9/10/1980 The Pretenders, The English Beat, Shryock Auditorium, Carbondale, IL


 41 years ago...

September 10, 1980 - Carbondale, IL

The Pretenders headlined a concert at Shryock Auditorium.
This show was my introduction to concert promotion, as I was part of a committee that booked and produced events in a small historic theatre on the campus of Southern Illinois University. This was a good "get," as the committee had contracted with the band before its first hit "Brass In Pocket" from their debut album hit the charts. We hired them for a fraction of the rate they could now command with a top selling record. I helped with load-in and tore tickets at the door.
Chrissie Hynde fronted the band and was the toughest looking female musician I'd ever seen.
The English Beat, a British ska band, opened the show with a high energy danceable set.
A strange thing happened the next day when the band's bass player, the late Pete Farndon, showed up at our apartment door to look at a motorcycle that was advertised for sale. He was at the wrong apartment.
The band is now in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Our committee clearly had an eye for talent.

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