Courtesy - Portland Tribune

George Thorogood has been an American blues rocker for more than four decades, and he’s still going strong.

The man who formed the “Destroyers” back in 1973 will do three shows in Oregon — next Monday in Eugene, then shows at Chinook Winds Casino and Resort in Lincoln City on Oct. 2 and 3 (chinookwinds

casino.com).

Thorogood, 65, and his band have released more than 20 albums, two of which have been certified platinum, another six certified as gold. The Destroyers popularized a Bo Diddley song, “Who Do You Love?” Their “I Drink Alone” reached No. 13 on the American pop music list.

But the Wilmington, Del., native is most well-known for his original song “Bad to the Bone,” a tune that continues to get airplay today and has been used in film, television, commercials and sporting events over the years. Jay “Bone” Buhner, in fact, used it as his walk-up music when he came to the plate for the Seattle Mariners.

Thorogood, now based in Los Angeles, spoke with the Portland Tribune via telephone from L.A. during a stop on a 17-date, 22-day “Badder Than Ever” tour through the West and Midwest.

Tribune: How often have you played Oregon before?

Thorogood: Not often enough. It’s a place we really love to come back to. One time we played at the zoo there in Portland, an outside venue. It was fantastic.

Read more: Thorogood shows he's still 'Bad to the Bone'

Which member of the Rolling Stones asked George Thorogood to autograph a copy of the Destroyers’ first album?  Uncle Joe has the answer.  Click below for "The Story."

Courtesy - The Californian.com

George Thorogood has wanted to perform in Monterey ever since seeing the 1968 film “Monterey Pop.”

The film by D. A. Pennebaker documents the 1967 Monterey Pop music festival at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. It features the music of some of Thorogood’s favorite bands of the time, such as The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Who, Canned Heat and Big Brother and the Holding Company.

Thorogood will fulfill that item on his bucket list when he plays the Golden State Theater with his band The Destroyers at 8 p.m. Sept. 23. Tickets range from $58 to $79. They’re available at goldenstatetheatre.com or by calling 831-649-1070.

Thorogood was a teenager living in Delaware when Monterey Pop was held. When he eventually made his way to the West Coast he fell in love with it and stayed. He’s especially fond of the Monterey Bay area and the works of John Steinbeck.

“Steinbeck is my main man and ‘Cannery Row’ is my favorite book,” he said in a telephone interview. He was speaking from Minnesota, where he and The Destroyers rolled out their 2015 Badder Than Ever Tour. The 16-city tour will conclude in Oregon.

Thorogood said “Cannery Row” was required reading when he was in high school. He first read it at age 18 and didn’t get it. He read it again at 25, after being out in the world performing his boggie-rock music, and embraced it.

“It’s not a book for children,” he said. “It’s really not a story. It’s a feeling, it’s a mood, it’s an experience.”

While visiting Cannery Row some years ago, Thorogood visited what had been Lee Chong’s store in the novel.

“I bought a ring there. It was a snake ring,” he said.” I gave it to my wife when I asked her to marry me.”

Like “Cannery Row,” the novel, the Monterey Pop festival was a mood and an experience. It was a time of flower children and a renaissance of new popular music.

“You can’t keep things like they were forever,” Thorogood said. “It’s a certain time and you can’t go back to it. When you see a flower bloom in the spring and then it’s gone, that’s why you enjoy it so much. … In my time (the 1960s), something new came up (in music). “Who are these people — the Jefferson Airplane. Who are these people — The Doors. … It was a renaissance era of rock. Monterey Pop, not Woodstock. That’s the one I get behind,” he said.

But while you can’t go back in time, you can still enjoy the music. Thorogood, 65, is still rocking hard, playing his hit songs while writing new ones. The hits include “Bad To The Bone,” “I Drink Alone,” “Who Do You Love,” and “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.”

Thorogood and The Destroyers have become icons in the world of rock and roll. Their version of “Who Do You Love” is played in all Samuel Adams beer commercials.

Read more: George Thorogood rocks Golden State

George Thorogood & Buddy Guy at the Vina Robles Amphitheatre in Paso Robles, CA.

 

 

“Two bands that have become lifelong friends” share the stage at the Vina Robles Amphitheatre in Paso Robles, CA.