{{< MultiGalleryComponent galleries="1980-show-shots, commodores-sign, reunion-setup, set-in-the-shop" >}} When I became CEO of Showco, negotiations were in process with Bennie Ashburn, the manager of the Commodores, for Showco to supply the full production for their upcoming 1980 tour. Lionel Richie was still with the Commodores and Benny wanted Showco to design a large set and lighting rig for the tour. Showco’s lighting designer, Delton Bass, designed a lighting rig using the trusses and chrome PAR cans that we had built for the Bee Gees tour. Delton also designed a large stage set that included a motorized riser for Lionel Richie’s white grand piano that would be capable of moving during the show with the piano atop the riser. My intention was to stop building stage sets but since we had committed to Bennie Ashburn to build the show, I went ahead with the project. Ron Fox led the effort to build the set and the motorized piano riser. The tour was very successful and it was the last time that Lionel Richie performed as a member of the Commodores. And the last time Showco would build a stage set and a conventional lighting rig for a touring artist.

{{< StoryImage id="showco-supplemental-image-003-commodores-set" title="Commodores set construction" caption="Construction of Commodores set for 1980 tour. This would be the last set that Showco would build for a touring artist." credit="Photo Recovered Showco Archive" size="medium" >}} {{< StoryImage id="showco-supplemental-image-005-commodores-set" title="Commodores set" caption="Construction of the set for Commodores 1980 tour. The round riser in front is the motorized piano riser for Lionel Richie and his grand piano. The piano had a heavy plexiglass lid adorned with chase lights that had to erect itself when the piano came out of the “garage” under the drum riser." credit="Photo Recovered Showco Archive" size="medium" >}} {{< StoryImage id="showco-010-reunion-stage" title="Commodores rig" caption="Showco Pyramid sound system, Showco lighting system and Showco designed constructed stage set and Commodores sign setup in Reunion Arena Dallas, TX for 1980 Commodores tour. This was last tour where Lionel Richey was member Commodores." credit="Photo Recovered Showco Archive" size="medium" >}} {{< StoryImage id="showco-006-reunion-show-80" title="Commodores stage set" caption="Commodores stage set and lighting rig for 1980 tour. The piano riser rolled out from under the drum platform and the plexiglass piano top opened." credit="Photo Recovered Showco Archive" size="medium" >}} {{< StoryImage id="showco-008-reunion-show-80" title="Lionel Richie" caption="Lionel Richie performing at his grand piano on the motorized piano riser Commodores 1980 tour." credit="Photo Recovered Showco Archive" size="medium" >}}

### Linda Ronstadt Mad Love Tour 1980 {{< GalleryComponent id="1980-linda-ronstadt" >}} Showco provided the sound and lighting for the Linda Ronstadt 1980 Mad Love Tour that began on April 15, 1980. {{< StoryImage id="showco-013-linda-80" title="Linda Ronstadt" caption="Linda Ronstadt on Mad Love Tour in 1980." credit="Photo Recovered Showco Archive" size="medium" >}} ### Led Zeppelin Tour of Europe 1980 The first Led Zeppelin shows after the tragic death of Robert Plant’s son in 1977 were two outdoor shows at Knebworth in the UK in August 1979. Showco provided the sound and I mixed the shows. We sub contracted the lighting to a local UK company. In the summer of 1980, Showco provided the sound, and I mixed the shows for the Led Zeppelin Tour of Europe and again we sub contracted the lighting to a local UK company. {{< GalleryComponent id="1979-led-zeppelin-europe" >}}

Showco History