Congratulations to the Boogie People Fan of the Month for November 2024, Sally R! Learn more about Sally below!

Where are you from?: Drexel Hill, PA

How many years have you been a fan?: 45 Years

What is your favorite George Thorogood song: "The Sky is Crying"

How many times have you seen George Thorogood live? What was your favorite show? 35 times. Brandywine Club in 79 or Tower Theater in 80.

What’s one thing that sets you apart from other George Thorogood fans?: I've been a life long fan, and in turn, so have my two children. We never miss a show when he's in the Philadelphia area.

Want a chance to be featured as the Boogie People Fan of the Month? Join NOW!

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.

Courtesy ClassicRockHistory.com

Our 10 Best Rock Songs About Being Bad article presents a variety of rock songs ranging from lighthearted fun to far more serious and dangerous behavior. The concept of “bad” in rock music has been explored in countless ways, and it’s this variety that makes it such a rich subject. Whether it’s the playful defiance of societal norms or a descent into darker, more menacing territory, rock and roll has long been a vehicle for expressing every shade of rebellion, recklessness, and immorality.

In this article, we’ve selected ten songs that showcase the wide spectrum of what it means to be “bad” in rock music. From tongue-in-cheek bravado to tales of crime and moral ambiguity, these songs tell unique stories that explore different facets of the idea. Starting with George Thorogood’s iconic “Bad to the Bone,” we find a swaggering anthem of pure, rebellious energy, celebrating defiance in a way that’s both humorous and full of attitude. Bruce Springsteen’s “Nebraska” takes us in a completely different direction, telling a chilling story of a real-life killer with a sense of fatalistic inevitability. Meanwhile, ZZ Top’s “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide” captures the essence of rock-star cool, with its bluesy tale of a man too slick and tough for anyone to mess with.

Warren Zevon’s “Mr. Bad Example” approaches the theme with wit and dark humor, spinning a tale of a conman’s global misadventures. In contrast, Ted Nugent’s “Stranglehold” is a guitar-driven, eight-minute powerhouse that thrives on raw aggression and a sense of unstoppable force. The classic blues standard “Born Under a Bad Sign,” performed by Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan, leans into a narrative of bad luck and the inevitability of hardship, while Deep Purple’s “Bad Attitude” channels frustration and rebellion through heavy riffs and powerful vocals.

Tom Petty’s “Yer So Bad” offers a more playful, sarcastic take on the idea, poking fun at relationships gone wrong and the absurdity of life. Linda Ronstadt’s “You’re No Good” brings an emotional punch, with its tale of betrayal and personal empowerment, and finally, Bad Company’s self-titled track closes the list with its brooding, hard rock reflection on a life of rebellion and trouble.

Each song on this list showcases a different dimension of “bad,” whether it’s about enjoying the thrill of breaking the rules or facing the darker consequences of living outside society’s expectations. These tracks remind us that rock music, in all its forms, is uniquely suited to explore the complexity and allure of being “bad.”

# 10 – Bad Company – Bad Company

# 9 – Born Under A Bad Sign – Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughan 

# 8 – You’re No Good – Linda Ronstadt

# 7 – Mr Bad Example – Warren Zevon

# 6 – Stranglehold – Ted Nugent

# 5 – Nebraska – Bruce Springsteen

# 4 – Bad Attitude – Deep Purple 

# 3 – Yer So Bad – Tom Petty

# 2 – I’m Bad I’m Nationwide – ZZ Top

# 1 – Bad To The Bone – George Thorogood

“Bad to the Bone” is the ultimate anthem of being unapologetically rebellious, making it a fitting conclusion to our list of the 10 Best Rock Songs About Being Bad. Released in 1982 as the title track on George Thorogood and the Destroyers’ album Bad to the Bone, the song quickly became a staple of blues rock and a defining track of Thorogood’s career. While its initial release as a single didn’t make a huge impact on the charts, the song found a lasting legacy through licensing in film, television, and commercials, particularly after being featured in Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Christine. The song’s infectious guitar riff and swagger-filled lyrics epitomize the “bad boy” persona that Thorogood embraced in both his music and live performances.

The track was recorded in April 1982 at a studio in Jamaica Plains, Boston, and features a stellar lineup, including George Thorogood on vocals and guitar, Ian Stewart from The Rolling Stones on piano, Hank Carter on saxophone, Billy Blough on bass, and Jeff Simon on drums. The song’s blues-rock structure is heavily influenced by Muddy Waters’ “Mannish Boy,” echoing the same rebellious energy and attitude. In fact, Thorogood admitted that if he didn’t write “Bad to the Bone,” someone else would have. While Muddy Waters and Bo Diddley were initially considered to record the track, Thorogood and his band ultimately took on the task, creating one of the most iconic rock songs of the 1980s.

Lyrically, “Bad to the Bone” exudes confidence and bravado. From the moment the singer is born, it’s clear that he’s destined to break hearts and live by his own rules. The opening lines, “On the day I was born, the nurses all gathered ’round / And they gazed in wide wonder at the joy they had found,” set the tone for a man who leaves a lasting impression wherever he goes. The chorus, with its repeated “B-B-B-B-Bad” phrasing, hammers home the idea that this character is unrepentantly bad, and the verses reinforce this through images of seduction and rebellion. Thorogood’s gravelly voice and gritty guitar work, combined with Stewart’s rollicking piano, give the song its unstoppable momentum and make it an undeniable anthem for those who embrace the darker side of rock ‘n’ roll.

As the closing song on this list, “Bad to the Bone” not only encapsulates the theme of “being bad” but also solidifies its place in rock history as one of the most enduring and beloved tracks in the genre. Its timeless appeal, powerful riff, and larger-than-life attitude make it the perfect way to round out this collection of rock’s most rebellious songs.

For the complete listing visit https://www.classicrockhistory.com/10-best-rock-songs-about-being-bad/

Congratulations to the Boogie People Fan of the Month for October 2024, Dolores H! Learn more about Dolores below!

Where are you from?: Tekoa, Washington

How many years have you been a fan?: 20 Years

What is your favorite George Thorogood song: "I Drink Alone"

How many times have you seen George Thorogood live? What was your favorite show? 3 times. Favorite: All of them!

What’s one thing that sets you apart from other George Thorogood fans?: I have no idea?? I'm just in love with the music 💜

Want a chance to be featured as the Boogie People Fan of the Month? Join NOW!