Courtesy: Chris Barilla | People.com

"If they're not happy, I'm not happy. That's why we do it," the rocker shares of fans' energy propelling him to continue to deliver stellar live performances

George Thorogood has been in the music business for over half a century, and as a result, knows exactly what he wants and what he doesn't.

Despite his defined perspective, the iconic rocker, 75, tells PEOPLE in conversation ahead of the unveiling of his new exhibit at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, titled the "Baddest Show on Earth," that seeing the totality of his stardom laid out before him is "strange. Really strange."

"It terrifies me to see that," Thorogood says with a tinge of jest, adding, "When you’re this busy doing what I’ve been doing all these years, you don’t really have time to sit back and focus on it. It’s kind of a shock."

On display as a part of the "Baddest Show on Earth" exhibit is Thorogood's iconic 1960's Gibson ES-125TDC: "Old Red," used on the recording of "Bad to the Bone," as well as a variety of other amplifiers, instruments and stagewear donned by the legendary artist.

Indeed, Thorogood's career has been one that has continued rolling on, rather unobstructed, for the better part of decades. With more than 8,000 live shows and more than 15 million albums sold under his belt alongside The Destroyers, the singer has literally seen it all — and as he admits, not fully made the time to reflect on his unique accomplishments.

"When you’re voted unanimously in high school as the least likely to succeed, and then you pull off things like this, it’s strange," Thorogood shares of his perspective, looking back on his successes.

Though he may not have fully taken stock of the impact his music has had until coming face-to-face with his own exhibit on Tuesday, Feb. 10, Thorogood is quick to note that he manifested stardom from a young age.

"Everybody in the neighborhood knew what I wanted to do for a living, and everybody in my family," he recalls.

In the years that followed, Thorogood became known for his striking image, laced in leather with snakeskin galore, entertaining thousands of fans a night on stage. Interestingly enough, however, he initially opposed that aspect of the theatrics of rock.

The singer notes, "My mom came, and she was into fashion, and she saw a mannequin there with snakeskin shoes and a snakeskin vest. I'm wearing black. And she said, 'I could see you with that.' I said, 'Mom, are you kidding me? I wouldn't be caught dead in that.' And then a girl I was seeing at that time had bought me a snakeskin shirt. So the key is to listen to the women. They show the way."

Today, Thorogood proclaims that one of the greatest driving forces compelling him to continue touring and delivering the same caliber of rock and roll to fans is recognizing that "life itself takes tolls on you," and as a result, prioritizing health and happiness.

"Stay healthy and be good to your fans," the artist shares as a defining mantra in his life currently. "If they’re not happy, I’m not happy. That’s why we do it."

Even after thousands of live performances and over 20 albums released with The Destroyers, Thorogood maintains a kid-in-a-candy-store mentality to fame, saying, "If the chill is gone, then I’m gone."

Simultaneously, he hopes that the music he and his group have released over the years will continue to catalyze fans, new and old alike, to come out and see the group perform live, saying, "The records are like a calling card to the party."

Ultimately, Thorogood surmises that "hard work is its own reward," and jokes, "Can you imagine Keith Richards doing anything but what he does? I never had a doubt, from when I was 15, [about] what I was going to do for a living for my life."

The Musicians Hall Of Fame & Museum has unveiled its 2026 Class of Inductees.

This year’s class includes Dann Huff, Dolly Parton, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, John Boylan, Keith Urban, Leland Sklar, Michael McDonald and Nicky Hopkins (posthumously).

“The Musicians Hall of Fame has inducted over 170 musicians, producers, engineers and industry icons,” shares Linda Chambers, Co-Founder and CEO of the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum. “Each new class of inductees reminds us why we do what we do-preserving and celebrating the legacy of the musicians who bring songs to life. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome these legendary artists into the Musicians Hall of Fame.”

The induction ceremony is set for April 28 at the Fisher Center for Performing Arts. Additional details including presenters and performers will be announced at a later date. Tickets go on sale Tuesday (Feb. 10).

Courtesy: StereoGum | Abby Jones

Last August, after owning up to their pretty disastrous 2024, the Black Keys released their 13th studio album No Rain, No Flowers. Around the same time, behind the scenes, Dan Auerbach was also taking care of his late father after an esophageal cancer diagnosis. Patrick Carney decided the best way to help his bandmate and best friend through the grief was jam together and pore over their extensive record collections: "Sometimes I’d find a song and think, ‘This might be fun for Pat and me to play live,’” Auerbach says. So they did just that in the studio.

Less than a year after No Rain, No Flowers, the Black Keys have announced a covers album called Peaches!, arriving in May. Its lead single is out now, a rendition of George Thorogood & The Destroyers' 1977 song "You Got To Lose" (which itself was an Earl Hooker cover). This song, like all 10 tracks on Peaches!, were recorded live with no separation. It's also the first Black Keys album the band mixed themselves since their 2006 debut.

While "You Got To Lose" is not a Black Keys original, there is something refreshing about hearing them revert back to that unpolished bluesy mode. Check out the music video along with the Peaches! tracklist below.

TRACKLIST:
01 "Where There's Smoke, There's Fire"
02 "Stop Arguing Over Me"
03 "Who's Been Foolin' You"
04 "It's A Dream"
05 "Tomorrow Night"
06 "You Got To Lose"
07 "Tell Me You Love Me"
08 "She Does It Right"
09 "Fireman Ring The Bell"
10 "Nobody But You Baby"

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