April 21, 1980 review: The Tourists with Annie Lennox at Stage One



A glimpse of an ‘80s pop music power couple before they became the Eurythmics.

April 21, 1980
Tourists take nostalgia trip
A young woman from Derby earned free tickets to the show at Harvey and Corky’s Stage One in Clarence Sunday night by listing 668 Western New York tourist attractions on a postcard. But as far as the real Tourists were concerned, the local scene left something to be desired.
The first thing that distressed the British quintet was the size of the crowd that came out to see them – barely 100 at most.
And beyond that, there was just not enough energy out there. Guitarist and songwriter Peet Coombes felt they should have been dancing about. If it took provocation, well – the crowds in England don’t have to be prodded to dance to the Tourists.
The Tourists were, quite simply, a strong and exciting band, distinguished by the stunning presence of singer Ann Lennox and the whole ensemble’s uncanny fix on 1966.
The timbre of Lennox and Coombes’ finely tuned harmonies and the twang of Dave Stewart’s guitar cast the band in a remarkable resemblance of the hit bands of the mid ‘60s. The Byrds and Small Faces in particular.
That similarity was further enhanced by their choice of revivals – Dusty Springfield’s “I Only Want to Be with You,” which is their first single in the U.S., and the Beatles’ “Ticket to Ride.”
Coombes, whose shaggy bangs make him look a bit like John Lennon, and Lennox, who recalls the willowy blondeness of Twiggy, both denied backstage that they’re a nostalgia band.
Instead, Coombes finds this style a perfect foundation for his creative urges. He’s an avid fan of mid ‘60s rock and New Wave. As for the sounds of the early ‘70s – he hated them.
What may establish the Tourists as a band to reckon with in the ‘80s, then, is their determination to build upon what was, for them, the last meaningful popular music. Between the force of their delivery and the animated presence of Ann Lennox, they certainly are off to a rousing start.
* * * * *
IN THE PHOTO: The Tourists in 1980. That’s Dave Stewart on the right. Pete Coombes is on the left with his hand on Ann (not yet Annie) Lennox’s shoulder.
* * * * *
FOOTNOTE: When they appeared here, the Tourists had a bit of a hit with the Dusty Springfield song and were on the verge of recording their third album, "Luminous Basement." It would be their last. Though Peet Coombes and Ann/Annie Lennox sang beautifully together, they weren't so harmonious offstage. Out promoting that album at the end of 1980 in Australia, Coombes overdosed in Sydney and couldn't continue. They returned to England and disbanded. Alcohol eventually claimed Coombes. He died in 1997 from cirrhosis of the liver.
By this point, Ann/Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart were past the romantic relationship they had in the early days of the Tourists, but in making music they were very much together. The first Eurythmics album appeared in 1981 and, one album later, they became one of the biggest hits of the decade. After they split in 1990, they followed solo careers, then reunited in 1999 for a new album and tour. They’ve come together sporadically since then, most recently when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
Setlist.fm doesn't acknowledge the Stage One show, but here's what they played five nights earlier at the Bottom Line in New York City:
Don't Get Left Behind
Blind Among the Flowers
It Doesn't Have to Be This Way
Nothing to Do
The Loneliest Man in the World
Everywhere You Look
I Only Want to Be with You
So Good to Be Back Home Again
Talk to Me
Circular Fever
Ticket to Ride
I'm Going to Change My Mind

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