Showco

Showco

Company type	Private
Industry	Entertainment technology
Founded	1970 (1970)
Founders	Jack Maxson Rusty Brutsche Jack Calmes
Defunct	October 2000 (2000-10)
Fate	Acquired by Clair Bros. Audio Enterprises, Inc.

Showco was a sound equipment provider of touring sound reinforcement equipment and services to the concert touring industry. It was based in Dallas, Texas, United States. In 2000, Showco was acquired by Clair Global.

Showco was established in 1970 by Jack Maxson and Rusty Brutsche, and Jack Calmes, and is known for helping to pioneer post Woodstock-era stadium rock shows by providing state-of-the-art sound equipment for famous acts beginning with Led Zeppelin, Three Dog Night and James Taylor.^[1] According to Brutsche:

We were one of the first to realize the amount and scale of equipment that the major arena concerts required. Jack [Maxson] was a recording engineer and I was a musician. We learned that most public address systems were built for the amplification of a single announcer over crowd noise. The dynamics of live music and the power required to generate the sounds we hear at concerts today were almost unthinkable at that time.^[1]

With Showco equipment and services, the star performers could count on reliable and consistent sound reproduction at different venues. Showco introduced such features as mixing gear and stage monitors to aid the musicians. The equipment was also built to handle rugged touring schedules, outdoor weather conditions and quick assembly and disassembly.^[1]

Throughout the 1970's, Showco expanded its multi-discipline equipment and services to include stage lighting, set design and fabrication, special effects/lasers and disco sound systems. Later forays into stage lighting led to the 1981 formation of sister company Vari-Lite, Inc.^[1]

Showco was acquired by Clair Brothers in late 2000. Showco was merged into the touring arm of Clair Brothers.^[2] The combined division was then renamed ClairShowco. In 2008 the name was changed once again to Clair and given the corporate tagline "Global Service and Live Shows Since 1966."^[3]

Showco has provided equipment and services throughout the world for an extensive list of artists' tours, festivals and events.^[4][5]

• Clair Brothers, Showco website
• The Showco PA provided for The Who's 1975–1976 tour
• Rusty Brutsche Interview – NAMM Oral History Library (2016)