YOU would be forgiven for thinking world-famous bands like Dire Straits and Genesis played only huge arenas in their heyday.
But these chart-conquering acts, along with Bob Marley and Blondie, also performed at Deeside Leisure Centre in Queensferry.
The concerts are the subject of a discussion page on social networking site Facebook set up by music fan Paul Lavin, from Connah’s Quay.
Paul, 47, a team leader at Remsdaq on Deeside Industrial Park, is appealing to concert-goers to recall their memories of their favourite bands in action and submit copies of programmes and ticket stubs with a view to writing a book.
He said: “It started off as a conversation in work when some of us were recalling which bands we had seen at Deeside Leisure Centre.
“The younger ones could not believe that these big bands had performed in Deeside, so I set about compiling a list to show them.
“I set up the group on Facebook and it has really taken off. It’s so good to give people the tool to share their memories of these fantastic bands.”
More than 70 people have joined the Facebook group, and recall watching The Who, The Jam, Gary Numan, Kiss, Rainbow, Eric Clapton and Ian Dury and the Blockheads, among others.
Tickets collected already include one for Genesis, priced £7.50, who played at the venue in 1982.
Member Ian Devenport wrote: “I was fortunate enough to be backstage for a lot of the concerts.
“I was playing pool with Dire Straits and got drumsticks off Terry Williams and other signed stuff.
“Showaddywaddy put on a great show. Memorable nights.”
User Gill Spaniel Roberts wrote: “I saw The Police a couple of times – still got my tickets and autographed albums.
“Madness were great and as I was on crutches at the time was allowed in another entrance and got to play Space Invaders with Woody the drummer.”
Paul, who is liaising with Flintshire Council in his quest to discover more about concerts at the council-owned venue, says Deeside Leisure Centre was frequented by so many big-name bands because it was before the birth of huge arenas.
“These were the days before bands started playing in aircraft hangars, and before the big arenas in Wembley and Manchester and Liverpool were even built,” he said.
“Back then bands played for the people and not for the money.”
Search ‘Concerts at Deeside Leisure Centre’ on Facebook or email Paul at beggarman@sky.com to get involved.