Record-breaking rocker in 1992
WHEN Bryan Adams walked out at Gateshead International Stadium on this day 25 years ago, it was on the back of one particular monster hit single.
A year earlier during, the summer of 1991, the Canadian rocker’s (Everything I Do) I Do It For You had hit the top of the UK singles chart and stayed there for 16 weeks, which is still a record.
Now on a Tyneside Sunday - and supported by Squeeze, Extreme and Little Angels - Adams pulled off a polished performance of stadium rock at a time Gateshead was attracting the likes of Gun ‘N Roses, Dire Straits, and Simply Red.
The crowd were enjoying themselves doing a Mexican Wave when the 32-year-old star hit the stage for the latest outing on his mammoth Waking Up The World Tour.
Our reviewer enthusiastically declared: “Clad in black T-shirt and denim jeans, Adams brought no frills, glitz or special effects. They had come to see him perform and that’s exactly what he did.”
The songs came thick and fast.
Opening with House Arrest, Adams followed up with Kids Wanna Rock, Can’t Stop This Thing We Started, Cuts Like a Knife, It’s Only Love (minus Tina Turner), and Heaven.
Then, “not surprsingly it was his hit (Everything I Do) I Do It For You which brought the biggest ovation.
“The Robin Hood soundtrack spent weeks at number one, and sold six million worldwide.”
Away from the music, the three-quarters-full stadium witnessed one fan successfully propose to his girlfriend on the stage, while a 10-year-old lad got his knee trapped in a metal fence outside, and had to be freed by firemen.
Encores including Summer of ‘69 and Straight From the Heart wound up a successful show.
And Bryan Adams would be back at the same venue two years later, rather inconveniently on the same night as the 1994 World Cup final!