GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS ROCK PARTY TOUR !
By Sherry Hanes
From solo, acoustic, performer from Wilmington, Delaware, to international, iconic Blues/Rock sensation, George Thorogood and The Destroyers will rock you like never before!
Appearing at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, May 1, 2018, … tickets are going fast!
Celebrating 44 years of performing, rigorous touring, and recording, the world famed group will be delivering their signature style sound, Chicago Blues and Rock and Roll, personally to you, on their 2018,
‘ROCK PARTY TOUR’. With more than 20 albums to their musical credit, two certified Platinum and six certified Gold, George Thorogood and The Destroyers IS the ‘Rock Party’! Selling more than 15 million albums worldwide, and popularizing songs like, ‘Who Do You Love’ and ‘Move It On Over’, along with "House Rent Boogie/One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer", the mesmerizing 5, will be an event you will not want to miss.
Let me introduce the band to you. Original Destroyer since 1973 and outrageous drummer, Jeff Simon. Slappin’ Bass with the band since 1976, Mr. Bill (The Doctor) Blough. On rhythm guitar and with the band since 1999, Mr. Jim Suhler. Mr. Buddy Leach on saxophone and with the band since 2003. And finally, the sensational, mind-blowing man himself, George Thorogood of George Thorogood and The Destroyers. Since the early ‘70’s, performing solo, acoustic, George Thorogood, singer, songwriter, musician, was inspired by John P. Hammond Jr., an American singer and musician and also Elmore James, American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and bandleader, who was known as "King of
the Slide Guitar". Dedicated to his music, Thorogood and The Destroyers’ major recording debut came in 1976. The album was named ‘George Thorogood and The Destroyers’ and was released in 1977. His
next album was ‘Move It On Over’ and was released in 1978. Thorogood's demo, ‘Better Than the Rest’, was recorded in 1974, but was not released until 1979.
After opening for such amazing artists as Muddy Waters, and Howlin’ Wolf, and others, George knew that he and his band could make it. History in the making was now on a roll. Supporting act for opening on
the Rolling Stones’ historic ’81 tour, was his first ‘mainstream’ exposure and with their appearance on SNL, October 2, 1982, including, around the same time, performing in their own rigorous, record-breaking
50/50 tour, when they performed in 50 states in 50 days, was catapulting George and his group into the fast lane to stardom. Absurdly enough, none of the major labels ever picked them up. Let it be known that the group actually played Washington D.C. and Maryland in the same day, so they really performed 51 times in the 50 days. Now that’s legendary!
Even if you have never heard of or seen George Thorogood and The Destroyers, you will never, ever forget their sound and you will feel like you can’t get enough of them. And with all their touring, it
would be safe to say, they can’t get enough of you either.
The ‘60’s was a great time for music! It was when the Beatles first performed on the Ed Sullivan Show and The Rolling Stones were hitting the charts …. the teenagers were hitting the basements and garages
starting up their own bands. And who didn’t want to be a ‘rock’ sensation? That was the electrifying beginning of George’s career. Mastering and perfecting his passion in his music, George made himself
the man, the star, he is today!
Interestingly enough, at the time when rock and roll bands were starting up, George did not know how to play guitar…which most won’t believe but, it is true. He loved music and knew a lot of songs word
for word, so when a group in his neighbourhood needed a singer, George, at the age of 15, was the guy to give it a try. Their first gig was performing for his twin sisters’ birthday party, for which he received
$20.00. That day changed his life forever! He was now a professional rock performer.
In his early 20’s, George and drummer Jeff Simon (his high-school friend) and a second guitarist set out in Chevy van and headed North to Boston, where all the action was. With some pretty respectable
bookings by a great agent, the Delaware Valley and throughout New England were getting their first taste of the George Thorogood ‘BAD’ playing style. Then one night while playing in Boston, a guy saw them
and he knew someone at a folk label called ‘Rounders Records. According to George, even though he had never heard of this record label, it was his last shot. The journey now gets a little more
exciting! Rounder’s earliest success was realized with George Thorogood and The Destroyers’ album release ‘Move It On Over’ in 1978, selling a half million copies.
Record labels for studio albums and live albums over the years are Rounders, EMI, EMI Music Distribution, EMI Catalogue, MCA, Universal Special Products, Capitol, Eagle, Eagle Records, CMC International, Special Product/Direct Source, and Recall Records.Songs that rocked the sound waves since George Thorogood and the Destroyers debuted are, ‘Who Do You Love’, ‘Move It On Over’, ‘Cocaine Blues’, ‘I Drink Alone’, and the ever famous, not to mention timeless, ‘Bad To The Bone’!
In 2012, Thorogood was named one of the "50 Most Influential Delawareans of the Past 50 Years.
One can read all about George Thorogood and the Destroyers on just about any search engine or listen to his music on just about any medium but, that will never give you the true experience your soul not only
desires but needs, hearing his live performance. It is not just to say that the orchestration and the raw energy of his music brings out your primal evocations, it is also to say that it will forever remain residual with you. It will be forever in your music soul.
Record Store Day, April 21, 2018, George Thorogood & the Destroyers are releasing a limited-edition 7" single, featuring two new recordings. The A-side features a cover of "Shot Down," originally recorded by
legendary garage rockers The Sonics, backed with "Ain't Coming Home Tonight," an all new original penned by longtime Destroyers guitarist Jim Suhler and legendary producer Terry Manning (Al Green, Joe Walsh, Widespread Panic), with Grammy-winning producer Jim Gaines mixing the track. A download card will be included with each purchase.
The 7" single was engineered and produced by Shawn Berman, whose engineering credits range from Ice Cube to Guns N' Roses. Berman has engineered five George Thorogood & the Destroyers albums and Thorogood's 2017 solo release Party Of OneA limited run of 1,650 copies of the single will be pressed on clear red vinyl and hand numbered by Third Man Pressing for Record Store Day,
which will be celebrated at independent record stores throughout the United States and Canada on Saturday, April 21, 2018.
‘Party of One’ was released on August 4, 2017. This was Thorogood's first-ever solo album and was his fastest-selling album in nearly 20 years and features acoustic interpretations of 14 of his favorite songs
by artists such as Robert Johnson, John Lee Hooker, Elmore James, the Rolling Stones, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Bob Dylan.
In a personal interview with Mr. Thorogood, George imparts to me, that he always knew he would become a great rock star, that his passion was always in it. George’s best advice that he could give to any up-coming artist or for anyone in the business is to, “Play for fun! Always play for fun!”
Continuing on, I asked, “What is your most favourite song you had ever written?”
His assured quick response was, “All of them.”
“What do you prefer in sound production for recording, mono or stereo?”
“I record in whatever the producer suggests at the time.”As far as how old George was when he first started playing guitar, George states, “I actually didn’t start playing guitar until I was
about twenty-one, but I had dabbled in it off and on through the years before that, when I was younger, in my teens.”In his down time, when George is not performing/touring, he is a very private individual, likes to ‘mind his own business’, but on stage, he shares his music with everyone!
When asked about the internet, and whether it has benefit or hindrance for his music when it comes to sales, George claims that “That it is a ‘loss – gain’ balance. Where it is a hinderance in some ways, it is a
benefit in others because, people can see where you are playing.” George also shares his sentiments about the fact that he likes a bit of mystery in the world and that with everything being available on the
internet nowadays, it removes that element. I totally concur with Mr. Thorogood as I am sure, many of us do.I gratefully thanked Mr. Thorogood for his time he so willingly shared and assured him that we, his fans, cannot wait to see him and the destroyers!
If you have tickets to go see George Thorogood and The Destroyers, follow the advice of Mr. Thorogood and ‘BRING YOUR SEAT BELT’! You’re going to need it!
Thank you George for your time AND … your advice!
