Let's honour legendary band
Lindisfarne
Oct 30 2003
By Paul Mcmillan, The Evening Chronicle
For more than 30 years they've entertained millions and put the region on the world's musical map.
Overcoming the death of songwriter Alan Hull and a changing line-up, Geordie rockers Lindisfarne have remained as important a part of the region's cultural landscape as the Tyne Bridge.
And now, ahead of the band's final concert in the Newcastle Opera House on Saturday, The Chronicle launches its Honour Our Legends campaign for civic leaders to grant Lindisfarne the freedom of the city.
The honour is bestowed on those who have enhanced the city or its reputation and Lindisfarne more than meets that criteria.
We want the group's name to be listed in a roll of honour which includes Geordie icons like Jackie Milburn, Alan Shearer and Newcastle United etched on to the wall of the Banqueting Hall in the civic centre.
John Allett, who runs a Lindisfarne fanzine, is one of those behind our campaign.
Mr Allett, who lives in Warwickshire, has e-mailed each city councillor asking for the legendary band to be recognised but said although there was a positive response, there has been little action.
He added: "Tim Healy refers to them as the Geordie Beatles. Elvis Costello and Chris Rea, along with many others, rate Alan Hull as one of this country's finest songwriters and who would dispute this?
"The thought-provoking Winter Song, Lady Eleanor, Meet Me On The Corner and Run For Home are all classics.
"I, along with many other fans, have followed this band since they started. To see them live is to witness professional musicians and fine songwriting craftsmen.
"This unpretentious band continues to act as ambassadors for Newcastle and I think its about time their home town rewarded their favourite sons."
Tears are expected for the group's historic final show but the current band members say the time is right to bring one of Tyneside's most successful groups to an end. In a statement released earlier this month, Lindisfarne said: "We are in danger of treading water and to continue performing under those circumstances is not an option.
"We have always maintained that when the band stopped producing valid new music, we would call it a day."
The night is set to be a far cry from when the original group burst on to the scene in December 1969 with a line-up which included frontman Alan Hull, guitarist Simon Cowe, Rod Clements on bass, vocalist and harmonica player Ray Jackson and drummer Ray Laidlaw.
"When our first LP came out, part of the deal was to give the rights to one of the songs to the record company. We chose Fog on the Tyne because we didn't think much would come of it. How wrong can you be?"
The group split in two in 1973. Ray Laidlaw, Simon Cowe and Rod Clements formed Jack The Lad while Alan Hull and Ray Jackson recruited new members for what became known as Lindisfarne Mark II.
In 1976, the original members of Lindisfarne took to the City Hall stage again for a "one-off" Christmas concert. The festive shows proved so popular they became a traditional fixture and lasted until 1993.
After Alan Hull's death two years later, Lindisfarne rediscovered its blues and folk roots and they continued to play sell-out gigs across Europe.
As the curtain comes down on the group, our campaign aims to see the band's appeal recorded in the city they love.
* Don't miss tomorrow night's Chronicle to find out how you can help our campaign
Oct 31 2003
By Paul Mcmillan, The Evening Chronicle
Here's your chance to get Lindisfarne's home city to honour the music legends.
As the band prepares for its final gig tomorrow, after 33 years in the business, we want Newcastle City Council to give them official recognition for putting the North East on the musical map.
The Honour Our Legend's campaign wants to see the lads made honorary freemen of the city, an accolade reserved for those who have enhanced Newcastle.
Sign the coupon below and send it council leader, Tony Flynn. Nominations for freemen are then discussed by the ruling Labour group before being put to a vote before the full council.
Our campaign, launched last night, has already received messages of support from fans across the country and even the USA.
Scottish ex-pat and now New Jersey resident, Bill Elrick, said: "They have been the best ambassadors for the city you could have ever asked for."
Lindisfarne drummer, Ray Laidlaw, said the group would appreciate the accolade but are remaining calm. He said: "It's something we have heard before. If it happens it'll be nice but if it does not I will not be offended. We have not been shy to say where we are from and why we like it."
Ray admits tomorrow's show at the Newcastle Opera House, which has seen tickets change hands for between £160 to £240 on the Internet, will be emotional.
He added: "I want to thank the people who bought our records for the past 33 years, without them it would not have happened."
NSign the coupon and send it to Coun Tony Flynn, Civic Centre, B Newcastle, NE99 1RD.
Nov 3 2003
By Sam Wonfor Arts And Entertainment Correspondent, The Journal
It was an emotional end to "an adventure" for Lindisfarne on Saturday night as they played their last ever gig at Newcastle's Opera House.
But for more than a thousand fans who packed the venue to the rafters, the show marked the closing of a 33-year-long era.
Since The Journal exclusively revealed the North-East's most treasured music makers were calling it a day, the tickets for their farewell concert had become the hottest in town.
And the anticipation in the foyer before the band walked on to stage to a standing ovation was palpable as fans excitedly reminisced about their decades of Lindisfarne experiences and predicted what they were going to see and hear on this, their last ever encounter.
Sheila Robinson, 53, of Durham Road, Low Fell, was one of the hundreds who queued to snap up a selection of merchandise which was on sale before the historic performance - and she had her 13-year-old son, John, by her side.
She said: "I didn't think I was going to get a ticket and I would have been devastated. But John and his dad surprised me last week. I can't believe this is going to be the last time I'll see them performing live - but I'm sure it's going to be a terrific show. They won't let us down."
It was a prediction which came true - and lead singer Billy "Mitch" Mitchell told everyone to expect a bit of a treat.
"Oh yes. We're up for it," he announced after a rousing rendition of No Time To Lose - and there certainly wasn't. "We're going to do a bit of a longer show for you tonight," Mitch added, "so anyone whose got babysitters at home - you better give them a ring and tell them you're going to be late."
"We've brought the kids with us," shouted one lifelong fan - demonstrating the generation-spanning appeal of the band who have sewn themselves into the musical heritage of the region and played themselves into the hearts of their thousands of fans.
Since their arrival on the scene in 1970, Lindisfarne have consistently attracted audiences of all ages and have given the region a string of anthems - more of those later.
When the band's poetic songwriter and founding member Alan Hull tragically died eight years ago aged 50, the remaining members of the band decided to carry on and recruited Mitch (one of popular Tyneside comedy duo Maxie and Mitch) to take over as lead singer.
Since then, they have produced two acclaimed studio albums and have established themselves as crowd-pulling regulars on the tour and festival circuit in the UK, the US and Europe.
And on Saturday night they did so much more than demonstrate why this has been the case.
From the moment the first chord was played, Mitch, along with founding members Ray Laidlaw and Rod Clements, and Dave Hull-Denholm and Ian Thomson who have made up the band since 1995, had the crowd in the palms of their hands.
It was clear the band were giving their all, perfectly demonstrating the clear reason behind their longevity - and the crowd were determined to match them.
Every song was cheered like an encore, and a hauntingly brilliant rendition of Lady Eleanor from Mitch was greeted by a standing ovation, which was extended following the first of many mentions and tributes to Alan - "the one and only James Alan Hull".
When Lindisfarne told The Journal they were putting a full stop at the end of their story last month they hinted that despite critical acclaim for their last album, Promenade, and their continued popularity, they had begun to feel that their "creative spark" may have dimmed.
They said: "We are in danger of treading water and to continue performing under those circumstances is not an option. We have always maintained that when the band stopped producing valid new music, we would call it a day."
But that sentiment was hard to swallow on Saturday as their newest recordings such as This Guitar Never Lies, Remember Tomorrow and Under The Promenade blended in with the old classics seamlessly before Alan Hull's Statues and Liberties brought the first half to a close.
Given that the first half had got the party started in admirable fashion, the second half had a lot to live up to - but there was a general feeling in the Opera House bar that we were about to witness something special.
Song title after song title was being listed by all, sundry and their best mate as the ones they hoped would be included in the final act - and most of them were covered.
The 1972 top 10 hit Meet Me On The Corner, welcomed everyone back to their seats (not that they sat on them) and was followed by signature tune after signature tune.
An emotionally-charged Winter Song was perfectly performed by Dave (who incidentally married Alan's daughter) and Ian - and the same accolade could be given to every one that followed.
January Song, The Road To Kingdom Come, and Jubilee Corner were just some of the highlights which built up to the first climax to the show. As Mr Laidlaw provided his it-could-only-be Ray bass drum intro, Run For Home was greeted by near euphoria - and the Opera House's proprietors must have had more than a few cold sweats at the prospect of losing their roof.
As per usual, the final chorus was given to the crowd, who obliged in fine voice, and were told by Mitch: "It's never been better."
Then they were gone ... but they soon returned following the audience's five-minute H'Way The Lads plea, with the ones they couldn't leave out.
Fog on the Tyne was a triumph, only to be topped by the final farewell, provided by Clear White Light - preceded by a heart-felt thank you to band members past and present and to the fans who had travelled the journey alongside them all. As the five men joined hands and took their many bows, there didn't seem to be a dry eye on stage - to say nothing of the tear-soaked stalls. And then the lights came up.
"Words fail me," said Ray as he came off stage.
"We had a fantastic time up there. We knew it was going to be special but that was just amazing.
"If the audience enjoyed it half as much as we did, I'll be happy."
Lindisfarne were gone, but one thing is certain ... they will never be forgotten