UPDATE - British Invasion Revisited 1984

Here's an update of the 1984 20th Anniversary of British Rock Tour

Back again with another British Invasion reunion tour of America.  This tour took place a decade after Richard Nader’s watershed tour in 1973.  Billed as the “20^th Anniversary of British Rock,” this tour featured Gerry Marsden, Billy J. Kramer, Herman’s Hermits, the Troggs, and Badfinger featuring Joey Molland.  Organized by Talent Consultants International, Executive Producers: Empire Communications, Inc., NYC, NY -- Ray Reneri and Marvin Mann.  This version of Herman’s Hermits contained only Lek Leckenby and Barry Witwam of the original band along with Garth Elliott and Paul Farnell.   This tour booked the package into more modest venues and definitely did not hit all the major markets.

 



Billy J. Kramer, Gerry Marsden and Joey Molland in Washington DC

July 4, 1984

Boston, MA

 

August 1, 1984

Baltimore, MD

 

This show was cancelled

 

August 2, 1984

Hilton Hotel Ballroom, Washington, DC

 

August 3, 1984

North Forty Club, Ithica, NY

August 4, 1984

Rio Theatre, Valley Stream, NY

 

August 5, 1984

Lupos Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, RI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 7, 1984

Club Casino, Hampton Beach, NH

 

August 9, 1984

Birch Hill Swim Club, Old Bridge, NJ

 

 

TV crews from all three major networks plus MTV are at the show to film and interview the bands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Billy J. Kramer at Old Hill.

 

August 10, 1984

Lanierland Music Park, Cummings, GA

 

August 11, 1984

Aqua Theater, Greensboro, NC

 

August 14, 1984

Auditorium, West Palm Beach, FL

 

A preliminary date in Fort Lauderdale, FL was cancelled

 

August 16, 1984

London Victory Club, Tampa, FL

 

August 18, 1984

Celebrity’s, Lafayette, LA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 21, 1984

Civic Center, Peoria, IL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 21-22, 1984

Picadilly, Indianapolis, IN

August 23, 1984

Park West, Chicago, IL

 

August 25, 1984

Veteran’s Memorial Hall, Columbus, OH

 

 

August 26, 1984

Downtown Festival Tent, Rochester, NY

 

 

 

August 29, 1984

Memorial Gardens, Sault Ste. Marie, Canada

 

 

August 30, 1984

Fort William Gardens, Thunder Bay, Canada

 

A sparse crowd of 829 attend this show.

 

 

September 3, 1984

Music Tower, Playland, Rye, NY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 4, 1984

Bottom Line, New York City, NY

Biggest Show of Stars 1958 - Spring Edition

After another successful year, Irvin Feld finds the field crowded this year.  DJ Alan Freed put together a package called the Big Beat Show to run head to head against this tour.  Universal Attractions, who booked a large stable of black acts, put together the Rhythm and Blues Cavalcade of '58 to tour.  And Dick Clark announced plans for a package tour for later in the year.  A battle for prime venues in key cities and talent took place in an atmosphere of an economic downturn.   Then on May 6 in Boston a riot broke out during Alan Freed's Big Beat Show leading to the cancellation of the remainder of that package.  The R&B Cavalcade had also ground to a halt with only the Biggest Show of Stars completing its itinerary. 

 

 

Talent: Sam Cooke, Paul Anka, The Everly Brothers, Clyde McPhatter, Frankie Avalon, Lavern Baker, Jackie Wilson, The Royal Teens, George Hamilton IV, The Silhouettes, The Crescendos, Storey Sisters, The Monotones, The Playmates, Huey Smith & the Clowns, Jimmy Dell, Bobby Marchan

 

April 5, 1958 Norfolk, VA

 

The Spring tour opens in Norfolk after several days of rehearsals in New York City. 

 

April 6, 1958 The Mosque, Richmond, VA

 

Two Easter Sunday shows at 7 and 10 p.m.

 

April 11, 1958  Sports Arena, Hershey, PA

 

April 12, 1958 Philadelphia, PA

 

A disappointing crowd of less than 1,000 show up tonight.

 

April 13, 1958 Arena, New Haven, CT

 

April 14, 1958 Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh, PA

 

April 17, 1958 War Memorial Auditorium, Rochester, NY

 

April 18, 1958 Auditorium, Ottawa, Canada

 

A modest crowd of 1,500 attend tonight's show highlighting Paul Anka's return to his hometown.  Five youths in leather jackets were thrown out of the show for throwing things onto the stage.

 

April 19, 1958 Sports Arena, Hershey, PA

 

April 22, 1958 Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, NY

 

April 23, 1958 Warner Theatre, Erie, PA

 

Two shows scheduled at 7 and 9 p.m.

 

April 24, 1958 Sports Arena, Toledo, OH

 

April 26, 1958 Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY

 

May 1, 1958  Indiana Theatre, Indianapolis, IN

 

May 2, 1958 Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, MO

 

May 3, 1958 Civic Opera House, Chicago, IL

 

May 4, 1958 Auditorium, St. Paul, MN

 

A matinee performance of the package.

 

May 4, 1958 Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN

 

An evening show.

 

May 5, 1958 Civic Auditorium, Lewiston, ME

 

May 8, 1958 Arena, Saskatoon, Canada

 

May 12, 1958 Orpheum Theater, Seattle, WA

 

The show is booked for three performances at 4:00 and 7:00 and 9:30 p.m.

 

May 14, 1958 Paramount Theatre, Portland, OR

 

May 17, 1958 Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, TX

 

May 18, 1958 Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, TX

 

May 20, 1958 Municipal Auditorium, Oklahoma City, OK

 

May 24, 1958 Music Hall, Civic Auditorium, Omaha, NE

 

Two shows booked at 7 and 9 p.m.

 

May 29, 1958 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC

 

 

Biggest Show of Stars of 1957 Fall Edition

Promoter Irvin Feld booked the fall edition of the Biggest Show of Stars to cover 28 states and 5 Canadian provinces with a total of 80 shows.  Even before the tour began, it made headlines when the September 8 show in Washington DC was cancelled when city commissioners banned headliner Fats Domino from appearing because his behavior would lead to a riot requiring every policeman in the city.  Feld, a native of Washington DC, moved the show to Annapolis.  This package adds the red-hot Buddy Holly and the Crickets and Paul Anka to the lineup.

Talent: Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly & Crickets, Paul Anka, Spanials, Drifters, Everly Brothers, Frankie Lymon, Lavern Baker, Jimmy Bowen, Buddy Knox, The Diamonds, Clyde McPhatter, Johnnie and Joe, The Bobbettes, Paul Williams Orchestra

 

September 6, 1957 Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh, PA

 

September 7, 1958 The Mosque, Richmond, VA

 

September 8, 1957 Carr's Beach Ballroom, Annapolis, MD

 

September 9, 1957 Municipal Auditorium, Norfolk, VA

 

September 10, 1957  Akron Armory, Akron, OH

 

September 11, 1957 Garden, Cincinnati, OH

 

September 12, 1957 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Columbus, OH

 

September 13, 1957 Sports Arena, Hershey, PA

 

September 14, 1957 Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Canada

 

Chuck Berry comes down with the flu and is unable to perform tonight.

September 15, 1957 Forum, Montreal, Canada

 

A huge 30,000 crowd packs the Forum for two shows for a gross of $51,890.

September 16, 1957 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, NY

 

September 17, 1957 War Memorial Audiorium, Rochester, NY

 

September 18, 1957 Coliseum, Baltimore, MD

 

September 19, 1957 Memorial Auditorium, Raleigh, NC

 

September 20, 1957 Memorial Coliseum, Winston-Salem, NC

 

September 21, 1957 Coliseum, Charlotte, NC

 

September 22, 1957 Municipal Auditorium, Atlanta, GA

 

September 23, 1957 New Auditorium, Columbus, GA

September 24, 1957 Memorial Auditorium, Chattanooga, TN

Starting today, Paul Anka, Buddy Holly and the Crickets, and the Everly Brothers are dropped from the lineup for the next five shows since black performers and with performers cannot appear together in those cities.

September 25, 1957  Municipal Auditorium, Birmingham, AL

September 26, 1957 Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, LA

September 27, 1957 Auditorium, Memphis, TN

 

September 28, 1957 Memorial Auditorium, Tulsa, OK

The Everlys, Buddy Holly and the Crickets and Paul Anka return to the lineup tonight.  During the day, Buddy and the Crickets go to Tinker Air Force Base and record four songs including Maybe Baby in the Officer's Club Lounge.

September 29, 1957 Municipal Auditorium, Oklahoma City, OK

Two shows booked at 4 and 8 p.m.

 

September 30, 1957 City Auditorium, Wichita Falls, TX

 

October 1, 1957 New Auditorium, Dallas, TX

 

October 2, 1957 Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum, Ft. Worth, TX

 

October 3, 1957 Heart of Texas Coliseum, Waco, TX

October 4, 1957 Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, TX

Two shows at 7:30 and 10 p.m.

 

October 5, 1957 Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, TX

Two shows are booked at 7 and 10:30 p.m.

 

October 6, 1957 Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, TX

 

October 7 ,1957 City Coliseum, Austin, TX

 

October 8, 1957 City Auditorium, El Paso, TX

 

October 9, 1957 Municipal Auditorium, Albuquerque, NM

 

October 10, 1957 Calalina High School Gym, Tucson, AZ

 

October 11, 1957 Coliseum, Phoenix, AZ

 

October 12, 1957 Mission Beach Ballroom, San Diego, CA

Tonight's show is a sell-out.

 

October 13, 1957 Memorial Auditorium, Fresno, CA

 

October 15, 1957 Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA

Starting with today's show and running the remainder of the tour, Feld drops the black acts The Bobbettes, The Spaniels, and Johnnie and Joe and adds Eddie Cochrane, Buddy Knox and Jimmy Bowen to the lineup.  Fats Domino also choses to close the first half of the show so he can have his evenings free for partying and socializing.

 

October 17, 1957 Civic Auditorium, San Jose, CA

 

October 18, 1957 Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, CA

 

October 19, 1957 Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA

 

October 20, 1957 Civic Auditorium, Stockton, CA (matinee)

 

October 20, 1957 Auditorium, Oakland, CA (evening)

 

October 22, 1957 Paramount Theater, Portland, OR

 

October 23, 1957 Georgia Auditorium, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

 

 

Don and Phil Everly with Vancouver Radio personality Red Robinson.

October 24, 1957 Temple Theater, Tacoma, WA

 

October 25-26, 1957 Orpheum Theater, Seattle, WA

The cast throws a surprise birthday party for Irvin Feld after one of these shows.  He was lured to the party by the report that Lavern Baker and Clyde McPhatter were fighting.

October 27, 1957 Coliseum, Spokane, WA

 

October 28, 1957 University of Idaho, Moscow, ID

Having had their fill of Paul Anka's bratty behavior, the cast decides to strike back.  Backstage, several acts strip Anka while Lavern Baker smears him with blackened cold cream and then dumps two pillows of feathers on him.

October 29, 1957 Stampede Corral, Calgary, Canada

 

October 30, 1957 Edmonton Gardens, Edmonton, Canada

 

October 31, 1957 Exhibition Auditorium, Regina, Canada

 

November 1, 1957 Arena Auditorium, Denver, CO

Feld adds the Diamonds to the lineup, increasing the number of white artists to over half.  After the show, radio DJ Freeman "Free" Hover conducts interviews in Eddie Cochrane's suite for KCSR in Chadron, Nebraska of several stars of the show.  Amazingly, these interviews have survived and can be found on YouTube

November 2, 1957 Forum, Wichita, KS

 

November 3, 1957 Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, MO

 

November 4, 1957 Music Hall City Auditorium, Omaha, NE

 

November 5, 1957 Arena Municipal Auditorium, Topeka, KS

 

November 6, 1957 Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, MO

One show booked at 8:30 p.m.

 

November 7, 1957 Indiana Theater, Indianapolis, IN

 

November 8, 1957 Coliseum, Ft. Wayne, IN

 

November 9, 1957 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Louisville, KY

 

November 10, 1957 Fox Theater, Detroit, MI

 

November 11, 1957 Sports Arena, Toledo, OH

 

November 12, 1957 Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh, PA

 

November 13, 1957 Warner Brothers Theatre, Erie, PA

 

November 14, 1957 RPI Fieldhouse, Troy, NY

 

November 15, 1957 Boston Gardens, Boston, MA

 

Boston police prove to be tough on the fans as they arrest dozens of kids and kicked out another dozen for dancing.

November 16, 1957 State Theater, Hartford, CT

 

November 17, 1957 Forum, Montreal, Canada

A return booking to accommodate the fans who didn't get into the shows back in September.

 

November 18, 1957 Auditorium Arena, Toronto, Canada

 

November 19, 1957 Municipal Auditorium, Buffalo, NY

 

November 20, 1957 Arena, Philadelphia, PA

November 21, 1957 Paramount Theater, Brooklyn, NY

LOOK magazine sends a photographer to the show and the bulk of the attention goes to Fats Domino despite several of the acts who went to #1 during the tour.

 

November 22, 1957 Municipal Auditorium, Norfolk, VA

 

November 23, 1957 Coliseum, Charlotte, NC

 

November 24, 1957 Mosque, Richmond, VA

The wrap party was held in a club that did not usually allow blacks, yet another big step that rock n' roll was going to continue to push the envelope.