We are taking a look back at how The Rolling Stones’ Leeds Roundhay Park gig set a new precedent for outdoor concerts.
Back in 1982, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and co brought the curtain down on a non-stop two-year world tour with their performance in Leeds. A massive crowd of 120,000 Stones fans packed into the bowl at Roundhay Park.
The July 25 show changed the way massive music gigs were staged in the UK and across the world because of its sheer scale. It then started a period where the Leeds park would welcome megastars such as Michael Jackson and Madonna - who both performed there later in the 1980s.
The Stones played on a stage the size of an aircraft carrier and the rock legends arrived in Leeds with a few demands. Firstly, they wanted the concert’s perimeter fence repainting because they weren’t happy with the shade.
While, two days before the huge event they insisted on a Japanese water garden, complete with coy carp, being created backstage.
You can find out more about what happened in this One Show feature below
On the day, everything went swimmingly with the adoring audience treated to Stones classics.
While, they also produced the odd cover or two with tributes to The Temptations, The Miracles and Eddie Cochran.
You can see the full setlist below.
Setlist
Under My Thumb
When the Whip Comes Down
Let's Spend the Night Together
Shattered
Neighbours
Black Limousine
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
Twenty Flight Rock
Going to a Go-Go
Let Me Go
Time Is on My Side
Beast of Burden
You Can't Always Get What You Want
Little T&A
Angie
Tumbling Dice
She's So Cold
Hang Fire
Miss You
Honky Tonk Women
Brown Sugar
Start Me Up
Jumpin' Jack Flash
Encore
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Down the years, Roundhay Park has welcomed many big names who have performed to thousands. Bruce Springsteen, Genesis and U2 have been some of the other acts who have played there.
In recent years, there was a distinct lack of big gigs at Roundhay Park but that all changed when Ed Sheeran did two dates there in 2019.
It is hoped those shows will mark the return of superstars playing outdoor concerts there.
