1980–1984: Bigger Tours, New Demands
From 1980 to 1984, touring kept accelerating—bigger productions, tighter schedules, and crews expected to deliver consistent, powerful sound night after night. These were years when live shows were getting more complex, and the work behind the scenes had to be sharper than ever.
This section of the archive highlights Showco’s work during the early ’80s, with materials from tours by artists like Van Halen, ZZ Top, The Who, Styx, Eric Clapton, The Beach Boys, and more.
I’m building this archive by hand and will keep adding photos, itineraries, stage plots, and ephemera as they’re located and digitized.
Were you on the road, in the crowd, or working with Showco between 1980 and 1984?
If you have photos, passes, documents, or stories from this era, please contact me to help expand this part of the archive.
Frank Sinatra Backstage Pass - Dallas, TX
Frank Sinatra Button
Frank Sinatra Rider
The Kinks Showco Super Ligger Crew Shirt-1980
White T-shirt with blue text reading 'SUPER LIGGER' on the left sleeve and 'SHOWCO' on the chest, hanging on a hanger against a collage of various photos of band members and performers.
The Kinks One for the Road All Access Personnel Laminate
The Kinks World Tour 1980 Personnel Laminate
Showco Garage Sale Flyer
Showco Garage Sale Flyer
Showco Garage Sale Flyer
Showco Garage Sale Flyer
The Who 1980 Stage Pass Laminate - Toronto July 16
Van Halen Button
August 11, 1981-CLARION-LEDGER- Robin MAGRUDER
Magruder, Bornhorst, Schad
Alan Owen
Bob Brown, Becky Bornhorst, Mike Kidson
?, Jim Waits
Robin Magruder
Black textured cover with orange text that reads, 'summer tour '81 JAMES TAYLOR BAD LOVES HIS WORK.'
1-19-1982 letter to Rusty Brutsche from Bill Graham thanking him for Showco and the crews work on recent 'caper'.
Led Zeppelin Tour Over Europe 1980 Autographed poster - courtesy Kretzschmar estate
SHOWCO credits in Ronnie Lane Appeal for ARMS 1983 program
R.A. Roth Showco Ad
R.A. Roth Showco Ad
R.A. Roth Showco Ad
R.A. Roth Showco Ad
R.A. Roth Showco Ad
R.A. Roth Showco Ad
Showco Inc Ad
Showco Between the Stars & the Fans article June 1983 - PIctured Van Halen Showco Pyramid System
Showco Recycle Ad
Laser Pin Cushion Ad
JBL ON TOUR W/SHOWCO INC. - AD
August 5, 1981 Meeting Agenda p. 1
August 5, 1981 Meeting Agenda p. 2
Steve Harris 1981 June Itinerary
1982 April Krokus Itinerary
Craig Schertz 1982 Hawaii
Craig Schertz 1982 Hawaii
Vari Lite Crew on Governors Row in Dallas, 1982 Curtis Hartung, Eric Fredrick, Dale Polansky, John Covington, Jim Bornhorst.
1982 Waylon Jennings Tour laminate
Artists and Tours from this Era
From the Office
Running a touring sound company took more than road cases and mixing boards. These internal memos during 1980-1984 offer a rare look at how Showco operated behind the scenes — from policy updates and crew announcements to the day-to-day business of keeping the show on the road.