El Loco-Motion Tour
The El Loco-Motion Tour was a concert tour by American rock band ZZ Top. The tour took place in North America and Europe from 1981 through 1983. Most of the venues were coliseums, though arenas were visited in later tour dates. Embracing the image of the El Loco album cover, band members Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill would typically perform in boilersuits with top hats. The El Loco-Motion Tour consisted of five legs and 105 shows. The set list included material from El Loco and their previous albums, along with several covers.
World tour by ZZ Top | |
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Location | North America, Europe |
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Associated album | El Loco |
Start date | May 29, 1981 |
End date | January 9, 1983 |
Legs | 5 |
No. of shows | 117 (118 scheduled) |
ZZ Top concert chronology |
Concert overview
Out of the 90 concerts performed during the El Loco-Motion Tour, each show had a similar set list, with 18-22 songs played. An announcer would introduce the band and begin the show: "The best rock band in the world, from Houston, Texas, it's ZZ Top!" For the 10/28 – 11/01 shows ZZ Top was an opening act (along with The Fabulous Thunderbirds) for The Rolling Stones. Opener for ZZ Top in Europe was Rose Tattoo from Australia.
Set list
- "Groovy Little Hippie Pad"
- "I Thank You"
- "Waitin' For The Bus"
- "Jesus Just Left Chicago"
- "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide"
- "Ten Foot Pole"
- "Manic Mechanic"
- "Heard It On The X"
- "Francine"
- "A Fool For Your Stockings"
- "Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings"
- "Pearl Necklace"
- "Cheap Sunglasses"
- "Dust My Broom"
- "Arrested For Driving While Blind"
- "Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers"
- "Just Got Paid"
- "Party On The Patio"
- "Jailhouse Rock"
- "Tube Snake Boogie"
- "La Grange"
- "Tush"
Encores and additional songs
After a brief break, the band would return to perform "Tube Snake Boogie." Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock" was sometimes played during the encore. "La Grange" and "Tush" always closed the show. A total of 29 different songs were played throughout the tour. Out of the 10 songs on El Loco, seven of them were performed in full at least once. "Francine" and Elmore James' "Dust My Broom" was sometimes played in the main set, the latter being included once during the encore. "Mexican Blackbird", Freddie King's "Going Down", and Ray Charles' "Let's Go Get Stoned" were also played once during the encore. In Stockholm they played "Just Got Paid" as the last song.
Tour dates
Date | City | Country | Venue | Opening Act(s) | Attendance | Revenue |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leg 1: North America | ||||||
May 29, 1981 | Knoxville | United States | Knoxville Civic Coliseum | Loverboy | N/A | N/A |
May 30, 1981 | Birmingham | Birmingham–Jefferson Civic Center Coliseum | ||||
May 31, 1981 | Nashville | Nashville Municipal Auditorium | ||||
June 3, 1981 | Hampton | Hampton Coliseum | ||||
June 4, 1981 | Savannah | Savannah Civic Center | ||||
June 5, 1981 | Charlotte | Charlotte Coliseum | ||||
June 6, 1981 | Charleston | Charleston Civic Center | ||||
June 7, 1981 | Columbia | Carolina Coliseum | ||||
June 10, 1981 | Fort Wayne | War Memorial Coliseum | ||||
June 12, 1981 | Louisville | Freedom Hall | ||||
June 13, 1981 | Detroit | Joe Louis Arena | 11,028 / 19,000 | $115,770 | ||
June 14, 1981 | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh Civic Arena | 12,300 / 16,000 | $119,925 | ||
June 17, 1981 | Richfield | Richfield Coliseum | N/A | N/A | ||
June 18, 1981 | Binghamton | Broome County Arena | ||||
June 19, 1981 | Landover | Capital Centre | ||||
June 20, 1981 | South Yarmouth | Cape Cod Coliseum | ||||
June 21, 1981 | ||||||
June 24, 1981 | Rochester | Rochester War Memorial | ||||
June 25, 1981 | Niagara Falls | Niagara Falls Convention Center | ||||
June 26, 1981 | New Haven | New Haven Coliseum | ||||
June 27, 1981 | Buffalo | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium | ||||
June 30, 1981 | New York City | Pier 84 | ||||
July 5, 1981 | Calgary | Canada | Calgary International Raceway | Atlanta Rhythm Section, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen | ||
Leg 2: North America | ||||||
July 9, 1981 | San Diego | United States | San Diego Sports Arena | 38 Special, Loverboy | N/A | N/A |
July 11, 1981 | Phoenix | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | Loverboy | |||
July 12, 1981 | Albuquerque | Albuquerque Sports Stadium | Loverboy, Point Blank | |||
July 15, 1981 | Odessa | Ector County Coliseum | Loverboy | |||
July 16, 1981 | El Paso | El Paso County Coliseum | ||||
July 17, 1981 | Tucson | Tucson Community Center Arena | ||||
July 18, 1981 | Las Vegas | Las Vegas Convention Center | ||||
July 22, 1981 | Portland | Portland Memorial Coliseum | ||||
July 23, 1981 | Spokane | Spokane Coliseum | ||||
July 24, 1981 | Seattle | Seattle Center Coliseum | ||||
July 25, 1981 | Vancouver | Canada | Pacific Coliseum | The Payolas | ||
July 29, 1981 | Daly City | United States | Cow Palace | Loverboy | ||
August 1, 1981 | Denver | McNichols Sports Arena | ||||
August 4, 1981 | Salt Lake City | Salt Palace | ||||
August 5, 1981 | Madison | Dane County Coliseum | ||||
August 6, 1981 | Cedar Rapids | Five Seasons Center | ||||
August 7, 1981 | Saint Paul | St. Paul Civic Arena | ||||
August 8, 1981 | Omaha | Omaha Civic Auditorium | ||||
August 9, 1981 | East Troy | Alpine Valley Music Theatre | ||||
August 12, 1981 | Sioux Falls | Sioux Falls Arena | ||||
August 13, 1981 | Kansas City | Kemper Arena | 11,544 / 18,000 | $109,668 | ||
August 14, 1981 | Rosemont | Rosemont Horizon | N/A | N/A | ||
August 15, 1981 | St. Louis | Kiel Auditorium | ||||
August 16, 1981 | Indianapolis | Market Square Arena | 15,750 / 18,000 | $136,044 | ||
August 19, 1981 | Wichita | Britt Brown Arena | N/A | N/A | ||
August 20, 1981 | Tulsa | Expo Square Pavilion | ||||
August 21, 1981 | Little Rock | Barton Coliseum | ||||
August 22, 1981 | Oklahoma City | Myriad Convention Center | Joe Perry Project | |||
August 23, 1981 | Shreveport | Hirsch Memorial Coliseum | ||||
August 26, 1981 | Utica | Utica Memorial Auditorium | Crack the Sky | |||
August 27, 1981 | Springfield | Springfield Civic Center | Joe Perry Project | |||
August 29, 1981 | South Fallsburg | Music Mountain | ||||
August 31, 1981 | Portland | Cumberland County Civic Center | Joe Perry Project | |||
September 1, 1981 | Philadelphia | Philadelphia Spectrum | Joe Perry Project, Johnny Van Zant | |||
September 2, 1981 | Rochester | Rochester War Memorial | Point Blank | |||
September 5, 1981 | Lakeland | Lakeland Civic Center | The Dregs | |||
September 6, 1981 | Hollywood | Hollywood Sportatorium | ||||
September 9, 1981 | Cincinnati | Riverfront Coliseum | Joe Perry Project | |||
September 11, 1981 | Glens Falls | Glens Falls Civic Center | ||||
Leg 3: Europe | ||||||
October 1, 1981 | Oslo | Norway | Chateau Neuf | Sky High | N/A | N/A |
October 2, 1981 | Stockholm | Sweden | Göta Lejon | |||
October 6, 1981 | Nuremberg | Germany | Hemmerleinhalle | Rose Tattoo | ||
October 8, 1981 | Offenbach am Main | Stadthalle | ||||
October 9, 1981 | Eppelheim | Rhein-Neckar-Halle | ||||
October 10, 1981 | Hamburg | Congress Centrum Hamburg | ||||
October 11, 1981 | Berlin | Neue Welt | ||||
October 13, 1981 | Dortmund | Westfalenhalle | ||||
October 14, 1981 | Munich | Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle | ||||
October 15, 1981 | Zurich | Switzerland | Volkshaus | |||
October 17, 1981 | Arlon | Belgium | Hall Polyvalent | |||
October 19, 1981 | Düsseldorf | Germany | Philips Halle | |||
October 23, 1981 | Dijon | France | Parc des Expositions | |||
October 25, 1981 | Paris | Pavillon Baltard | ||||
October 26, 1981 | London | England | Hammersmith Odeon | Girl | ||
Leg 4: United States | ||||||
October 28, 1981 | Houston | United States | Houston Astrodome | The Fabulous Thunderbirds | 65,000 / 65,000 | $1,202,500 |
October 29, 1981 | ||||||
October 31, 1981 | Dallas | Cotton Bowl | 156,000 / 156,000 | $2,695,332 | ||
November 1, 1981 | ||||||
December 26, 1981 | Houston | The Summit | N/A | N/A | ||
December 27, 1981 | Dallas | Wintergarden Ballroom | ||||
December 28, 1981 | Fort Worth | Billy Bob's Texas | The BusBoys | |||
December 31, 1981 | Memphis | Mid-South Coliseum | Grand Funk Railroad | 11,704 / 11,704 | $146,300 | |
January 1, 1982 | Mobile | Mobile Municipal Auditorium | N/A | N/A | ||
January 3, 1982 | Atlanta | Omni Coliseum | ||||
January 14, 1982 | Greenville | Greenville Memorial Auditorium | ||||
January 15, 1982 | Greensboro | Greensboro Coliseum | ||||
January 20, 1982 | Evansville | Roberts Municipal Stadium | ||||
January 21, 1982 | Columbus | Ohio Center | 6,448 / 6,900 | $63,292 | ||
January 22, 1982 | Richmond | Richmond Coliseum | N/A | N/A | ||
January 24, 1982 | Huntington | Huntington Civic Center | 3,864 / 8,000 | $36,785 | ||
January 26, 1982 | Lexington | Rupp Arena | 8,111 / 9,000 | $74,343 | ||
January 29, 1982 | Bethlehem | Stabler Arena | N/A | N/A | ||
February 3, 1982 | Evansville | Roberts Municipal Stadium | Taylor Bay Band | |||
Leg 5: United States | ||||||
March 21, 1982 | Daly City | United States | Cow Palace | Prism, LeRoux | N/A | N/A |
March 24, 1982 | San Diego | San Diego Sports Arena | LeRoux, Prism | 11,184 / 14,217 | $127,079 | |
March 26, 1982 | Los Angeles | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 10,455 / 12,000 | $112,079 | ||
March 30, 1982 | Reno | Centennial Coliseum | Prism, LeRoux | N/A | N/A | |
March 31, 1982 | Salt Lake City | Salt Palace | LeRoux, Prism | 10,445 / 13,000 | $104,450 | |
April 1, 1982 | Denver | McNichols Sports Arena | 15,838 / 18,000 | $182,043 | ||
April 2, 1982 | Lincoln | Pershing Auditorium | 9,137 / 9,137 | $92,820 | ||
April 3, 1982 | Rapid City | Rushmore Plaza Civic Center | N/A | N/A | ||
April 10, 1982 | Salisbury | Wicomico Youth and Civic Center | LeRoux | |||
April 13, 1982 | Amarillo | Amarillo Civic Center | LeRoux, Prism | 7,850 / 7,850 | $73,378 | |
April 14, 1982 | Lubbock | Lubbock Coliseum | 6,540 / 9,500 | $65,864 | ||
April 15, 1982 | San Antonio | San Antonio Convention Center Arena | Point Blank | 11,564 / 12,500 | $116,443 | |
April 16, 1982 | Austin | Frank Erwin Center | 17,700 / 17,700 | $176,481 | ||
April 17, 1982 | New Orleans | The Warehouse | Jay Boy Adams | 3,500 / 3,500 | $40,250 | |
April 18, 1982 | Tallahassee | Leon County Civic Center | Zebra | 6,068 / 10,035 | $59,010 | |
Leg 6: Europe | ||||||
May 28, 1982 | Dortmund | Germany | Westfalenhalle | Jethro Tull, Heart | N/A | N/A |
May 29, 1982 | Würzburg | Kickers-Stadion am Dallenberg | Saga, Spliff | |||
May 30, 1982 | Munich | Munich-Riem Airport | ||||
May 31, 1982 | Geleen | Netherlands | Burgemeester Damen Sportpark | Mink DeVille, Saga | ||
Leg 7: North America | ||||||
September 14, 1982 | Portland | United States | Portland Memorial Coliseum | 38 Special | N/A | N/A |
September 16, 1982 | Seattle | Seattle Center Coliseum | ||||
September 17, 1982 | Vancouver | Canada | Pacific Coliseum | |||
September 19, 1982 | Edmonton | Northlands Coliseum | ||||
September 20, 1982 | Calgary | Stampede Corral | ||||
September 21, 1982 | Butte | United States | Butte Civic Center | |||
September 24, 1982 | South Bend | Athletic and Convocation Center | ||||
September 25, 1982 | Charleston | Charleston Civic Center | 8,851 / 11,301 | $99,187 | ||
September 28, 1982 | Toronto | Canada | Maple Leaf Gardens | 8,894 / 16,000 | $106,566 | |
September 30, 1982 | Dayton | United States | Hara Arena | N/A | N/A | |
October 1, 1982 | Milwaukee | MECCA Arena | Shooting Star | |||
October 2, 1982 | Rockford | Rockford MetroCentre | ||||
Leg 8: United States | ||||||
December 28, 1982 | Amarillo | United States | Amarillo Civic Center | Tommy Tutone | N/A | N/A |
December 30, 1982 | Tucson | Tucson Community Center Arena | ||||
December 31, 1982 | Phoenix | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | Tommy Tutone, Rose Tattoo | |||
January 1, 1983 | Albuquerque | Tingley Coliseum | ||||
January 2, 1983 | Midland | Chaparral Center | Tommy Tutone | |||
January 5, 1983 | Wichita | Britt Brown Arena | Tommy Tutone, Rose Tattoo | |||
January 7, 1983 | Norman | Lloyd Noble Center | Tommy Tutone | |||
January 8, 1983 | Baton Rouge | Riverside Centroplex | Tommy Tutone, Grand Funk Railroad | |||
January 9, 1983 | Mobile | Mobile Municipal Auditorium | Tommy Tutone | |||