1981/2 THE JAZZ YEARS: Ella Fitzgerald, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Sarah Vaughan, BB King, Jimmy Cliff, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, and many many more... Attendance 50,000 over a few days.

...the jazz crowd was a completely different affair. It was whole families, sandwiches, the sound of corks popping and dogs barking. Benny Goodman refused to use microphones and Ella Fitzgerald came to tea. Could anything be more laid back? - Well, yes...

1982/3THE GREEN BELT: Cliff Richard, etc... Attendance: 65,000 over two years.

...the Green Belt shows were Christian Festivals. They were 4-day events, with many different tents and seminars on worship, etc... It was so peaceful that four policemen turned up and two went home. Organisation though was a disaster. The site ran out of water. The music overran. The whole event finally came to an end when Lord Cobbold, in his dressing gown, pulled the plug at 3AM on Tuesday morning.

In 1985 it was back to business...

...although with different promoters, Andy Hudson was back in the driving seat organising the site, with the only concert in England for the newly reformed Deep Purple. The police almost scuppered the show by charging £60,000 for their presence. The council refused to provide a drink license or allow camping. It all looked a little strained. Then it rained.. The crowd stood up, and bottles started flying. For the first time Lord & Lady Cobbold had to give up the arena for the backstage enclosure. The mud was everywhere. Getting out required every farmer's tractor in the area, and the rubbish solidified into the ground...

...the last gig ever played by Queen, and a huge sell out. Having stolen the show at Live Aid the year before, the band were at the top of their form and the show was spectacular. The sun shone. The crowd was relaxed.

As the '80s played out, few bands appeared able to play a venue of Knebworth's size. Knebworth was beginning to look like a dinosaur, with Wembley fast becoming the outdoor venue of choice...