Forgotten concerts: The Rolling Stones at Sir Morgan's Cove in Worcester on Sept. 14, 1981

The Rolling Stones on stage at Sir Morgan's Cove in Worcester on Sept. 14, 1981. (Photo courtesy of Bernie Demers).



Sixteen-year-old Chris Nygrad, of Worcester, Mass., reacts with tears as she tries to look for members of the Rolling Stones from between a line of police officers on Monday, Sept. 15, 1981 in Worcester, Mass. Nygrad was one of about 4,000 fans who gathered outside a nightclub where the rock group entertained about 300 in a preview of their upcoming U.S. tour. (AP Photo/Bill Polo)



Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger grins prior to boarding a private jet, Sept. 24, 1981 in Worcester, Mass., County Airport, headed for Philadelphia and the start of their first American tour in three years. Jagger and the Stones gave a concert at a local bar in Worcester, Mass., prior to officially opening their tour. (AP Photo/Paul Benoit)


By Ray Kelly | [email protected]
March 22, 2016



Little Boy Blue & The Cockroaches played a single show in their career, but it was memorable. They packed the 300-seat Sir Morgan's Cove in Worcester on Sept. 14, 1981 with 4,000 cheering fans outside the club.

Never heard of Little Boy Blue & The Cockroaches? Not surprising since it was the nom de guerre used by The Rolling Stones as the prepped for their 1981 U.S. tour.

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the boys chose the intimate Green Street club, later known as The Lucky Dog Music Hall and now The Cove Music Hall, to warm up less than two weeks before the tour's official kickoff at John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia.

The tour had eyed Boston's Orpheum Theater, but Mayor Kevin C. White turned them down citing public safety concerns.

The Rolling Stones had been staying at Long View Farm in North Brookfield in the weeks before the Worcester show. News reports at the time estimated the band paid $2,000 a day to rent the 140-acre farm to rehearse and prepare for their first tour in three years.

WAAF-FM worked with the band to select the proper right club for the warm-up and gave away tickets to the gig. Stones keyboardist Ian Stewart reportedly chose Sir Morgan's Cove after touring other Worcester nightspots

On the night of Sept. 14, a 30-foot motor coach pulled up to the Worcester club with 75 police officers dispatched to control the crowd, which was understandably excited, but not unruly. Only four arrests for disorderly conduct were made.

Once inside, the Stones played a mix of old and recent  tunes for the lucky audience.

The exact setlist for the show is uncertain with some fans maintaining the band played a dozen or so songs, while others insist the Stones performed as many as 22 songs that night.

Among the classic Stones hits played were "Jumpin' Jack Flash," "Sympathy for the Devil," and "Honky Tonk Women."

The band offered more recent material, like "Start Me Up," "She's So Cold" and "When the Whip Comes Down."

After the show, the Stones returned to North Brookfield.

Days later, a private jet took them from Worcester Airport to Philadelphia for the start of the tour.


http://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/03/forgotten_concerts_the_r...

I was close too (NYC) but didn't know about it until many years later!

For more about that show, including debut songs etc visit Gazza's setlist page

http://rocksoff.org/1981.htm

As fgar as I know there ain't no recordings of this show, in fact Gazza has that one as "Na tape extant"

Some Guy wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2016 at 10:55am:


Pretty sure The Cockroaches played the Fox in '78.