Annie Rose & The Thrillers at Dez's 400, Seattle, WA, December 26 - 27 and 31, 1980
This postcard advertises three performances by Annie Rose and the Thrillers at Dez’s 400 in downtown Seattle, Washington, just after Christmas 1980.
After moving to Seattle from Norman, Oklahoma in 1972, Annie Rose De Armas (b. unknown) led the Country-Rock Band Rose and the Dirtboys with steel guitar player Chris Middaugh (b. unknown), bassists Rod Talley (b. unknown) and Guy Purdy (b. unknown), and guitarist Bill Gallagher (b. unknown) until 1975. De Armas is an openly gay singer known for performing with her dance band, Annie Rose and the Thrillers, at local venues including the University District’s Rainbow Tavern and Baby O’s in Pioneer Square, and throughout the Pacific Northwest from 1978 to 1984. Over the years Thrillers vocalists included Kristen Anderberg (b. unknown), Donna Beck (b. unknown), Susan Johnson (b. unknown), Denise Roselle (b. unknown), Judy Schnepps (b. unknown), and Patti Vincent (b. unknown), also a tenor saxophonist, along with Doug Reid (b. unknown) on alto saxophone. Drummers included Paul Black (b. unknown), Don Kammerer (b. unknown), and Carson Michaels (b. unknown), alongside bassists Dave Liston (b. unknown) and Gary Oldroyd (b. unknown).
Dez’s 400, located at 400 Mercer Street, across from Seattle Opera and McCaw Hall, was a tavern and live music venue that opened by 1964 and closed in the early 1980s. Performances include local bands, such as The Binge Brothers and DMZ, as well as traveling groups like Hüsker Dü, who played Dez’s in June 1982. The building has since been demolished and an apartment building has been constructed in its place.