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

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:

• December 10, 1980 – Armando’s Palace. Louisville, KY.

Armando’s Palace.

Date:  December 10, 1980.

Venue: Armando’s Palace. 2470 Bardstown Rd. Louisville, KY. 40205. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ycioAv2JdPoAHngGA

Venue Exterior: 

1982:

Above: Huey Lewis poses for a photo in front of Armando’s Palace in 1982. Source: Laura Levine/Corbis via Getty Images.

2023:

Venue Interior:

1981:

Source: Courier Journal. Nov. 12, 1981. Pg. B1.

Opening Act: Unknown. 

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

Press & Promotion: I am still looking for any print advertising used to promote this show. 

Ticket Price:  Unknown.

Ticket Stub: I have not (yet!) seen a ticket stub from this concert. Please send me a note if you have a scan or photo to share.

Attendance:  Unknown. The official capacity of Armando’s Palace was 750 people, however, some shows at the venue reportedly had upwards of 1,200 attendees.

Source: Courier Journal. July 16 1980. Pg. B1.

Set List: Unknown. 

Was the Concert Recorded?  Unknown.

Concert Photos: I have not uncovered any photos from this concert to date. Please get in touch if you have any to share.

Concert Reaction: I am still looking for a printed review of the Destroyers’ concert at Armando’s Palace, circa December 1980. Please send me a note if you can point me in the right direction. 

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue: Armando’s Palace closed in 1984.

Source: Courier Journal. June 3, 1984. Pg. F12.

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50 Dates in 50 Posts – Tour Stop # 17 – University of Kentucky Student Center Grand Ballroom, Lexington, Kentucky

50/50 Tour Stop:  # 17

Date:  November 8, 1981

Venue:  University of Kentucky Student Center Grand Ballroom,  404 South Limestone St.  Lexington, KY.  40526

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

Venue Exterior: 

1982:

2013:

Venue Interior:

1964:

Opening Act:  Blog reader (and past UK concert chairman) Douglas B has confirmed there was no opening act for this show.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill:

Press & Promotion: 

Source:  Louisville Courier Journal Sun.  October 25, 1981.

Ticket Price:  $6

Ticket Stub:

Attendance:  1000.  (Source:  Lexington Herald newspaper).

Set List:

• Hello Little Girl
• Kids From Philly
• Who Do You Love?
• I’m Wanted
• Cocaine Blues
• One Way Ticket
• One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
• As The Years Go Passing By
• It Wasn’t Me
• Bottom Of The Sea
• Night Time
• I’ll Change My Style
• Miss Luann
• Can’t Stop Lovin’
• Madison Blues

The Lexington Herald newspaper reported a running time for this show of two hours.  

Was the Concert Recorded?  Yes.  A high quality soundboard recording was made of this show from the radio broadcast.

Above:  Cover art for a bootleg of the UK 50-50 concert.

Concert Photos:  I have not found any photos from this show as of this writing.  If you have photos from the Destroyers’ UK 50-50 show, please drop me a note.

Concert Reaction: 

In his mostly positive review of 50-50 show # 17, Lexington Herald writer Walter Tunis praises George Thorogood’s ability to connect with the enthusiastic UK student audience.  The review makes repeated mention of how “enormously loud” the evening was, with music played at the “volume of a freight train”.

Other Notes:  The CD tray inlay for the album George Thorogood & the Destroyers Anthology (Capitol Records, 2000) shows a sepia tone montage of backstage passes from the 50 50 tour, including one from the University of Kentucky show (Bottom-left of photo).

Fate of the Venue:  Beginning in June 2015, the University of Kentucky Student Center underwent a significant renovation to make way for a new, expanded facility.  This work included a complete overhaul of the Grand Ballroom (see second photo below).

Source: University of Kentucky.

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