For many people, they were the glory days of live music in Leeds.
Roundhay Park staged a string of massive outdoor concerts in the 1980s by the likes of The Rolling Stones, Madonna and Michael Jackson.
Yet none came bigger or better than rock superstar Bruce Springsteen’s show at Roundhay on July 7, 1985.
Memories of that sizzling summer gig were stirred yesterday when the man they call ‘The Boss’ confirmed a concert later this year at the new Leeds Arena.
And one of those reminiscing about their day out in 1985 was Ian De-Whytell, owner of Leeds-based Crash Records and a long-time champion of the arena project.
He told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “There were some fantastic Roundhay Park concerts in the 1980s.
“It’s a shame that it is hardly ever used for big outdoor shows nowadays.
“The Bruce Springsteen gig in the summer of 1985 was an incredible event in a wonderful location on a perfect summer day. It was the Born In The USA tour so that album featured prominently in the setlist, but with Bruce you always get value for money which meant he was on stage for about four hours.
“I managed to get a great spot just to the left of the pavilion and a perfect view.
“The Boss of course had the crowd eating out of his hands from the moment he walked onto the stage at 4pm.
“He was the most dynamic stage performer back then and still is.
“I still have my ticket from that Roundhay Park concert and look forward to holding a Leeds Arena ticket in my hand.
“It is going to be the most amazing night, I can’t wait.”
The YEP’s next-day review of the 80,000-capacity Roundhay show proves that Ian isn’t looking back through rose-tinted spectacles.
Our man Howard Corry wrote: “As a rock concert it had everything.
“As an intensely-moving, uplifting, emotionally-exciting experience it was unmatched.
“The sight of 80,000 people dancing in the park was awesome.
“No one but Springsteen could have held the attention of such a huge crowd for so long.”
The Boss’s set at Roundhay included Glory Days, Cadillac Ranch, Dancing In The Dark and Born To Run as well as a frenetic final encore of Rockin’ All Over The World.
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