Pictures of Girls Aloud and Cheryl Cole at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena on this day 10 years ago
Ten years ago and a certain Geordie pop princess was well on the way to superstardom.
Growing up in Heaton and Walker as Cheryl Tweedy, she'd changed her name to Cole a year earlier when she'd married footballer ashley.
And looking just ahead, in 2008 she would become a judge on TV's The X Factor as her ascent as the nation's favourite style icon continued.
But for now, on May 14, 2007, 23-year-old Cheryl was stepping out with her band Girls Aloud at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena.
The five-girl group had been put together in 2002 as part of the ITV talent show, Popstars: The Rivals.
A string of smash hit singles (including Sound Of The Underground, No Good Advice, and Biology) and best-selling albums had followed.
Now, five years they got together, the girls were kicking off their 16-date UK Greatest Hits tour in cheryl's home city. they'd be back in the Toon for a second show four days later.
The Chronicle's very own 'Mr Showbiz', Gordon Barr, was at the sold-out first show.
He wrote: "There was definitely Something Kind Of Ooh about Girls Aloud's opening show their UK tour in Newcastle last night.
"But not always in the way you would have hoped. Ooh, yes the girls looked good. Ooh, yes they gave it their all. Ooh, yes everyone danced their little booties off to the up-tempo numbers.
"But ooh, or rather ohhh, they let themselves down somewhat in the baallads stakes and their attempts at 'sophisticated' reworkings of some of their hits.
"Don't get me wrong, I love Girls Aloud. They are out and out pop marvels, and this being greatest hits tour, there was no doubt we were in for a treat."
Gordon, it seems, felt the show had its ups and downs, with some of the numbers not cutting it.
"Life Got Cold was as flat as some of the vocals that accompanied it," he complained.
"Too long was also taken between the costume changes, which didn't help keeping any sort of momentum up," he added.
And "at times the whole affair was akin to a school production." Ouch!
But Gordon continued: "That said, the majority of this - Girls Aloud's biggest show to date - was throughly enjoyable.
"They've saved the best for last, with a rousing and comical, rendition of Love Machine, followed in the encore by The Show - with the girls in bed with their dancers! - and ending with the fabulous Biology."
Our man concluded: "This is Girls Aloud's third tour, and I have to admit I preferred their first outing.
"But there are no other girl bands around to compare and contrast them to.
"Plus the fact they do simply appear to be having fun - and that's what pop music is all about, isn't it?"
In March 2013, Girls Aloud's last ever show took place in Liverpool.
The band announced they were splitting just hours later.