Musical memories from South Shields' past

After urging readers to cherry-pick their favourites, you took to Facebook in droves to tell us about the time you saw Billy Ocean, Jethro Tull, Bad Manners and more performing here.

Lorraine Thompson remembers the Billy Ocean concert.

“I recall that day often, special memories. Bad Manners at the amphitheatre too, the atmosphere for both was amazing.”

Allan Fada recalls: “Bad Manners at the sea front, many years ago, way back in my skinhead days”, while Karen Ratcliffe posts: “Billy Ocean was spectacular. Loved Go West and Proclaimers too.”

Craig Seago comments: “The Feeling were the best I’ve seen in Shields, and UB40 the worst.

Les Payn hails Jethro Tull who played Gypsies Green in 2010, “the last gig ever in the North East”.

There was praise for an ex-Spandau Ballet man from Susan Smith, who took to social media to sing the praise of “Tony Hadley in the Bents Park, a few years ago. Amazing!”.

Meanwhile, Dianne Frampton took to Facebook to say: “My best memories were at the Amphitheatre, really family oriented. The best act was Danceclass.”

Marion Nicholson is in no doubt who her favourite is: “Rick Astley, Bents Park, without a doubt!”, while Glyn Ingram gives a shout out to The Shamen at WR’s”.

Steph Callaghan posted: “Daz Pilmer me at Bros concert ha ha xxx”, while Sarah Whitelaw saluted Go West or 10CC.

Looking at the large photo on the page, Craig Paul Shelmerdine asks: “Sarah Brown is that you at the very front?”, while Gillian McKenzie asks Michelle Robinson: “Is this your auntie Sharon?”

Back to your favourite bands and Mandy Andrianna champions Billy Ocean while Lesley Alderson suggests “The Shakes, supporting UB40 at Bents Park in 2016.”

John Ho took to social media to announce: “I really enjoyed Rick Astley’s performance”, and Debra Pratt puts forward “Les Mckeown’s Bay City Rollers, about 20 years ago”.

Claire Rutter enjoyed seeing “The Feeling, Rick Astley, Jason Donovan, and, of course, our very own Joe Mcelderry.”

There’s a big thumbs for the Inspiral Carpets at Temple Park, from John Brown, while Mark Langley hails “Bad Manners at the Amphitheatre, epic!”.

Sylvia Baker (nee Smith) enjoyed The Proclaimers while Maureen Davison preferred Billy Ocean.

There was a vote for the Bootleg Beatles and Texas, “both great”, from Blayne O’Brien, while Michele Howard recalls, “The Drifters! Same day as the Tall Ships, cracking day.”

Finally, Colin Reay rounds off with “Johnny Cash, a true legend, mid 80s”.

Other than the professional musicians, which local amateur/part-time bands do you remember from the past?

Why not drop me a line with a few suggestions and I’ll see if we have any photos of them in the archives.

Meanwhile, a photo taken in the 1980s, showing staff and pupils of St Oswald’s CofE Junior Mixed and Infants School, celebrating its 101st anniversary, prompted Joyce Hamilton to get in touch. She wrote: “The St Oswald’s 101 photograph was done 1987/88, both of my daughters are on it.”