ROXY Music gave a nostalgic reminder at the curtain-raiser of their For Your Pleasure tour as to why they were one of the most formidable and innovative bands of the Seventies and Eighties.

Despite the stifling seating arrangement at the Arena preventing any unruly dancing and the almost cocktail bar atmosphere of the concert’s opening, it evoked memories of a time when a band had time to cultivate its art.

And, while the group played several of its greatest hits to rapturous applause, none of them quite hit the spot in the manner of Virginia Plain.

Roxy Music’s debut single is a post-modern work of art inclusive of a deceptive intro, no chorus, an improvised guitar solo and an idiosyncratic vocal.

Genius.

It would be hard to imagine a band such as Roxy Music being able to develop their sound these days, given the asphyxiating conditions they have to work under.

Likewise, it would be hard to see such a band emerge from a Simon Cowell reality talent television show and go on to celebrate a 40th anniversary, considering the suffocating control and influence he has on the current pop-will-eat-itself nature of the music industry.

In fact, it would be difficult to envisage a band such as Roxy Music getting past the audition stage when you consider the show’s Svengali is responsible for promoting such crimes against music as Mr Blobby.

Fortunately, Roxy Music had both style and substance, rather than the style over substance the Beelzebub of pop music promotes, and this was evident at the first date of their world tour in Newcastle.

“Make me a deal and make it straight, all signed and sealed,”

Bryan Ferry, above, sang on Virginia Plain. But not with you Simon, not on your terms.