Simon and Garfunkel – Wembley Stadium 19th June 1982

Simon and Garfunkel had reunited for a one off gig in Central Park new York in September 1981 which was released as an LP shortly afterwards. I remember we listened to it over and over and were so happy when they announced that they were going to do a tour. Unfortunately the only UK date was at Wembley Stadium at the end of June but thankfully I had finished my exams by the time the gig came round. I have no idea how we got from Manchester to London (probably by coach) but do remember arriving at Wembley quite early and sitting in one of the turnstiles waiting for the doors to open at 4pm.

I remember that there wasn’t a support act so once we were inside we just had to sit and wait for Simon and Garfunkel to come on. We were, however, right down the front in the middle of the stage!  The stage itself had been made to look like some New York city scape – similar to the one they used in Central Park.

The show was fantastic and featured all of the best Simon and Garfunkel songs plus a few of Paul Simon’s solo songs and Art Gunfunkel’s hit! There was obviously tension between the pair and every time Paul Simon did one of his solo songs Art would taken himself off to the side of the stage whereas when it came time for Art to do Bright eyes Simon just walked off!

I seem to recall it was light for most of the gig which you would expect at the Solstice time of year and afterwards again I have no idea how we got home but given that the gig finished at 10 I suspect we went down to Victoria and caught an overnight coach back to Manchester – we must have been brave given our previous experience of being stranded at Wembley after the Who in 1979!

I didn’t take the pictures on this page – some should be credited to Beechwood Photography but the other I found on the internet!

The Set list was:

Mrs. Robinson
Homeward Bound
America
Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard
Scarborough Fair
My Little Town
Wake Up Little Susie
Still Crazy After All These Years
Bright Eyes
Late In The Evening
Slip, Sliding Away
El Condor Pasa
American Tune
The Late Great Johnny Ace
Kodachrome/Mabellene
Bridge Over Troubled Water
The Boxer
Old Friends/Bookends
59th Street Bridge Song
Cecilia
E
Sounds Of Silence
All I Have To Do Is Dream

17 Replies to “Simon and Garfunkel – Wembley Stadium 19th June 1982”

  1. This was the first concert I ever attended! I was eleven years old. I didn’t really realise the significance of this at the time, but now it’s a very cool “first concert” story to tell people.

    Thanks for posting this!

    1. This gig was a disgrace. The stadium was absolutely packed and we all waited that long, that there was slow hand-clapping. We had travelled from Liverpool but the people behind us had travelled from Scotland! It was obvious that PS and AG had had some sort of disagreement as the very short performance was icy to say the least.

  2. I was 15yo and went to see the stone’s the week before…this was a big mistake since central park is one of the best album’s ever.

    1. I saw the stones in July 82 at roundhay Park in Leeds, terrible gig, not a patch on S & G at Wembley

    1. This was my first gig. I was 12 and my parents allowed me to travel up from Poole with a 16 year old friend of the family, which looking back now shows how much more freedom kids were given then. It started a life long love of live music and I still have the ticket and programme (who does a programme for a gig these days?!?)

  3. An unusual time in my nearly 20 years. A lovely friend took me to this concert, fantastic evening, fantastic company. Sadly, we lost touch, as knew each other through work. Hope he keeps well and happy, and thank you once again after so many years.

  4. I was there too, and remember just sitting there for hours and hours up in the stands on the right. We’d brought a picnic. The backing group was made up of many of my musical heroes, so it was all full of extra bonuses.

  5. That was one of those concerts you don`t forget, we will NEVER!! see anyone pull in as many people of the likes of S&G again.

  6. I was there, I remenber them keeping us waiting for what seemed like hours. After the concert started I left my (hard stone seat) and went down and stood at the front on the Wembly pitch which was covered with huge tarpaulins but I found a gap and kicked it back and was standing on the actual Wembly turf. That was the highlight for me!

  7. I was there and I can remember everyone lighting their cigarette lighters up …nowadays it’s mobile phones 😂

  8. I went to this but the exit from the stadium was horrendous! Never been so frightened in my life. The crowds were unbelievable with no management or security. The concert was brilliant tho & as I type this Im in the interval of a tribute act in Romford Essex!

  9. I travelled down from Glasgow, and like yourself, was right at the front, near centre, couldn’t have been far apart. I started talking to a guy beside me, who was from clydebank, he lived about a mile from where I stayed, I thought it was a great gig, just to be that close to 2 legends was brilliant. I travelled to Nice in France in September 83 to see them, the show wasn’t as good as the one at Wembley, at one point the French started chucking bottles about, and S & G threatened to walk off, Simon ended up bringing out Carrie Fisher, his wife at the time to try to placate the fans, and it worked. Princess Leia to the rescue again !

  10. Does anyone remember it was a wet day both before and after the show. We were stage end just off the football pitch, probably on the goal line ha ha. What a brilliant night, never to be forgotten. Just watched the Central Park show in sky arts. Great Memories

  11. Cracking concert 6 of us came down from Glasgow we had seats in the stand but stood the whole concert we had a brilliant day with great people from all over the country round about us, one of the best concert memories ever.
    Downside we got into an unlicensed private cab the driver was on speed or something got taken round some dodgy roads but however managed to get into the centre of London to tell the tale😂😂😂

  12. My wife, Gail and I from NYC were living in London as I was working for Pfizer from 1981 to 1983 in Park Royal. This was one of the greatest concert ever. Honestly, I couldn’t remember being there till my wife mentioned it to me over lunch today 11/13/23 Talking about Simon and Garfunkel. Such a paradox I must’ve been pretty wiped. MB

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *