5 memorable North East gigs

Times Square Weekender kicks off next Friday the 29th July, bringing some amazing acts like Fatboy Slim, Maximo Park and Ocean Colour Scene to Newcastle! We are sure it’s going to be a weekend you will never forget, and here’s another five unforgettable performances from the North East – were you at any of these?

Oasis spark riot at Riverside club

Oasis were making their third appearance at Newcastle’s Riverside club when football tension between the Manchester City-supporting Liam and Noel Gallagher and Newcastle United fans in the audience began to rise.

An audience member tried to climb on stage, then stumbled on to Noel, causing the guitarist to accidentally hit himself with his instrument, inflicting a cut across his face.

Noel Gallagher then shouted in to the mic “no-one hits our kid” as the crowd chanted “soft as *”, and the band stormed off stage enraged.

Afterwards it is reported that other band members jumped on top of the man and allegedly hit him, before the audience joined in and it escalated to a full scale riot.

The band refused to return to the stage despite only playing five songs so far and fans had swarmed the stage. The group managed to escape to their waiting van, but were followed by angry fans. Oasis later issued a statement, apologizing for ending the show early, but said that Gallagher had been bleeding heavily.

The statement read “The actions of one lunatic have ruined it for the rest,”

Whitney Houston disappoints fans at the Arena

Fans were not impressed by Whitney Houston’s performance at The Metro Radio Arena 22nd April 2010. The singers performed her world renowned classic “I will always love you”, and her vocals didn’t seem to be up to her usual par. Fans cheered their support, but many people voiced complaints after the concert, which came with a hefty ticket price.

Evolution Festival

Evolution Festival, or “Evo” you many called it, brought music lovers all over the UK to Newcastle's iconic Quayside. Fans came from near and far to enjoy the festival which featured multiple stages to cater to all genres of music, including the Emerging stage, which hosted the best of the North-East's unsigned talent. Evolution hosted the liked of The Wombats, Dizzee Rascal, Maximo Park, Kate Nash and Ellie Goulding.

Meat Loaf

Rock singer Meat Loaf cut short his Newcastle gig, telling fans he may never perform again. It is believed the singer was suffering from inflammation of the larynx.

Meat Loaf looked to be struggling throughout the gig, with his two female backing singers carrying the vocals through most of the songs.

The 60-year-old struggled to reach certain notes and was having problems remembering his own lyrics

But when the intro to his song Paradise began, he announced: “This is the last show I may ever do in my life”. He sung the first line and stopped. “I can no longer continue,” he stated to the stunned crowd. He continued: “I take off my coat and thank you for 30 years,” before leaving the stage.

The performer had been hinting at quitting touring for some time. A doctor had been called to the Arena earlier in the day and paramedics were on-hand with oxygen if needed during the gig.

Meat Loaf recently collapsed on stage at a gig in Canada:

Feel The Noise Festival

Metro Radio's Feel The Noise festival has brought many a crowd to their feet, showcasing some of the best known names in the pop world at Newcastle Racecourse each year, with ticket prices from only a few quid!

Thousands of people gathered to enjoy the acts which included; Blue, Sugababes, Atomic Kitten, Pop Idols Gareth Gates and Darius, Daniel Bedingfield and Hear'Say who wowed an estimated 40,000 fans in 2001.

Other acts include Honeyz who played at the festival after only recently rejoining as a group. The girl band played their newest single at the time – “I Don’t Know” to a pleased audience.