WHEN Bryan Adams plays Newcastle this Sunday, an enthusiastic audience will greet him. There are two reasons for this: first, Adams is a brilliant live performer. Secondly, his current tour is a 30th anniversary celebration of his most well-received album, Reckless. Originally released on November 5, 1984, Reckless was one of the great 1980s rock albums, with songs such as One Night Love Affair, Run To You, Heaven, Summer of ‘69 and Kids Wanna Rock.

Made before the years of CDs (and longer running times), the album is a pithy 37 minutes and 58 seconds minutes in length, but not a second is wasted. It is full to the brim of hummable choruses, great guitar riffs and the sound of a band having a great time. Reckless frequently crops up in lists of best rock albums. It went on to sell 12 million copies worldwide and made Adams a star. He started to move in celebrity circles and even wrote a song for Princess Diana which famously included the lyrics (referring to Prince Charles): "Whatcha doin’ with a guy like him?" Adams has been linked to Diana, but won’t comment on the rumours.

The performer went on to have even greater success with Waking Up The Neighbours, with its monster ballad Everything I Do (I Do It For You) and many other great songs. For several years in the early 1990s he toured the world non-stop.

"For four years, I never went home," he says. Adams is a vegan and has a social conscience: he has taken part in Amnesty International tours and espouses the importance of good manners and kindness. When not touring, he has developed a side career as a photographer, taking portraits of the Queen and Gorbachev and recently used his skills to capture images of wounded British service men, an experience he says was humbling.

"The most profound moment for me was talking to injured guys who had children, but now didn't know how to play with them because they didn't have legs and couldn't kick a football. It was really moving.’

Those going to Sunday’s gig can expect a memorable evening. There will be a few laughs and audience japes (I once saw him pull members of the crowd out to jam on stage with him and the band). And, of course, those great songs. They may be 30 years old, but they still sound great.

Bryan Adams, Reckless 30th Anniversary Tour, Metro Radio Arena, Sunday 16th November Tickets £39.50

Miles Salter