour.’’
OASIS (Queens Wharf Events Centre, March 10, 1998)
Even Noel Gallagher admitted the less-than-favourable reviews of their concert was ‘‘probably about right’’.
Fans of the British band were disappointed after a show in which he, brother Liam and the rest of the band, as The Evening Post’s Mike Houlahan put it, ‘‘arrived, had a row, and left again’’.
‘‘In between though, this was the classic game of two halves. Searing, stunning moments of rock genius meets bog-standard bar band desperately trying to keep time and tune.’’
Some blamed the problems on a poor sound system but Noel had other theories. ‘‘No, it was Liam, he was drunk.’’
ROBBIE WILLIAMS (Westpac Stadium, November 16, 2001) As part of his Sing When You’re