Courtesy Bev Everts | Oleantimesherald.com
Legendary blues rocker George Thorogood and his iconic band, The Destroyers, are bringing their “Bad All Over The World – 50 Years of Rock” tour to the Seneca Allegany Event Center at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26.
Best known for their classic hits including “Who Do You Love,” “Move It on Over” and their 1982 signature hit, “Bad To The Bone,” Thorogood and The Destroyers have consistently delivered high-volume, electrifying shows worldwide for the past five decades, cementing their legacy in the music industry. Last year marked the band’s 50th year with more than 8,000 performances and over 15 million albums sold.
Thorogood said last year actually marked their five decades in the business, so the performance at the event center is part of their extended 50 Years of Rock tour.
The Destroyers include Jeff Simon (drummer) and longtime members Bill Blough (bass), Jim Suhler (lead guitar) and Buddy Leach (sax). Blough has been with the band since its first album. The newer Destroyers, Suhler and Leach, count 55 years with the group between them.
Although disco was king at the time, the band caught the public’s attention in 1977 with their debut album, “George Thorogood and The Destroyers” and, the following year, with “Move It On Over” under the Rounder Records label. They hit at just the right time and both went Gold.
In 2022, they released “The Original George Thorogood,” a hard-rockin’ party collection of original songs. Included among the 14 tracks are his hits, “Bad to the Bone,” “I Drink Alone,” “Gear Jammer” and the previously unreleased “Back In The U.S.A.”
Thorogood, who is the middle child of five siblings in his family, said he owes his musical ability to his parents, especially his mother. He said they didn’t play any instruments themselves, but they urged all their children to learn to play one.
“All five of us tried musical instruments to see who would take to what, but not all of us took to it,” he told the Press in an exclusive interview. “It was myself and my two younger twin sisters, who are pianists, that really attached ourselves to playing a musical instrument.”
Jeff Simon has been with Thorogood since the beginning when they were buddies in school. Thorogood said he was in high school and Simon in junior high when it all began in their hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. At the time, they were playing covers including “No Particular Place To Go,” “Madison Blues” and “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.”
In the beginning, Thorogood started as an acoustic street musician because he didn’t have an electric guitar. About five years after high school, he bought a Gibson ES-125, his first electric guitar, when he found out Simon had booked a gig without his knowledge.
He said they got their band name, The Destroyers, from a mysterious piano player known only as Destruction who played in the Howlin’ Wolf sessions.
“Simon is the original Destroyer,” he said. “After we got out of school, we started playing at one of the first topless clubs on the East Coast.”
Thorogood’s music has stood the test of time and spanned several generations. When the Press asked what he thinks gives his music such incredible staying power, he said, “It’s good.”
“Let’s face it, anything that’s good is going to last,” he continued. “People can identify with what’s good. I mean, Coca-Cola is still on the market, so is Ford and Chevy. If you have a product that’s good, it’s going to last.”
In 1981, George Thorogood and The Delaware Destroyers played an unimaginable 50 states in 50 days. These days, The Destroyers play an average of 70-75 shows a year. Thorogood’s hits live on and a robust touring schedule proves he is still in demand.
The blues-rock legend said he still loves touring and never tires of playing his signature “Bad to the Bone.”
Thorogood said he doesn’t remember any particular career highlight. He said it’s a highlight every time he sets foot onstage with The Destroyers to play for people who are ready to rock.
The band has a longstanding partnership with The Leukemia Lymphoma Society as well as an ongoing collaboration with “Musically Fed” to feed veterans, the homeless and the food insecure nationwide. In memory of George’s late wife who passed away in 2019, a portion of proceeds from the 50 Years of Rock tour will also benefit The Marla Thorogood Memorial Fund For Ovarian Cancer Research, in conjunction with Vanderbilt University Medical Center.