WORCESTER, Mass. - Joe Faucher was the owner of Sir Morgan's Cove the night The Rolling Stones packed the former Worcester concert venue.

"I mean, this was the world's greatest rock and roll band in my nightclub, just bringing the house down," Faucher said. "It was unbelievable."

The band was rehearsing in North Brookfield, preparing for a U.S. tour.

"We knew they were out at long view," Faucher said. "There was a lot of talk that they were going to play a local club." 

What You Need To Know

  • September 14, 2021 is the 40th anniversary of The Rolling Stones playing at Worcester's Sir Morgan's Cove
  • The band played under the alias 'The Cockroaches' in an attempt to keep the show quiet
  • The Stones were rehearsing at a North Brookfield studio as they were preparing for a U.S. tour
  • Joe Faucher, who owned the club at the time of the show, says while the venue hosted many successful acts before and after, nothing compared to The Rolling Stones

The band tried to keep the show quiet and played under the alias "The Cockroaches." Faucher says they were looking to play a small-scale live show.

"They started out in nightclubs," Faucher said. "They started out in rock clubs. And they wanted to do this. And we were a perfect fit for them."

Bob Goodell is the Regional Vice President of Cumulus Media, but worked at radio station WAAF back in 1981. When word leaked about the show, crowds filled the street outside the club. 

Goodell says there was actually concern The Rolling Stones wouldn't take the stage.

"Our first impression was 'This isn't gonna happen' because The Rolling Stones had said if there's a lot of people there, we're just not going to play," Goodell said.

But they did, and they did it for free too.

Goddell said seeing them in-person changed his view on the band. "I was not a Stones fan believe it or not before I stood in this club and saw them," Goodell said. "They were amazing."

John Guertin worked with the company who set up the sound for the concert. "It was just pandemonium," Guertin said.

Guertin unfortunately wasn't able to stay for the show, but says he did get a glimpse of Mick Jagger when the band's camper drove down Green Street.

"Mick Jagger," Guertin said. "Lifting the shade and sticking his head through the window."

Faucher says the venue hosted successful acts like the E Street Band and Joe Cocker. But four decades later, he says nothing ever came close to being as special as The Rolling Stones stop in Worcester.

"Boston, we were always the stepchild," Faucher said. "And I grew up in this area. I was born in Worcester. This was Worcester's night. It still is."