Over the course of 10 days in early 1978, The Sex Pistols played their only dates in the U.S. I was 11 at the time and didn't make any of the shows (I'm not sure I had even heard of the group, to be honest). 35 years later, I visited two of the venues the band played.
Here are the band's U.S. tour dates:
- January 5, 1978: Great Southeast Music Hall, Atlanta
- January 6, 1978: Taliesyn Ballroom, Memphis
- January 8, 1978: Randy's Rodeo, San Antonio
- January 9, 1978: Kingfish Club, Baton Rouge
- January 10, 1978: Longhorn Ballroom, Dallas
- January 12, 1978: Cain's Ballroom, Tulsa
- January 14, 1978: Winterland, San Francisco
On March 13, 2013, I visited what was once Randy's Rodeo in San Antonio. At that time, the building housed a bingo parlor on one end and the St. George Maronite Catholic Church on the other. Click pictures to enlarge.
On March 24, 2013, I visited the Longhorn Ballroom near downtown Dallas. According to the Dallas Observer, Sex Pistols tickets were $3.50 back in '78. I saw no signs of life, but I think they occasionally host swap meets at that location. Don't quote me on that, though.
I was in Memphis in June and it never crossed my mind to look for the Taliesyn Ballroom (I hear there's a Taco Bell there now?). I was too busy concentrating on getting to Rendezvous for some BBQ, I guess. Next time.
