George Thorogood and The Destroyers celebrate half a century, good fortune
Courtesy: KMUW | By Jedd Beaudoin
George Thorogood and The Destroyers will perform at The Cotillion Ballroom on Sunday, May 12.
George Thorogood and The Destroyers, which formed in 1973, has been a mainstay on the live music circuit since the late 1970s, cultivating a fanbase that was eager to embrace blues-inflected rock and rock-inflected blues. Via a succession of albums, including the 1977 eponymous debut, 1982’s “Bad to the Bone” and 1985’s “Maverick,” the group became a staple on radio during the album-oriented format that preceded MTV and classic rock.
Later, songs such as “Bad to the Bone,” “I Drink Alone,” and “Move It on Over,” would become staples of the emergent classic rock format. And, of course, “Bad to the Bone” would become a perennial favorite in film and television.
Thorogood, now 74, recently spoke with KMUW about the band’s history.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
The band, The Destroyers, has been together since 1973, and you and drummer Jeff Simon have been there from the start. How far back do you go with Jeff?
I’ve known Jeff Simon since he was six years old. I saw his first Little League at bat. They lived right up the street from me. The Simons and I knew each other for a long time before Jeff and I decided to put a band together. It’s so deep that we used to have a picture of my father, rest in peace, with Jeff’s grandmother, rest in peace. My father was about 18 or 19 in that picture.
I’m sure you get this question a lot, but how have you kept the core of the band together all that time?
A person came to me and asked that question, “How do you keep your band together?” I said, “I respect them.” The woman said, “I respect my [friends and family].” I said, “You’re not listening to me.” I took my finger and my thumb and rubbed them together like the symbol for cash? I said, “No, I respect them. That’s respect.” That’s how you keep a band together, my friend.
You seem to have had great timing with this band. You came onto the scene at a time when FM radio was taking risks, then there was the birth of MTV and then classic rock radio which embraced you.
Fear is a great motivator. When I got started, Jedd, fear was my motivator. I was pushed upon the fear of failure as opposed to the thrill of success. But you put it right, we were fortunate that when our first record came out, underground radio was around, and our record got in there just before that ended. Two years later, we got in on the ground floor of MTV. When MTV ran its course, we said, “What do we do now?” We got in on the embryo of classic rock [radio]. Then there were the Native American casinos that were opening wide up and then the House of Blues venues. We were always at the right place at the right time. Very fortunate that new avenues came up that we could play our music in. And now, there’s Sirius radio and a lot of other things.
Every five or 10 years, some new avenue comes up that you can use your act to expose yourself. We were fortunate like that. We hit FM radio, then we hit MTV, then we hit classic rock. Other things came along. We happened to still have the kind of material that would fit into those shows, and we were healthy enough to keep touring. Like you said, timing was everything. If those things hadn’t happened, who knows what would have happened to us? But then the great thing is that we have great fan support. Fan support plus exposure plus radio and MTV is what helped keep our band alive.
I recently read David Menconi’s book, “Oh, Didn’t They Ramble: Rounder Records and the Transformation of American Roots Music.” One of the things he writes about is your signing with that label. You were a bit of an anomaly for them.
The label that they had, which I didn’t understand, was more of a documentary-type company. They would find things, unique things, unusual things, bluegrass, old-timey music, country music and blues, document it on record and then move on. But I did not know this until years later. I thought all record companies were the same. But they’re not.
Capitol Records or Columbia Records or Elektra/Asylum weren’t interested or didn’t know that we existed. Rounder was the only label that said, “Maybe.” They took pity on me. I was smoking with this act, and I had this song, “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” that I knew would be an underground hit. I knew it was a song that would catch on. But I didn’t have it on a record, and I bugged ’em and bugged ’em and bugged ’em until finally they said, “OK, we’ll put out one album.” They weren’t reluctant, they were, like, “Well … OK… They seem like nice guys. We’ll record this ‘Bourbon, Scotch and Beer.’” Then the album took off, and when we came to a second album, you know what they all said? “Got any more tunes?”
50 YEARS OF ROCK TOUR SHAKES SAND MOUNTAIN AMPHITHEATER: GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS AND 38 SPECIAL BRING CLASSIC HITS AND ELECTRIC ATMOSPHERE!
Courtesy: MyGlobalMind
With roots tracing back to the mid-1970s, 38 Special emerged from Jacksonville, Florida, quickly establishing themselves as pioneers of Southern rock. Their melodic yet hard-hitting sound propelled them to stardom, with chart-topping hits like “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up in You,” and “Second Chance.” Over the decades, 38 Special has remained a fixture in the rock scene, known for their dynamic live performances and enduring appeal to audiences across generations.
Hailing from Wilmington, Delaware, George Thorogood and The Destroyers have been synonymous with blues-infused rock since their formation in the late 1970s. George Thorogood’s gritty vocals and blistering guitar work catapulted the band to fame with their breakthrough album, “Bad to the Bone.” Hits like “Who Do You Love?” and “I Drink Alone” have become anthems of the genre, solidifying Thorogood’s status as a legendary figure in the world of blues-rock.
George Thorogood and The Destroyers, alongside 38 Special, delivered an electrifying performance at their recent concert at Sand Mountain Amphitheater in Albertville, AL on May 3rd, seamlessly blending rock and blues to captivate the audience.
Despite intermittent storms in the area throughout the day, the weather held up for the majority of the evening. However, there was a noticeable transition in the timing of the performances, with 38 Special seemingly concluding their set earlier than anticipated, possibly to accommodate George Thorogood’s stage entrance.
38 Special commenced the evening with their distinctive Southern rock sound, enthralling the audience with a repertoire spanning classic hits such as “Caught Up in You” and “Hold On Loosely,” as well as lesser-known tracks that showcased their musical prowess. The band’s tight instrumentation and engaging stage presence kept the audience thoroughly engaged, fostering a dynamic atmosphere of enthusiastic participation. The other week on Record Store Day, I stumbled upon a used vinyl of 38 Special’s “Tour De Force.” To my surprise, their musical style gradually transitioned into arena rock, yet they continued to churn out numerous hits in their repertoire. Now must check out their vast back catalog.
Following 38 Special’s energetic performance, George Thorogood and The Destroyers took the stage by storm, delivering a relentless onslaught of blues-infused rock. From the moment Thorogood’s commanding presence graced the stage, the audience was captivated. Noteworthy renditions of timeless classics like “Who Do You Love?” and “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” elicited fervent reactions from the crowd, setting the stage for a powerful encore performance.
George Thorogood and the Destroyers are ready to rock Southwest Florida with their 50-year tour
MAY 2024 BOOGIE PEOPLE FAN OF THE MONTH
Congratulations to the Boogie People Fan of the Month for May 2024, Glenn M! Learn more about Glenn below!
Where are you from?: Pensacola, FL
How many years have you been a fan?: 40+ 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? 8 times. A few years ago at the Orange County Fair in California
What’s one thing that sets you apart from other George Thorogood fans?: We played Bad to the Bone over the intercom of a Bradley fighting vehicle while fighting in Iraq. It was narely!
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