Wings 1979 UK Tour

Wings, Queen and Moodies: tour talk

WINGS, the Moody. Blues and Queen have U.K. tours lined up for the autumn, which looks like being a busy one for British bands.

Others expected to take to the road during the same period are Elkie Brooks, who will be releasing a new album at the same time, Steve Harley and the new band he is putting together, and Darts, who begin an extensive British tour in September.

Queen are expected to make their first major British tour since last year during November. They are recording at the moment in Germany, though no new album has been scheduled as yet.

Wings intend playing live again soon, possibly later in the autumn. It is not yet known whether they will arrange surprise gigs or a tour of major venues, or combination of both.

Following their inability to get gigs together last year, the re-formed Moody Blues are expected to play six to eight concerts here later in October, including possibly two nights at Wembley Arena at the end of the month. The band got back together last year to record “Octave” and have just finished a tour of the U.S. They have no new album planned, though singer Justin Hayward has been in the studios working on a new solo album.

From Melody Maker – August 4, 1979

Wings tour

WINGS have finally confirmed the full details of their fourth British tour — the first UK shows the band has played for three years. The tour kicks off in Liverpool, and features five London concerts including three at the Wembley Arena in early December.

The 16-date tour starts at the Liverpool Royal Court on November 25 and 26, and is followed by Manchester Apollo (28, 29), Southampton Gaumont (December 1), Brighton Centre (2), Lewisham Odeon (3), London Rainbow (5), Wembley Arena (7, 8 and 9), Birmingham Odeon (12), Newcastle City Hall (14), Edinburgh Odeon (16) and Glasgow Apollo (16, 17).

Tickets for the Wembley shows are £5.50 and £5, and prices for all other concerts are £5.50, £5 and £4.50. They are available from Sunday from the relevant box offices, restricted to four tickets per person. Liverpool tickets will be available from midday on November 11 at the Radio City reception desk.

Wembley tickets are available by post from PO Box 4TL, London W1A 4TL, until November 15. Applicants should send a sae and postal order — not cheque. The envelope should be marked Wings Concert. Tickets for Lewisham, the Rainbow and Wembley are also available from Virgin’s Megastore ticket machine in London’s Oxford Street.

From Melody Maker – November 10, 1979

Touts blamed for Wings rumpus

THE TURMOIL that hit the lengthy queues for Wings’ tickets last week when touts and other queue-jumpers moved in, was caused by two factors, according to promoter Harvey Goldsmith — the short notice he was given to arrange the shows, and the willingness of the public to deal with touts.

A number of disappointed Wings fans complained to MM about poor arrangements for ticket hunters at Brighton, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Lewisham. They blamed the theatre managers for making no attempt to control queues, and Goldsmith for not organising a postal application system.

Goldsmith said there was not enough time to deal with applications by post — tickets might have been delayed — and that where possible touts were dealt with.

“The trouble is that being a tout is not illegal. At the Virgin store in Oxford Street there were so many touts we called the police, but there is nothing they can do. The touts were going away, turning their coats round and coming back for more. We had ten extra security men, but when touts pay people to stand in line for them, there is nothing you can do. Certainly no-one got more than four tickets, to my knowledge, and in Liverpool tickets were limited to two a person”.

Touts have been reported as asking between £70 and £100 for tickets in Liverpool. Wings have added an extra show in Liverpool at the Royal Court Theatre on December 28. It will be a free concert for the Liverpool Institute, Paul McCartney’s old school, and tickets are being distributed by the school.

From Melody Maker – November 24, 1979

Wings: tour on

WINGS HAVE finally substantiated rumours about a tour this year by announcing a series of British shows from mid-November to mid-December, which will combine smaller, more intimate venues with the large halls regarded as economically necessary for such big tours.

No dates have yet been announced, but it is expected that details will be available next week. The shows will be Wings’ first British tour for three years, and will also mark the debut of new members guitarist Lawrence Juber and drummer Steve Holly.

From Melody Maker – November 3, 1979