Poster from the ABC theatre when Cliff Richard appeared there in 1972 and also the record sleeve for The Shadows song Wonderful Land/Stars Fell on Stockton. Courtesy of Paul Willows. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
It’s 45 years ago today since I saw Marc Bolan with T.Rex at Stockton ABC (Globe) on 4th November 1971.
I was 17 and attended with my sister Lorna 15, her boyfriend Peter Beeston and my girlfriend Kay Marsay, who idolised Marc. We were all enthralled by Marc’s performance, he really had a magnetic stage presence and tons of charisma and boy could he play guitar!
Still listening to Marc Bolan & my first concert, in Stockton was the best ever, music is my one constant. Thanks to you Paul
I went to see T.Rex at the City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne in Jan-1974 and still have the ticket. I may of been too young (13) to have seen them at the ABC Stockton at the time. Still a great fan of T.Rex.
I went to see T Rex at the ABC with two friends from work ( Asda Portrack ) in 1971. Our boss gave us time off and a sub from our wages to go and buy the tickets!
I went with my parents to see Cliff and the Shadows at the Stockton Globe on New Year”s Day 1962. Although I was only 8 at the time, I remember “The Young Ones” and “Wonderful Land” were two of the numbers. Ken Platt was the MC of the show and a girl from across the street from us won the spot prize.
Ged – Yes, I did have a nice little job at the time. It was wonderful to stand on the wings watching The Shadows perform every night. I got the chance to meet the band often and even shocked Bruce Welch when I told him I knew his real surname. (I won”t mention his surname here to save any embarrassment to him!) I happened to know a man from Chester-le-Street who went to school with Bruce. I am also on the Costa Blanca (further south than you) and have been for thirteen years but plan to return to the UK just as soon as I sell here.
I went to see cliff and the shadows at the abc .must have been 1960 give or take a year, this is where the record “stars fell on stockton” came from Also that night little known frank ifield was also on stage. Cliff was staying in digs on yarm road close to richard hind school
Although I am definitely NOT the Alice from Sunderland, I was at the above concert on that long ago night in 1972, Cliff was as usual, marvellous and Olivia Newton John didn”t make an appearance because she had a sore throat. Cliff announced that she wouldn”t be singing and I couldn”t repeat what some of the audience said about that and then we all applauded. Cliff was less than amused at this and said it was not nice and uncalled for but we didn”t care because he did an extra half hour all on his own. I absolutely love this site, congratulations to all the Picture Stockton team for doing a marvellous job.
Stan Laundon: Sounds as though you had a great job Stan. I think that I prefer the Stockton title rather than the Wigan one. I also thought that the “Alice in Sunderland” title might be a play on words. I live just outside the very small village of Lliber which is 25 minutes inland from the holiday resort of Calpe on the Costa Blanca. Despite being off the beaten track there`s plenty of 60`s music to be heard in my neck of the woods.
Ged – as I mentioned in another posting elsewhere, I believe the “working title” of “Stars Fell On Stockton” was supposed to be “Moonlight In Wigan.” Many years ago I had the pleasure of writing the Hank Marvin column for a publication called “Beat Instrumental” and had to travel from my home in London at that time to see The Shadows in Great Yarmouth and interview Hank every fortnight. Such a hard life but someone had to do it! Paul – I think “Alice In Sunderland” was a play on words as “Alice In Wonderland” but I stand corrected if someone has a better answer! (As Laundon wonders what part of Spain Ged is living?)
The Shadows also had a minor hit with the theme tune from Stingray in 1965 which had a B side called “Alice in Sunderland”, can anyone shed any light on the naming of this tune or who Alice was?
Cliff Richard seemed to have played at Stockton a lot over the years. My mother said she took me to a panto Cliff was in at Stockton when I was about 2yrs old, think it was about 1970. Wonder if anyone asked him about Stockton now, if he remembered his times here. It would be nice to find out
I had never known that The Shadows recorded a song called Stars Fell On Stockton until I met a German lad here in Spain. He is a walking encyclopaedia on pop music and attends every local gig where guitars are being played. We got talking and when he heard that I originally came from Stockton he immediately mentioned The Shadows composition. He was absolutely amazed that a Stockton lad had never heard of The Shadows number that he swore was written in Stockton. He is quite a performer himself and does a very creditable Roy Orbison impression.
Thirty bob for a front row seat, remarkable!