Rolling Stones at the Astrodome (1981) Ticket Stub

Description

During the
Rolling Stones 1981 American Tour
to promote their album "Tattoo You," the group played two nights at the legendary Astrodome in Houston. If you want to get a feel for the high energy of the performances during that tour, video of the entire 2-hour Houston performance remains available on YouTube. Although the audio in that YouTube video is lackluster, it was clearly shot from the stage. Playing before over 65,000 screaming fans each night, Mick Jagger and the band played some of their best live performances of the tour.
The
Fabulous Thunderbirds
and
ZZ Top
opened for the Stones.  ZZ Top only played an abbreviated set, but the Fabulous Thunderbirds played a huge set. Both opening act bands delivered standout performances, but the Fabulous T-birds -- years before their first smash hits took the country by storm -- simply left the crowd stunned and wanting more of their huge blues-rock sound. In particular, Jimmy Vaughn, older brother of the late Stevie Ray Vaughn, helped take the soul of the band's music straight into the heart of everyone in the crowd that night.
The ticket has been in the original purchaser (and concert go-er's) hands since it was purchased through a Page Concerts window at the San Antonio Convention Center Arena in the summer of 1981. (Yes, we drove over 200 miles to see the Stones.) General Admission tickets for the floor meant that our group of 8 guys were able to watch the performance from about 25 yards from the stage.  Jagger seemed to gather strength and energy from the crowd the longer the band performed and Keith Richards was clearly in his element and in full-blown recovery as his vocals were sometimes stronger than Jagger's.
The ticket has been in a clear plastic sleeve since 1981 and has not been displayed -- has not been exposed to light -- since 1981.  It will be mailed to the purchaser in that sleeve in a protected envelope via USPS.