Monthly Archives: September 2022

Wanted All Over The World

Wanted All Over the World – George Thorogood and The Destroyers – Colorado 1978

1 Comment

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.

Quick Links:

Little Bear Saloon.

Date:  June 2 & 3, 1978.

Venue: Little Bear Saloon. 28075 Hwy 74. Evergreen, CO. 80439. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/3USLqgRvW71Feqn57

Venue Exterior: 

1970s/80s:

Source: Evergreen Historical Society.

2021:

Venue Interior:

1978:

Above: Winterwheat perform at the Little Bear Saloon in 1978. Source: Facebook.

Opening Act: Unknown.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have not yet seen a poster, flyer or handbill for these concerts. Please send me a note if you have a lead.

Press & Promotion: 

Source: Straight Creek Journal. June 1, 1978. Pg. 15.

Ticket Price:  Unknown.

Ticket Stub: I have not (yet) seen a ticket stub to the Destroyers’ concerts at the Little Bear Saloon in June 1978. If you have a scan or a photo to share, please send me a note.

Attendance:  Unknown. The Little Bear Saloon has capacity for an audience of approximately 375 people.

Set List: Unknown.

Was the Concert Recorded? Unknown.

Concert Photos: I am still looking for any photos from these concerts. Please send me a note if you know of any.

Concert Reaction: I not yet found a contemporary printed review of these concerts from 1978. If you have a lead, please send me a note.

Other Notes:

Above: Three months after the concerts in Evergreen, Colorado, Destroyers’ drummer Jeff Simon is seen sporting a Little Bear Saloon t-shirt in this photo from the Observer newspaper (UK). Source: The Observer. Sept. 3, 1978. Pg. 33.

Fate of the Venue: At the time of this writing, the Little Bear Saloon continues to operate as a restaurant and live entertainment venue in Evergreen, Colorado.

Hungry Farmer Restaurant.

Date:  June 4, 1978.

Venue: Hungry Farmer. 5505 Arapahoe Ave.  Boulder, CO. 80303.  USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/FPR2zmAcTkSYNSXW8

Venue Exterior: 

1970s:

2017:

Venue Interior:

1970s:

Opening Act: Unknown.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have not yet seen a poster, flyer or handbill for advertising this concert. Please send me a note if you have a lead.

Press & Promotion:

Source: Straight Creek Journal. June 1, 1978. Pg. 15.

Ticket Price:  Unknown.

Ticket Stub: I have not (yet) seen a ticket stub to the Destroyers’ concert at the Hungry Farmer in 1978. If you have a scan or a photo to share, please send me a note.

Attendance:  Unknown.

Set List: Unknown.

Was the Concert Recorded? Unknown.

Concert Photos: I have not yet found any photos from this concert. Please send me a note if you have any to share.

Concert Reaction: I not yet found a contemporary printed review of this concert circa 1978. If you have a lead, please send me a note.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue: The Hungry Farmer had closed and the Boulder Dinner Theatre was operating at 5505 Arapahoe Avenue as of 1989.

Source: Boulder Public Library Archive.

Wanted All Over The World

Wanted All Over the World – George Thorogood and The Destroyers – Maine 1980

1 Comment

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.

Quick Links:

Great Northeast Music Hall.

Date:  November 4, 1980.

Venue: Great Northeast Music Hall. 126 N. Boyd St. Portland, ME. 04101. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/G7XHRdTNRKJ4vLsw7

Venue Exterior: 

1980:

I am still looking for an exterior photo of the Great Northeast Music Hall, circa 1980. Please send me a note if you can point me in the right direction.

2018:

Venue Interior:

1981:

Above: Bill Chinnock performs at Portland’s Great Northeast Music Hall in 1981. Source: YouTube.

Oct. 1980:

Above: Making every attempt to get customers in the door, the entertainment lineup at the Great Northeast Music Hall included male strippers, mud wrestling, and rock ‘n’ roll. Source: Evening Express. Oct. 28, 1980. Pg. 16.

Opening Act: Unknown.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have not yet seen a poster, flyer or handbill for advertising this concert. Please send me a note if you have a lead.

Press & Promotion: 

Above: The Destroyers’ November 1980 concert at the Great Northeast Music Hall is referenced in a larger article about the venue and the general state of the Portland, Maine music scene. Source: Evening Express. Oct. 7, 1980. Pg. 14.

Source: Evening Express. Oct. 9, 1980. Pg. 10.

Ticket Price:  $7.50.

Ticket Stub:

Attendance:  500.

Source: Evening Express. Nov. 6, 1980. Pg. 28.

Set List:

  • Move It On Over.
  • Reelin’ and Rockin’.

Was the Concert Recorded?  Unknown.

Concert Photos:

Above: This concert photo from 1980 was also published to promote the Destroyers’ 1985 show in Portland, ME. Source: Evening Express. March 21, 1985. Pg. 23.

Concert Reaction:

If you can look past some key mistakes – including repeatedly misspelling “Thorogood” – the Evening Express newspaper provides a positive and succinct recap of the Destroyers’ 1980 concert in Portland, Maine:

“How many of you want to hear blues?” George Thoroughgood (sic) asked the audience at the Great Northeast Music Hall Tuesday night.  What followed was relative silence.  “How many want to hear rock ‘n’ roll?”  Howls, screams, and other behavior associated with fanaticism burst forth from the crowd of 500.  So rock ‘n’ roll it was.

George Thoroughgood and the Destroyers, a foursome of national stature, put on one of most dynamic shows seen in recent months here as they rolled out Thoroughgood’s winning formula of rock with rhythm and blues inflections.  From Chuck Berry songs like “Reeling and Rocking” to his own tunes like “Move It On Over,” (sic) he kept a packed house bouncing for more than two solid hours.

Spectators, who had paid $7 per ticket (sic), danced in the aisles and tapped their feet at the bar.  When Thoroughgood left after three encores, he had hammered out a towering reputation for himself in his first visit to this city.  ‘Best live show since Springsteen’s concert in Augusta,’ opined one veteran observer.  No one argued.”

Source: Evening Express. Nov. 6, 1980. Pg. 28.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue: The Great Northeast Music Hall was put up for sale in August 1981. A venue called ‘Fast Lane’ was operating at 126 N. Boyd Street as of December 1981.

Source: Lewiston Daily Sun. Aug. 1, 1981. Pg. 10 & Evening Express. Dec. 31, 1981. Pg. 5.

Wanted All Over The World

Wanted All Over the World – George Thorogood and The Destroyers – Illinois 1980

1 Comment

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.

Quick Links:

Stages Music Hall.

Date:  November 22, 1980.

Venue: Stages Music Hall. 3730 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL. 60613. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/xXknWcCcTZ6bcK5S7

Venue Exterior: 

1990:

2021:

Venue Interior:

1981:

Above: Black Flag perform at Chicago’s Stages Music Hall in 1981.

Opening Act: Albert Collins.

Above: Albert Collins and George Thorogood perform at Live Aid in Philadelphia on July 13, 1985. Credit: Ebet Roberts / Getty Images.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have not yet seen a poster, flyer or handbill for advertising this concert. Please send me a note if you have a lead.

Press & Promotion: 

Source: Chicago Tribune. Nov. 21, 1980. Pg. 2-10.

Source: Chicago Tribune. Nov. 26, 1980. Pg. 6-30.

Ticket Price:  $7.

Ticket Stub: I have not (yet) seen a ticket stub to the Destroyers’ concert at Stages Music Hall in 1980. If you have a scan or a photo to share, please send me a note.

Attendance:  Unknown. Stages Music Hall had capacity for an audience of approximately 1,100 people.

Set List: Unknown.

Was the Concert Recorded?  Unknown.

Concert Photos: I am still looking for any photos from this concert. Please send me a note if you know of any.

Concert Reaction: I not yet found a contemporary printed review of this concert from 1980. If you have a lead, please send me a note.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue: The Stages Music Hall was replaced by Cabaret Metro at 3730 N. Clark Street by the Summer of 1982.

Source: Chicago Tribune. July 10, 1992.

Mabel’s.

Date:  December 8, 1980.

The Destroyers performed two concerts at Mabel’s on this date.

Venue: Mabel’s. 613 E. Green St. Champaign, IL. 61820. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/wEcAQPY99aYZQRcJ6

Venue Exterior: 

1984:

Source: Facebook.

2012:

Venue Interior:

1981:

Above: Martha and the Muffins perform at Mabel’s in March 1981. Source: Facebook.

Opening Act: J.B. Hutto.

Above: J.B. Hutto and the Hawks. August 15, 1980. Credit: Kirk West / Getty Images.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill:

Press & Promotion: I am still looking for any articles or concert listings used to promote these concerts. Please send me a note if you know of any. 

Ticket Price:  Unknown.

Ticket Stub:

Attendance:  “More than 700 lucky fans” per show.

Set List:

JB Hutto:

  • Too Much Alcohol.
  • Shake, Rattle and Roll.
  • Caledonia.

George Thorogood and the Destroyers:

  • House of Blue Lights.

Was the Concert Recorded?  Unknown.

Concert Photos: I have not yet found any photos from these concerts. Please send me a note if you have any to share.

Concert Reaction:

Reviewer Jack Rundle had this to say about the Destroyers’ December 1980 concerts at Mabel’s in Champagne:

“For openers, literally, there was St. Louis bluesman J. B. Hutto…  His loud and raunchy, scatter-shot guitarwork proved to be exactly what was needed to get one’s mind off the cold weather and cramped quarters.  His stage side manner helped, too.  He really enjoyed playing his way through the crowd and up the stairs, hopping from chair to chair as he peeled off a quivering guitar run. Hell, the audience couldn’t help but get involved.  Hutto warmed up the crowd practically to the point of overheating during both sets.

[…]

It was definitely a match made in heaven, or at least in an astute booking agent’s mind to pair, up these two acts. The plateau where Hutto left the crowd was where Thorogood grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and headed skyward.  If nothing else, both shows came across as one long musical (and visual) rush.  It’s not enough just to listen to Thorogood, though at times that can be a show in itself. You really have to watch him. The energy level in the shows was incredibly high: 90 minutes of music […] with nary a hint of boredom… 

This had to be one of the finest shows yet at Mabel’s many thanks to them, and here’s to more of the same in the future.”

Other Notes:

These concerts occurred on the night that John Lennon was shot and killed in New York City. There are several accounts online about the audiences at Mabel’s learning the sad news during the evening.

Source: Chicago Tribune. Dec. 9, 1980. Pg. 1.

Fate of the Venue: Mabel’s closed in 2000.

Wanted All Over The World

Wanted All Over the World – George Thorogood and The Destroyers – New Jersey 1982

1 Comment

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.

Quick Links:

Capitol Theatre.

Date:  December 19, 1982.

Venue: Capitol Theatre. 326 Monroe Street. Passaic, New Jersey. 07055. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/Vtx5ViFzkG8Cmk3a9

Venue Exterior: 

1970s:

2015:

Venue Interior:

Date Unknown:

1984:

Above:  George Thorogood and the Destroyers perform at the Capitol Theatre in 1984 for the MTV series ‘Rock Influences’.  Source: YouTube.

Opening Act: Joe “King” Carrasco and the Crowns.  

Note: As you can see in the “Press & Promotion” section below, NRBQ were advertised as the supporting band for this concert, but did not end up performing.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have not yet come across a poster, flyer or handbill for promoting this concert. Please send me a note if you have a photo you can share.

Press & Promotion: 

Source: Daily Record. Dec-3-1982-pg-3.

Source: Courier News. Dec. 4, 1982. Pg. B7.

Source: Courier News. Dec. 11, 1982. Pg. B4.

Source: Newark Star Ledger. Dec. 17, 1982. Pg. 57.

Source: Daily Record. Dec. 17, 1982. Pg. 3.

Source: Asbury Park Press. Dec. 18, 1982. Pg. A8.

Source: Courier News. Dec. 18, 1982. Pg. B4.

Ticket Price:  $10.50; $9.50.

Ticket Stub:

Attendance:  Unknown. Capitol Theatre had capacity for 3,200 people at this time.

Set List:

  • House of Blue Lights.
  • Reelin’ and Rockin’.

Source: North Jersey News. Dec. 21, 1982. Pg. 24.

Was the Concert Recorded?  Yes. This concert was broadcast live on radio station WDHA-FM from Dover, New Jersey.

Source: North Jersey News. Dec. 21, 1982. Pg. 24.

Concert Photos:

Source: Billboard Magazine. Jan. 8, 1983. Pg. 4.

I am still looking for any photos of the Destroyers performing during this concert. Please send me a note if you know of any.

Concert Reaction:

Staff writer Garry Duffy from the North Jersey News wrote a very positive review of the Destroyers’ December 1982 concert at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic:

“Some musical artists try to seduce you with layers of caramel-colored melodies. Others seek to hook you with intellectual posturing that is nothing more than ponderous puff. A few simply walk up and punch you in the gut.

George Thorogood and the Destroyers pretty much blew the roof off the Capitol Theatre during a Greater Newark Christmas Fund benefit Sunday night, with three hours of no-fooling-around rock and roll, and blues… I can’t remember the last time I saw an audience on its feet from the opening note of a concert until the final chord was struck.

‘It’s not called ‘sit and watch’ – it’s called rock and roll,’ Thorogood exhorted the audience. The aisles simply disappeared, filled with people either righteously dancing or playing air guitar – trading riffs with the guitar maestro on stage.

[…]

The show had such explosive drive that I have to think Thorogood drinks shots of nitroglycerine for breakfast.  Energy?  The man never stopped moving, duck-walking and slashing – at points dashing into the audience and knighting people with his wireless guitar – never missing a note.

Simply great fun – which is what rock ‘n’ roll is all about to begin with. At the Capitol Sunday, the music truly was bad to the bone. If you missed this one, they should revoke your car’s cassette player.”

Source: North Jersey News. Dec. 21, 1982. Pg. 24.

Other Notes:

As was the case for many concerts at the Capitol Theatre in the 1970s and 1980s, a small, black and white souvenir program was printed for this show.

Fate of the Venue: The Capitol Theatre closed in the mid-1980s (late 1985 or 1986, according to different sources).  The building was torn down in 1991.  A shopping mall and parking lot currently occupy the site.

Wanted All Over The World

Wanted All Over the World – George Thorogood and The Destroyers – Ohio 1980

1 Comment

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.

Quick Links:

Gilly’s.

Date:  December 11, 1980.

Venue:  Gilly’s. 132 S. Jefferson. Dayton, OH. 45402. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/2UyYhkwygwdRPYrj8

Venue Exterior: 

August 1981:

Source: Wright State University Special Collections.

2022:

1987:

Source: Dayton History Books Online.

2022:

Venue Interior:

Source:  Wright State University Special Collections.

Opening Act:  Unknown.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have not yet seen a poster, flyer or handbill for the Destroyers’ 1980 concert in Dayton, Ohio.

Press & Promotion: 

Above: Concert listing for the Destroyers’ show at Gilly’s in Dayton, Ohio. This listing notes a date of December 12th, 1980. A later concert listing (below), a ticket stub for the show, and Jeff Simon’s master list of Destroyers’ tour dates indicate this concert took place on December 11th, 1980. Source: Journal Herald. Nov. 22, 1980. Pg. 24.

Source: Columbus Dispatch. Dec. 6, 1980. Pg. A11.

Ticket Price:  $7.00.

Ticket Stub:

Source: Facebook.

Attendance:  250. This concert was sold out.

Source: Columbus Dispatch. Dec. 6, 1980. Pg. A11.

Set List: Unknown. Please drop me a note if you have any information.

Was the Concert Recorded?  Unknown.

Concert Photos:

Source: Facebook.

Concert Reaction:

Above: The Destroyers’ show at Gilly’s was included in a list of the best shows of 1980 from Dayton’s Journal Herald newspaper. Source: Journal Herald. Dec. 27, 1980. Pg. 18.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue:

2018:

Gilly’s closed on December 31st, 2017 after 45 years in business.