Tag Archives: John Hammond

Wanted All Over The World

Wanted All Over the World – George Thorogood and The Destroyers – Massachusetts 1974 – Part 4

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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:

Sons of Italy Hall.

Date:  September 27, 1974.

This concert date comes from Jeff Simon’s official list of Destroyers’ shows. At the time of this writing, I have very few details about this performance. Please send me a note if you have any information to share.

Venue: Sons of Italy Hall. 1492 Christopher Columbus Dr. North Adams, MA. 01247. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/yDsW2VkqQNjA2Sbc7

Venue Exterior: 

1974: I am still looking for a good photo of the Sons of Italy Hall in North Adams, circa 1974. Please send me a note if you have one to share.

2022:

Venue Interior: I am still looking for a good photo inside of the Sons of Italy Hall in North Adams. Please send me a note if you have one to share.

Opening Act: Unknown.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have never seen a poster, flyer, or handbill for this concert.

Press & Promotion: I am still looking for any print advertising used to promote this concert. Please send me a note if you know of any. 

Ticket Price:  Unknown.

Ticket Stub: I am still looking for a ticket stub from this concert.

Attendance: Unknown.

Set List: Unknown.

Was this Concert Recorded? Unknown.

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

Concert Reaction: I am still looking for a contemporary printed review of this concert, circa September 1974.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue: The Sons of Italy Hall in North Adams was put up for sale in 2006 due to declining group membership. At the time of this writing, the property is awaiting redevelopment.

Source: North Adams Transcript. Apr. 1, 2009. Pg. B4.

Mt. View Frolics.

Date:  October 2-6, 1974.

These concert dates come from Jeff Simon’s official list of Destroyers’ shows. At the time of this writing, I have very few details about these concerts. Please send me a note if you have any information to share.

Venue: Mt. View Frolics (aka Mountain View Frolics; aka The Frolics). 20 Elizabeth St. Chicopee, MA. 01013. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/h6zuB9Jdk5bGB8Sh6

Venue Exterior: 

1960s:

2019:

Venue Interior: I am still looking for a good photo inside of Mt. View Frolics. Please send me a note if you have one to share.

Opening Act: Unknown.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have never seen a poster, flyer, or handbill for these concerts.

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

Ticket Price:  Unknown.

Ticket Stub: I am still looking for a ticket stub from these concerts.

Attendance: Unknown. Mt. View Frolics had a performance space on the main floor and a bowling alley and bar in the basement. Newspaper articles indicate the venue regularly held events for 125 to 200 people.

Set List: Unknown.

Were these Concerts Recorded? Unknown.

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

Concert Reaction: I am still looking for a contemporary printed review of these concerts, circa September 1974.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue: A venue called The Northern Comfort was operating at 20 Elizabeth St. as of December 11, 1975. The Northern Comfort was destroyed (no pun intended) in a fire on December 15, 1976.

Source: Holyoke Transcript Telegram. Dec. 4, 1975. Pg. 19.

Source: Holyoke Transcript Telegram. Dec. 16, 1976. Pg. 19.

The Gallery (?)

Date:  October 11, 1974.

This concert date comes from Jeff Simon’s official list of Destroyers’ shows. At the time of this writing, I have very few details about this performance. Please send me a note if you have any information to share.

Venue: The Gallery*. Springfield Technical Community College. Building 27. 1 Federal St. Springfield, MA. 01105. USA.

* This is a ‘best guess’ about the venue for this show. School catalog and yearbook entries from this time indicate that concerts and other student events on the STCC campus were regularly held in The Gallery coffee house / cafeteria space on the second floor of Building 27. If you have any further details about this show, please send me a note using the Comment box below.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/aUz7Gi43Jdk5Bbwi9

Venue Exterior: 

1976:

Above: Building 27 on the STCC campus. Source: Springfield Technical Community College. STCC Catalog 1976. Pg. 127.

2021:

Venue Interior:

1981:

Source: Springfield Technical Community College. STCC Yearbook 1981. Pg. 106.

Opening Act: Unknown.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have never seen a poster, flyer, or handbill for this concert.

Press & Promotion: I am still looking for any print advertising used to promote this concert. Please send me a note if you know of any. 

Ticket Price:  Admission to concerts in the Gallery was free for students and $1 for guests.

Source: Springfield Technical Community College. STCC Catalog 1975. Pg. 10.

Ticket Stub: I am still looking for a ticket stub from this concert.

Attendance: Unknown.

Set List: Unknown.

Was this Concert Recorded? Unknown.

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

Concert Reaction: I am still looking for a contemporary printed review of this concert, circa October 1974.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue: Unknown. I can find records of The Gallery up to the early 1980s, but the trail goes cold after that. At the time of this writing, Building 27 houses STCC’s Adult Education Center, Workforce Development Center, and support service departments.

Bunratty’s

Date:  October 14 & 15, 1974.

Venue: Bunratty’s. 186 Harvard Ave. Allston, MA. 02134. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/x3yHMxePiF37MUZc6

Venue Exterior: 

1975:

Source: Boston Phoenix. Sept. 16, 1975. Pg. 18.

Date Unknown:

Source: Music Museum of New England

2018:

Venue Interior:

Unknown date:

Source: Music Museum of New England

Opening Act: Unknown.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have never seen a poster, flyer, or handbill for these concerts.

Press & Promotion:

Source: Boston Phoenix. Sept. 24, 1974. Pg. 25.

Source: Boston Phoenix. Oct. 8, 1974. Pg. 25.

Source: Boston Phoenix. Oct. 8, 1974. Pg. 27.

Source: Boston Phoenix. Oct. 15, 1974. Pg. 26.

Ticket Price:  No cover. No minimum drink purchase.

Source: Boston Phoenix. Oct. 8, 1974. Pg. 25.

Ticket Stub: I am still looking for a ticket stub from these concerts.

Attendance: Est. 350.

Set List: Unknown.

Were this Concerts Recorded? Unknown.

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

Concert Reaction: I am still looking for a contemporary printed review of these concerts, circa October 1974.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue:

Bunratty’s operated at 186 Harvard Ave. until it was sold in the Summer of 1993. A new nightspot called Local 186 replaced Bunratty’s at that location in August 1993.

Source: Boston Globe. Aug. 12, 1993. Pg. 7.

The Hide-A-Way

Dates:  October 16-19, 1974.

Venue: The Hide-A-Way (aka The Hide-A-Way Lounge). 148 West St. Granby, MA. 01033. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/y1vG12YEbt7drLqVA

Venue Exterior: 

1975:

Source: Holyoke Transcript Telegram. Feb. 8, 1975. Pg. 13.

2019:

Venue Interior: I am still looking for a good photo inside the Hide-A-Way circa 1974. Please send me a note if you have one to share.

Opening Act: From October 16 to 19, 1974, George Thorogood and the Destroyers opened for John Hammond at the Hide-A-Way.

Above: Photo of John Hammond, circa 1970. Source: Getty Images / Michael Ochs Archives.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I am still looking for any posters, flyers or handbills used to promote these concerts.

Press & Promotion: 

Source: UMass Amherst Daily Collegian. Oct. 9,1974. Pg. 4.

Source: UMass Amherst Daily Collegian. Oct. 16,1974. Pg. 5.

Source: UMass Amherst Daily Collegian. Oct. 17,1974. Pg. 9.

Source: UMass Amherst Daily Collegian. Oct. 17,1974. Pg. 12.

Ticket Price: 

  • Oct. 16, 1974: $2.50.
  • Oct. 17, 1974: $2.50.
  • Oct. 18, 1974: $3.00.
  • Oct. 19, 1974: $3.00.

Source: UMass Amherst Daily Collegian. Oct. 9,1974. Pg. 4.

Ticket Stub: I have not yet seen any ticket stubs from the Destroyers’ run of concerts at the Hide-A-Way in October 1974. Please get in touch if you have a photo or scan to share.

Attendance: Unknown. The Hide-A-Way had capacity for 215 people up to November 1974 when a mandated “occupancy capacity figure” limited capacity in the venue to 180. The occupancy figure was revised again in early 1975 to allow 255 people in the lounge and 95 people in the barroom.

Source: Holyoke Transcript Telegram. Feb. 8, 1975. Pg. 13 & March 12, 1975. Pg. 7.

Set List: Unknown.

Were these Concerts Recorded?  Unknown.

Concert Photos: I have not yet seen any photos from these concerts. Please send me a note if you know of any.

Concert Reaction: I am still looking for any reviews of these concerts, circa October 1974. Please send me a note if you can point me in the right direction.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue:

From the time it opened in August 1973, the Hide-A-Way was mired in ongoing battles with the local town council, building inspectors, and complaining neighbors. Records show the venue remained in operation up to April 1975.

Source: Holyoke Transcript Telegram. Feb. 8, 1975. Pg. 13 & April 10, 1975. Pg. 14.

Wanted All Over The World

Wanted All Over the World – George Thorogood and The Destroyers – New Jersey 1984

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:  July 5, 1984.

The Destroyers’ performance on this date was recorded for the MTV program “Rock Influences”.

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:

Opening Act: None.  

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: Unknown.

Source: NJ Daily Record. June 15, 1984. Pg. 20.

Source: NJ Daily Record. June 29, 1984. Pg. 16.

Source: The Courier News. June 23, 1984. Pg. B14.

Source: Central New Jersey News. July 19, 1984. Pg. 9.

Source: Broadcasting. Aug. 20, 1984. Pg. 89.

Source: Billboard Magazine. Sept. 1, 1984.

Above: TV ad for MTV’s August 21, 1984 broadcast of “Rock Influences” featuring the Delaware Destroyers and their special guests. Source: YouTube.

Ticket Price:  $11.50 in advance; $12.50 day of the show.

Ticket Stub:

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

Set List:

  • House of Blue Lights.
  • Kids from Philly.
  • I’m Wanted.
  • Who Do You Love? (with John Hammond).
  • Cocaine Blues.
  • Bottom of the Sea.
  • Night Time.
  • One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer (with Elvin Bishop).
  • I’ll Change My Style.
  • Can’t Stop Lovin’.
  • The Sky is Crying.
  • Madison Blues (with Albert Collins).
  • That Same Thing (with Willie Dixon).
  • Bad to the Bone.
  • Move It On Over.
  • It Wasn’t Me.
  • Boogie Chillen No. 2 (with John Lee Hooker, John Hammond, Elvin Bishop, Albert Collins and Willie Dixon).

Source: YouTube.

Was the Concert Recorded?  Yes. This concert was recorded for the MTV program “Rock Influences”.

Concert Photos:

Above: John Hammond and George Thorogood.

Above: Elvin Bishop and George Thorogood.

Above: George Thorogood and Albert Collins.

Above: Willie Dixon performs with the Delaware Destroyers.

Above: George Thorogood, John Lee Hooker and Jeff Simon.

Above: During the concert’s last performance of Boogie Chillen No. 2, George Thorogood grabbed a baseball hat and towel, and joined the audience to watch the finale as a fan of the musicians on stage.

Concert Reaction:

Reviewer George Kanzler of the Newark Star Ledger was unequivocal in his dislike for the Destroyers’ July 1984 concert at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic. I don’t normally comment on the concert reviews included on this site, but this is a case where I will agree to disagree with Mr. Kanzler’s assessment:

“In John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ a character named Lenny underestimates his own strength. So in the process of hugging animals and people to show his affection, he destroys the life in them. George Thorogood treats the blues the way Lenny treated the objects of his affection – with deadly overkill.

Thorogood and his (aptly named) Destroyers appeared at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic Thursday night in a show recorded for later broadcast on MTV, the music video pay channel. “You’ll be throwing your Destroyer records out the window and buying new ones by the artists we’re going to bring out tonight,” Thorogood told his audience, referring to a galaxy of blues artists who came on during the course of the two-hour show to guest with him and the Destroyers.  Unfortunately, the guests hardly were given much of a chance to do their own thing, as they were relentlessly pummeled by the heavy metal volume and lack of sensibility of Thorogood and his cohorts, aided and abetted by rowdy fans more interested in hearing themselves scream than in listening to the music.

Among the most sorely abused of the guest victims were Willie Dixon and John Lee Hooker, two blues giants who were forced to sing to the jackhammer beat of the Destroyers, in the process sacrificing most of the humor and subtlety they command when singing with a less distracting rhythm section.

Guitarists Elvin Bishop and Albert Collins fared better, using their clean, piercing instrumental tones to cut through the Destroyer barrage and give Thorogood an abject lesson in how blues guitar solos can be built with the force of a dramatic line, not just the power of an over-amplified guitar.  And next to Thorogood’s rock reductionism of the blues even John Hammond Jr., usually painfully correct in his blues atavism, sounded pretty good on vocals and harmonica.

George Thorogood obviously loves the blues, as evidenced by his choosing to do many selections made famous by his guests and others, like Muddy Waters’ (sic) ‘Bad to the Bone.’ But loving the blues is not enough if you don’t understand them, and Thorogood obviously has not advanced much beyond a childish, undiscerning glee in his comprehension. He does not seem to have the least inkling about the subtleties of dynamics, timing and emotion that make great blues players great.

Compared with Bishop and Collins, Thorogood’s guitar work cannot even be considered blues. It is repetitious, loud, raw-toned like scraping metal, and relies on power chording rather than blues chords. In short, it is heavy metal at its worst. The Destroyers are as bombastic as their leader, especially the ham-handed bassist and a tenor saxophonist who doesn’t realize that screams and honks should come as the climax of a solo, not comprise the entire solo.

George Thorogood actually may believe that in exposing blues giants like Hooker, Dixon and Collins to his audience, he is initiating them into a better understanding of the blues… [The] TV show may give more exposure to the blues guests than the live show did, since the sound can be remixed for TV and watchers can adjust volume below the scalding point.”

Source: Newark Star Ledger. July 7, 1984. Pg. 12.

Other Notes: None.

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.  At the time of this writing, a shopping mall and parking lot occupy the site.

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Wanted All Over The World

Wanted All Over the World – George Thorogood and The Destroyers – Maryland 1983

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:

Parrot Club.

Date:  May 5, 1983.

Venue: Parrot Club. 1817 Maryland Ave. Baltimore, MD. 21201. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/8AXELCGETgH1ZWEr8

Venue Exterior: 

1982:

Source: Baltimore Sun. March 18, 1982. Pg. 16.

2022:

Venue Interior:

1982:

Source: Baltimore Sun. June 22, 1982. Pg. C3.

Opening Act:  Not applicable. On his way home from attending Muddy Waters’ funeral in Chicago, George Thorogood (solo) sat in as an unannounced special guest during a concert by Scott Cunningham and John Hammond.

Scott Cunningham:

Source: Baltimore Sun. June 22, 1982. Pg. C3.

John Hammond:

Source: Fort Worth Star Telegram. March 18, 1983. Pg. 6D.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill:  I have not (yet) come across a poster, flyer or handbill for this concert.  Please get in touch if you have a scan or a photo that you can share.

Press & Promotion: 

Source: Baltimore Sun. May 5, 1983. Pg. B11.

Ticket Price:  Unknown.

Ticket Stub: I have not yet seen a ticket stub for this concert. If you have a scan or a photo to share, please send me a note.

Attendance:  Unknown.

Set List: Unknown. George Thorogood, Scott Cunningham and John Hammond played a blues jam in tribute to Muddy Waters.

Was the Concert Recorded?  Unknown. Please get in touch if you have any information.

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

Concert Reaction:

Above: George “Thurgood’s” (sic) surprise appearance at the Parrot Club on May 5, 1983 was noted in a Baltimore Sun article the following week.

Source: Baltimore Sun. May 11, 1983. Pg. C2.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue: This version of the Parrot Club opened in 1982 and was closed in late 1983. A nightspot called the Trenton Street Stop was operating at 1817 Maryland Ave. as of November 1983. The building formerly housing the Parrot Club was destroyed in a fire in 2017 and demolished in 2018.

Source: Baltimore Sun. November 13, 1983. Pg. Y13.