HILLSBOROUGH justice campaigners told of their pride last night after their Justice Tonight gigs ended a hugely successful tour around the country.
The rousing hometown gig in Liverpool on Friday and a Glasvegas-backed Glasgow show, on Saturday, were hailed a “brilliant” conclusion to the concerts which have seen the campaign’s profile raised to a new level.
Led by Peter Hooton and The Farm, Pete Wylie and former Clash man Mick Jones, the gigs have featured special guests on each night, most notably Stone Roses legends Ian Brown and John Squire in Manchester, James Dean Bradfield in Cardiff and Clash man Paul Simonon rejoining old comrade Jones in London.
Last night, the Hillsborough Justice Campaign’s Sheila Coleman told the Daily Post: “We feel so proud to have been a part of it – it’s been an honour and a privilege.
“The medium of music has been so powerful in getting our message across and we just want to say a huge thank you to these wonderfully talented musicians who have all given their services for free. To have friends who are so committed is incredible.
“You’ve had Pete Wylie giving out the message so strongly from the stage. Peter Hooton has quietly done so much through his contacts and someone like Davo who people don’t know. But it was through him we managed to get Mick Jones who has just been absolutely gorgeous. “From the campaign point of view, it’s done what we wanted – it showed the spirit which is out there.”
The tour targeted areas linked with the campaign including Manchester and, poignantly, Sheffield itself.
Sheila said: “Sheffield was incredible. We had people coming in to talk to us, wearing our emblems and our badges. There is a lot of respect for what the people of Sheffield did that day and we’ve always recognised that in the campaign.”
With the independent Hillsborough panel due to report next spring and the Leveson inquiry casting a judicial light on the national tabloid media, HJC campaigners feel the tide has turned.
Sheila added: “This has been brilliant. But we didn’t lose sight of why we were doing it – for 96 people who lost their lives.”
