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.
- Part 1 – George Thorogood & the Destroyers’ 1981 Canadian Tour.
- Part 2 – George Thorogood & the Destroyers’ 1981 Canadian Tour.
Quick Links:
- Mar. 3, 1981 – Commodore Ballroom. Vancouver, BC.
- Mar. 4, 1981 – Commodore Ballroom. Vancouver, BC.
- Mar. 5, 1981 – Kelowna Community Theatre. Kelowna, BC.
- Mar. 6, 1981 – Marquis Hall. University of Saskatchewan. Saskatoon, SK.
- Mar. 7, 1981 – Rockyview Park Community Centre. Calgary, AB.
Above: 1981 print ad for Attic Records, the record label issuing George Thorogood and the Destroyers’ albums in Canada in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Source: Billboard Magazine. Jan. 24, 1981.
Commodore Ballroom. Vancouver, British Columbia.
Date: March 3 & 4, 1981. Two shows per night.
Venue: Commodore Ballroom. 868 Granville St. Vancouver, BC. V6Z 1K3. Canada.
Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/4J1tXtknWAhW7DMA7
Venue Exterior:
1981:
Source: City of Vancouver Archives.
2018:
Venue Interior:
Date Unknown:
1979:
Source: Vancouver Sun. Nov. 30, 1979. Pg. 2L.
Opening Act: Wailin’ Walker and the Houserockers.
Source: Vancouver Sun. Aug. 18, 1983. Pg. D1.
Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have not (yet) come across a poster, flyer or handbill for the Destroyers’ 1981 shows at the Commodore Ballroom. Please get in touch if you have a scan or a photo that you can share.
Press & Promotion:
Above: Newspaper ad for the early and late shows by George “Thorgood” (sp) and the Destroyers at the Commodore Ballroom on March 4, 1981. The March 3rd shows were added soon after. Source: Vancouver Sun. Feb. 7, 1981. Pg. C10.
Source: Vancouver Sun. Feb. 24, 1981. Pg. C5.
Source: Vancouver Sun. Feb. 27, 1981. Pg. L42.
Ticket Price: $9.
Ticket Stub: I have not yet seen a ticket stub from these concerts. If you have a photo or scan to share, please get in touch!
Attendance: 1,000 per show (4,000 total).
Source: Billboard Magazine. March 21, 1981. Pg. 70.
Set List:
March 3, 1981 (early show):
- House of Blue Lights.
- One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.
- Bottom of the Sea.
- Cocaine Blues.
- Move It On Over.
- Reelin’ and Rockin’.
Sources: Ubyssey News. March 6, 1981. Pg. 7; The Province. March 4, 1981. Pg. A6; Vancouver Sun. March 4, 1981. Pg. B1; The Other Press. March 12, 1981. Pg. 6.
Were these Concerts Recorded? Unknown.
Concert Photos:
Source: Vancouver Sun. March 4, 1981. Pg. B1.
Concert Reaction:
As Vancouver Province music critic Tom Harrison reported, the beer and the music were popular at the Destroyers’ early show at the Commodore Ballroom on March 3, 1981:
“[A] reliable measure of the compatibility of a rock and roll band and beer – amber elixir of the hairy mass – is the length of the line to the washroom. On Tuesday, the Commodore’s were jammed.
The occasion was the first sold-out show of four by George Thorogood and the Destroyers […] and as far as beer-drinking and hell-raising go, the combination of Thorogood and good old skunky Canadian beer was a match made in heaven…
Destroyers Jeff Simon (drums), Billy Blough (bass) and the significant addition of Hank Carter on sax are the sturdy, well-named but otherwise anonymous unit that greases Thorogood’s wheels. Together, from House Of Blue Lights through a murderous Reelin’ and Rockin’, George and the boys are honkers, shouters, troubleshooters and Bo Diddley-style gunslingers.
There isn’t a lot to what they do; it’s how they do it. Thorogood is not so much a blues musician as he is someone who knows what counts. In his case, energy, showmanship, honesty, integrity. And communion. The first show was only three songs old when George surveyed his parishioners and commented, “It’s nice to see the dancefloor christened so early in the sermon.” So, the Commodore was a church for a night and beer the holy water.”
Source: The Province. March 4, 1981. Pg. A6.
Vancouver Sun music critic Fiona McQuarrie had these positive words to say about the Destroyers’ early show at the Commodore Ballroom on March 3, 1981:
“Thorogood and his band, the Destroyers, cement their reputation as first-rate entertainers every time they hit this town. They play rock with the energy and drive that it deserves, and, best of all, they make sure everybody has a good time while they do it.
Wednesday night at the Commodore, for the first of four sellout shows, the four-man band (in front of a sign proclaiming ”World’s Original Five-Man Trio!!!”) blasted their way through a two-hour set that left them dripping with sweat and the audience, with beer cans up to their ankles, screaming for more. That was no concert, that was a party.
Thorogood is the musical equivalent of a revivalist preacher, bringing the spirit of rock and roll to the masses with a frenzied intensity. He even swings his microphone over the crowd and touches the head of his guitar to the heads of the people in the front row, as if he was blessing them in some bizarre ritual.
He’s a powerful, relentless guitarist, and […] and he never stops moving. He duckwalks across the stage, he does split-second knee drops (accentuated by cymbal crashes from drummer Jeff Simon), he jumps onto the dance floor, he climbs on a table and churns out his [solos] while fans shake their fists in time to the music.
Simon and bassist Bill Blough are an airtight rhythm section, keeping the steady beat that Thorogood plays off and embellishes upon. And the newest Destroyer, dapper saxophonist Hank Carter, adds an extra element to the sound while trading off some dynamic riffs with Thorogood.”
Source: Vancouver Sun. March 4, 1981. Pg. B1.
Steve McClure of the University of British Columbia’s “Ubyssey” student newspaper wrote a positive review of one of the Destroyers’ shows on March 3, 1981:
“Boom boom, out go the lights… and several neurons and all self-control. George Thorogood’s concert Tuesday night at the Commodore was one occasion where you had to be severely out of it to appreciate the raw energy of the crazed bluesman when plying his craft.
Not that you had to lower your critical standards when boppin’ to Mr. Thorogood, but it sure does help to become totally, well, involved. Thorogood plays an absolutely undiluted brand of blues-rock that leaves most of his competitors wondering what hit them. He doesn’t hold anything back, playing the most screeching and intense rock and roll imaginable. If he doesn’t have such a great voice, well who cares, his guitar speaks volumes anyway…
Thorogood believes in his music, and likes to tell people about it. “‘Don’t watch me,” he told the crowd at one point, “get up there and dance!” And some people actually did, although many preferred to join in the pulsating throng of Thorogoodians in front of the stage. You could feel the sweat in the air.
The man […] knows how to work a crowd, jumping into it with abandon, getting people involved with the music. Truly a people’s performer… Sometimes the pace slowed down enough for Thorogood to want to do some laid-back blues but for the most part he stuck to basic rock, which is all everybody at the Commodore wanted.”
Source: Ubyssey News. March 6, 1981. Pg. 7.
Other Notes: None.
Fate of the Venue: The Commodore Ballroom continues to host concerts and other public events.
Kelowna Community Theatre. Kelowna, British Columbia.
Date: March 5, 1981.
Venue: Kelowna Community Theatre. 1375 Water St. Kelowna, BC. V1Y 0B4. Canada.
Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/zfCVCo7mFfM3VaQaA
Venue Exterior:
1965:
Source: Kelowna Community Theatre.
2021:
Venue Interior: I am still looking for a photo inside the Kelowna Community Theatre, circa 1981. Please send me a note of you have a lead.
Opening Act: Unknown.
Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have not (yet) come across a poster, flyer or handbill for the Destroyers’ March 5th, 1981 show at the Kelowna Community Theatre. Please get in touch if you have a scan or a photo that you can share.
Press & Promotion: I am still looking for any advertising to promote this concert.
Ticket Price: Unknown.
Ticket Stub: I have not yet seen a ticket stub to this concert. If you have a photo or scan to share, please get in touch!
Attendance: Unknown. Depending on the source, the Kelowna Community Theatre had capacity for an audience of 853 or 875 people at this time.
Set List: Unknown. Please send me a note if you have any details.
Was the Concert Recorded? Unknown.
Concert Photos: I am still looking for any photographs of this concert. Please send me a note if you have any leads.
Concert Reaction: I have not (yet) found a contemporary printed review for this concert, circa 1981. Please send me a note if you can point me in the right direction.
Other Notes: None.
Fate of the Venue: At the time of this writing, the Kelowna Community Theatre continues to function as a venue for live performances and other public events.
Marquis Hall. University of Saskatchewan. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Date: March 6, 1981. The Destroyers performed two shows at Marquis Hall on this date.
Venue: Marquis Hall. University of Saskatchewan. 97 Campus Dr. Saskatoon, SK. S7N 4L3. Canada.
Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/C4CBTQ6TS9JeuVyt9
Venue Exterior:
1980:
Source: University of Saskatchewan Archives.
2014:
Venue Interior:
1981:
Source: University of Saskatchewan Archives.
Opening Act: The Whales.
Source: Saskatoon Star Phoenix. Aug. 18, 1980. Pg. C13.
Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have not (yet) come across a poster, flyer or handbill for the Destroyers’ 1981 show at Marquis Hall. Please get in touch if you have a scan or a photo that you can share.
Press & Promotion:
Source: Sheaf. March 4, 1981. Pg. 6.
Source: Sheaf. March 4, 1981. Pg. 11.
Source: Saskatoon Star Phoenix. March 6, 1981. Pg. D1.
Above: As you can see, the Destroyers concerts on March 6, 1981 were originally going to take place at Saskatoon’s Centennial Auditorium. The shows were moved to Marquis Hall because of a strike by unionized city workers.
Source: Saskatoon Star Phoenix. Feb. 26, 1981. Pg. D1.
Above: Saskatoon’s Centennial Auditorium.
Ticket Price: Unknown.
Ticket Stub: I have not yet seen a ticket stub to this concert. If you have a photo or scan to share, please get in touch!
Attendance: Unknown. The Saskatoon Star Phoenix reported that the Destroyers played to “two packed houses” on this date. The Marquis Hall Events Centre currently has capacity for 450 people.
Source: Saskatoon Star Phoenix. March 7, 1981.
Set List:
March 6, 1981 (early show):
- House of Blue Lights.
- The Sky is Crying.
- Cocaine Blues.
- One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.
- Madison Blues.
- It Wasn’t Me.
Source: Saskatoon Star Phoenix. March 7, 1981.
Were these Concerts Recorded? Unknown.
Concert Photos: I am still looking for any photographs of these concerts. Please send me a note if you have any leads.
Concert Reaction:
Bill Robertson of the Saskatoon Star Phoenix had this to say about the Destroyers’ early show at Marquis Hall in Saskatoon on March 6, 1981:
“After wavering between fact and fiction, strike and settlement, one of the cult heroes of the rock and roll scene, George Thorogood, finally found a place to play in Marquis Hall on the U. of S. campus Friday night. And play he did.
George Thorogood and his Delaware Destroyers have been destroying concert halls, cabarets, clubs and bars since well before the release of his first of three albums issued to date. Critics have called him derivative, unoriginal, and a rehash of old standards but those critics are still talking and Thorogood is still packing the houses and bringing the fans to their feet.
Whatever rock and roll is, it’s supposed to be fun and two packed houses in Saskatoon can attest to the fact that Thorogood’s music is fun…
Thorogood put his low strung Gibson through the paces while sidemen on bass, drums and saxophone charged on behind him. After one run through [the venue], during which Thorogood ran down onto the dance floor and up on to some tables while playing, he called the crowd in and had the people move up front. From there he started all over and let blast with his distinctive brand of rough and ready, rock and roll.
Thorogood is capable of some of the most restrained and evocative electric blues music on the road today […] but it is the raw voice and the wild guitar that have set him apart as a big draw on the club circuit. Thorogood’s renditions […] are so familiar to his following that whenever he stepped away from the microphone and nodded to the audience it filled in the words.”
Source: Saskatoon Star Phoenix. March 7, 1981.
Other Notes: There was no liquor or dancing permitted for these shows.
Fate of the Venue: At the time of this writing, Marquis Hall continues to serve as a venue for conferences, weddings and other public events.
Rockyview Park Community Centre. Calgary, Alberta.
Date: March 7, 1981.
Venue: Rockyview Park Community Centre. 69th Street and Richmond Road. Calgary, AB. Canada. (approx. 3939 – 69th Street SW. Calgary, AB. T3H 3Y1. Canada.)
Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/yhSAAvtjVejGbVcb6
Venue Exterior:
1962:
Above: Prior to becoming the Rockyview Park Community Centre, the building housed the Elbow Valley Curling Club. This photo is from that time. The building is identifiable by its pointed “laminated arch beam” roof.
2021:
Venue Interior:
1979:
Source: Calgary Herald. Sept. 27, 1979. Pg. C5.
Opening Act: Sidewinder.
Source: Calgary Herald. Sept. 25, 1981. Pg. D9.
Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have not (yet) come across a poster, flyer or handbill for the Destroyers’ 1981 show at the Rockyview Park Community Centre. Please get in touch if you have a scan or a photo that you can share.
Press & Promotion:
Source: Calgary Herald. Feb. 28, 1981. Pg. H5.
Source: Calgary Herald. Mar. 5, 1981. Pg. D10.
Ticket Price: Unknown.
Ticket Stub: I have not yet seen a ticket stub to this concert. If you have a photo or scan to share, please get in touch!
Attendance: Unknown. The Rockyview Park Community Centre had legal capacity for 2,400 people in 1975. Venue operators typically capped attendance for rock concerts at 1,000 to 1,200 people.
Source: The Calgary Albertan. April 24, 1975. Pg. 6.
Set List:
- Johnny B. Goode.
- I’m Wanted.
- One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.
- Madison Blues.
Source: Calgary Herald. March 9, 1981. Pg. B8; University of Calgary Gauntlet. March 11, 1981. Pg. 9.
Was the Concert Recorded? Unknown.
Concert Photos:
Source: Calgary Herald. March 9, 1981. Pg. B8.
Concert Reaction:
This review by Roman Cooney of the Calgary Herald describes the scene on the stage and in the audience at the Rockyview Park Community Centre on March 7, 1981:
“From the moment George Thorogood cut through the smoke and noise of the crowded Rockyview Community Centre with Chuck Berry’s classic riff (from Johnny B. Goode, natch), there seemed little doubt that it would be a night for rock ‘n’ roll…
Ever the show-off while on stage, it’s Thorogood’s personality and his delivery, the brash showmanship and the simplicity of blues-rock (and a little country and western) that gives spirit to his routine. There just isn’t any room for subtlety, what with the sax player squawking in the background, the bass player rumbling through the rhythm and the drummer making his own bid for dominance. Thorogood doesn’t have time to treat it gently, so he slaps that big fat Gibson around and gives the crowd rock ‘n’ roll the way they want it.
Get the picture? It ain’t the music, it’s the atmosphere. In this case, straight out of a high school dance scene: the stuffy close quarters of a community hall like a high school gym; colorful streamers hung across the ceiling, leftover from a previous party of some sort; the sound unimaginably bad; people sneaking booze in under their jackets…
The crowd, now there’s a different story. From boppers to bikers, you’re not likely to find these people at your basic KISS concert. Some would have trouble picking Chuck Berry out of a crowd; others looked like they were around to buy his original recordings hot off the press…
As rock ‘n’ roll goes — not just the music, but the emotion as well, the best measure of good rock — Thorogood has the game aced. He falls far short of being a guitarist of vast or varied technical skills, and he lacks innovation, but as a showman he’s hard to match.”
Source: Calgary Herald. March 9, 1981. Pg. B8.
Reviewer Robert Vaile from the University of Calgary’s Gauntlet student newspaper described “a night of unrelenting rock ‘n roll” at the Rockyview Park Community Centre on March 7, 1981:
“From the opening riffs it was all George Thorogood and the Destroyers at their hard-driving best. Their aggressive rock came like a well-deserved slap in the face in these times of heavily textured and seldom interesting pop music. Thorogood lives in the past, his idols are the blues greats of rock’s early years and he makes no bones about it. He lets the music do the talking.
The concert was held at the Rockyview Community Centre in the west end of town and the crowd that showed up included representatives of all groups of humanity. The common denominator was a love for straight ahead rock ‘n roll. The band just never let up…
Thorogood, much renowned for his stage antics and his aggressive playing style, was superb… He likes to see the crowd get involved and encouraged them to join in a few choruses. The audience responded approvingly. The Destroyers were tight and provided all the support that Thorogood needed. Drummer Jeff Simon and bassist Billy Blough worked hard to keep the beat while Thorogood ripped off solo after solo. Sax-man Hank Carter rounded out the band most admirably and it was unfortunate that his early solos were marred by feedback and distortion.
The evening raged on for over an hour before Thorogood decided to take a bit of a break and the band eased into its first slow number. This change of pace gave Thorogood a chance to demonstrate his true ability as a guitarist as he worked skillfully through the leads. He is not a great guitarist in terms of his ability to use a broad range of styles. However, he is an expert blues guitarist and what he doesn’t have in versatility he makes up for with unlimited energy and raw power. As we drove back to town with our ears pleasantly ringing, it was obvious that Saturday night with George Thorogood would be one to remember.”
Source: University of Calgary Gauntlet. March 11, 1981. Pg. 9.
Other Notes: None.
Fate of the Venue: The Rockyview Park Community Centre was still in operation as of 1982, but was replaced by the Hungarian Canadian Cultural Centre at that site as of January 1984. At the time of this writing, the former Rockyview Park Community Centre is home to Westside King’s Church.
Source: Calgary Herald. Aug. 10, 1996. Pg. G7.
50 States in 50 Dates 