This is one of a series of posts expanding on my 50 States in 50 Dates blog by documenting the global touring adventures of George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers and the earlier years of their career.
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Chateau Neuf. Oslo.
Date: April 6, 1981.
Venue: Chateau Neuf. Slemdalsveien 15. 0369 Oslo, Norway.
Note: Located near the University of Oslo at Blindern, Chateau Neuf is home to the Norwegian Students’ Society.
Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/4eqjDZMJSFTsC1Jv5
Venue Exterior:
1971:
Source: Byggekunst 6. Norske Arkitekters Landsforbund. No. 6. 1971.
2019:
Venue Interior:
1971:
Source: Byggekunst 6. Norske Arkitekters Landsforbund. No. 6. 1971.
Opening Act: Unknown.
Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have not (yet) come across a poster, flyer or handbill for the Destroyers’ show at Chateau Neuf. Please get in touch if you have a scan or a photo that you can share.
Press & Promotion:
Source: Musikkavisen puls. 1981. Nr. 4. Pg. 3.
Translation: “George Thorogood playing in the Chateau Neuf Monday night”.
Source: Arbeiderbladet. April 4, 1981. Pg. 24.
With apologies for my poor translation, the above concert listing says (very roughly), ‘George Thorogood is back in Norway. The Destroyers play in Chateau Neuf Monday evening. It is now two years since Thorogood was here in the country but the show he played at Club 7 is still freshly remembered. George Thorogood is considered a great blues and rock artist of today’.
Source: Arbeiderbladet. April 4, 1981. Pg. 24.
Ticket Price: Unknown.
Ticket Stub: I have not seen a ticket stub for the Destroyers’ show at Chateau Neuf. Please get in touch if you have a scan or a photo that you can share.
Attendance: Unknown. Chateau Neuf had seating capacity for 1,410 people in 1980. Based on concert photos and published newspaper reviews (below), this show was not well attended.
Source: Billboard Magazine. Nov. 1, 1980. Pg. 82.
Set List:
- The Sky is Crying
- Madison Blues
- Carol
Source: Musikkavisen puls. 1981. Nr. 5. Pg. 20 & NYE Takter. April 29, 1981. Pg. 11.
Was the Concert Recorded? Unknown. Please get in touch if you have any information.
Concert Photos:
Source: National Library of Norway.
Source: National Library of Norway.
Source: National Library of Norway.
Concert Reaction:
Willy B filed this review of the Destroyers’ 1981 concert at Chateau Neuf in Oslo:
“Chateau Neuf was far from being crowded for George Thorogood’s concert this spring evening… The choice of Chateau Neuf as the concert venue for a band like this was hardly the best idea. It’s music that can and should be danced to. 99.8% of the audience preferred to spend the evening safely in their seats.
Tonight’s biggest highlight was the last [encore] number, Chuck Berry’s “Carol” , where Mr. G.T. found himself more down on the dance floor than up on stage. He played, danced, and blessed people with his guitar”.
Source: NYE Takter. April 29, 1981. Pg. 11.
In his review of the Destroyers’ 1981 concert at Chateau Neuf, Av Oyvind Pharo of Musikkavisen puls noted that “the concert had many nice moments”, but the sound quality in the venue went from good to poor over the course of the show. By the end of the concert, Hank Carter’s saxophone was completely drowned out in the mix.
Source: Musikkavisen puls. 1981. Nr. 5. Pg. 20.
Other Notes: None.
Fate of the Venue: Chateau Neuf continues to function as the home of the Norwegian Students’ Society and as a performance venue.
50 States in 50 Dates 