The Rolling Stones (1980–1984): Stadium Scale, No Shortcuts
From 1980 to 1984, The Rolling Stones were operating at full stadium scale—bigger crowds, bigger logistics, and zero room for error. These years capture the pace and pressure of keeping a massive show moving, night after night, with the crew work behind the scenes as essential as what happened under the lights.
This section of the archive collects Showco-related materials connected to The Rolling Stones during the early ’80s—tour ephemera, documents, photos, and other surviving pieces as they’re located and digitized.
I’m building this archive by hand and will keep adding items as more materials are identified and preserved.
Were you on the road, in the crowd, or working with The Rolling Stones or Showco between 1980 and 1984?
If you have passes, itineraries, photos, paperwork, or stories from this era, please contact me to help expand this part of the archive.
Rolling Stones American Tour '81 Button
Rolling Stones Parking Permit - October 17, 1981 - Candlestick Park
Showco Article with Rusty Brutsche
Showco Sets Stones Gig in Motion Article
The Rolling Stones Parking Pass - Cotton Bowl-Dallas, TX- Sept. 1 1982/October 11, 1981
The Rolling Stones ticket stub - October 31, 1981
Rolling Stones '82 Scrims
The Rolling Stones - 1982
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe - Site Coordinator Jim Dunbar
Townsend Wessinger - Stones '82
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe - Townsend Wessinger, Jack Maxson
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe - Mick Jagger
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe - Keith Carroll
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe - John Badenhop
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe - Bruce Schertz
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe - Bruce Schertz
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
The Rolling Stones 1982 Europe
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October 16–17, 1981 — Candlestick Park
San Francisco travel and setup on October 16, followed by the October 17 show at Candlestick Park. Updated October 15, 1981. Crew travel listings, sound and lighting calls, and truck routing. Courtesy of Showco alumnus Paul Strong.
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November 19–21, 1981 — Midwest Routing
St. Louis, Cedar Falls and St. Paul routing, including the November 20 Unidome date and November 21 Civic Center Arena show. Donnie Kretzschmar, Paul Strong, Charlie Parnell and Johnny Roberts are named together. The November 19 page has a handwritten note about a missed Dallas flight, driving in snow and luggage trouble. Courtesy of Paul Strong.
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December 11–14, 1981 — Tempe & Kansas City
Travel and setup for Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe (December 13 show), followed by Kemper Arena in Kansas City (December 14). Names include Donnie Kretzschmar, Johnny Roberts, Paul Strong, Charlie Parnell, Allen Branton and Jan Pestinger. Courtesy of Showco alumnus Paul Strong.
💬 Add to the Story
Were you part of this tour? Attend one of these shows? Recognize someone in a photo?
I'd love to hear your memories, stories, corrections, or additional information. Your contributions help preserve The Family Behind the Music.
Every memory shared here helps make the Showco Archives more complete for future generations.