George Thorogood

Early life

George Lawrence Thorogood was born on February 24, 1950 in Wilmington, Delaware. He was raised in a middle class family. He attended Brandywine High School where he met and became friends with future drummer and bandmate Jeff Simon. Thorogood showed interest in baseball at a young age, playing semi-professional baseball as a second and first baseman. Thorogood first discovered slide guitar when a friend gifted him a slide for his birthday.

Music career

Thorogood began his career as a solo acoustic performer in the style of Robert Johnson and Elmore James in 1970, after being inspired by a John P. Hammond concert.{{cite encyclopedia | editor1-last = Erlewine | editor1-first = Michael | editor1-link = Michael Erlewine

Thorogood recorded a 20-song demo in 1974; 10 of those songs were eventually released as Better Than The Rest by MCA Records. John Forward discovered the band in 1975, and helped them secure a recording contract with Rounder Records. The band's major recording debut came with the album George Thorogood and the Destroyers, which was released on August 16, 1977. The next year, Thorogood released his next album with the Destroyers titled Move It on Over, which included a remake of Hank Williams's "Move It on Over", and a reworking of the Bo Diddley song "Who Do You Love", both released as singles in 1978 and 1979 respectively. In 1980, rhythm guitarist Ron "Roadblock" Smith left the band, and was replaced by saxophonist Hank "Hurricane" Carter, who first played with the band on their fourth studio album, More George Thorogood and the Destroyers. The band's early success contributed to the rise of folk label Rounder Records.

During the late 1970s, Thorogood and his band were based in Boston. He was friends with Jimmy Thackery of the Washington, D.C.–based blues band, The Nighthawks. While touring in the 1970s, the Destroyers and the Nighthawks were playing shows in Georgetown at venues across the street from each other. The Destroyers were engaged at the Cellar Door and the Nighthawks at Desperados. At midnight, while both bands played Elmore James's "Madison Blues" in the same key, Thorogood and Thackery left their clubs, met in the middle of M Street, exchanged guitar cords and went on to play with the opposite band in the other club. The connection with the Nighthawks was extended further when Nighthawks bass player Jan Zukowski supported Thorogood's set with Bo Diddley and Albert Collins at the Live Aid concert in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 1985.

Thorogood gained his first mainstream exposure as a support act for the Rolling Stones during their 1981 U.S. tour. During this time, Thorogood and the Destroyers became known for their rigorous touring schedule, including the "50/50" tour in 1981, on which the band toured all 50 US states in 50 days. After two shows in Boulder, Colorado, Thorogood and his band flew to Hawaii for one show and then performed a show in Alaska the following night. The next day, Thorogood and his band met his roadies in Washington and continued the one-show-per-state tour. In addition, he played Washington, D.C., on the same day that he performed a show in Maryland, thereby playing 51 shows in 50 days.

With his contract with Rounder Records expiring, Thorogood signed with EMI America Records and in 1982, released Bad to the Bone, which went gold. The album's title track eventually became the band's most well-known song through appearances on MTV and use in films, television and commercials. Later that year he was the featured musical guest on Saturday Night Live (Season 8, Episode 2) on the October 2, 1982, broadcast. The next year, the Destroyers embarked on their "Around the World in 80 Days Tour", during which they toured Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Europe and the US, but the tour had to be ended early because of a riot at a festival in Spain. Later that year, Thorogood released his only Christmas song, "Rock and Roll Christmas". It was written by Thorogood as a holiday special for MTV, with John Lee Hooker appearing in the music video. In 1984 Thorogood appeared in the music video for the song "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" by American singer-songwriter and musician Hank Williams Jr.

His sixth studio album was Maverick, released in January 1985. The album featured Thorogood's only song to reach the Billboard Hot 100, a remake of Johnny Otis's "Willie and the Hand Jive", which peaked at number 63, and his concert staple "I Drink Alone". During this time Thorogood became heavily interested in country music. He intended to record a country album, but never did. on July 13, 1985, the Destroyers performed at Live Aid at the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia. The Destroyers were only invited to play the day before after Tears For Fears cancelled. Bo Diddley and Albert Collins also played with them. EMI America released Thorogood's first live album, titled Live, in August 1986. The album was one of Thorogood's most successful, eventually being certified platinum by the RIAA. In 1988, rhythm guitarist Steve Chrismar joined the band, and was featured on their next album, Born to Be Bad, also released in 1988. That summer he also toured with American musician Brian Setzer. Thorogood and the Destroyers were at the height of their popularity during the 80's, with their 4 albums with EMI selling a combined total of 3.5 million copies.

Thorogood's popularity began to decline in the 1990s. His eighth studio album, Boogie People, only sold around 300,000 copies, but it did contain the song "If You Don't Start Drinkin' (I'm Gonna Leave)", which eventually became a concert staple. That year he also toured with Elvin Bishop in support of Bishop's album Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down!. The next year, The Baddest of George Thorogood and the Destroyers was released, it was the band's second and final album to be certified platinum by the RIAA. His next album, Haircut, contained the song "Get a Haircut", which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks, and was the No. 1 most played song on Canadian FM radio. In April 1995, EMI released the Destroyer's second live album, Live: Let's Work Together. After the release of the album the Destroyers embarked on a summer tour, after which they began preparing material for their next album. The Destroyers' next album was 1997's Rockin' My Life Away. It was their first studio album to miss the Billboard 200 since their debut in 1977, although it was their first to chart on Billboard's Top Blues Album chart.

In 1998 EMI America dropped the Destroyers, so they signed with CMC International. The next year, they released Half a Boy/Half a Man. The album failed to chart in any capacity, and its single, "I Don't Trust Nobody", was their final single to chart, peaking at number 24 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. The same year they were the featured musical guest on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on the June 8 broadcast. CMC International also released their third live album, Live in '99. Their next albums all charted high on Billboard's Top Blues Album chart.

George Thorogood signed a three-album deal with Eagle Records in 2002, and released Ride 'Til I Die the next year. Ride 'Til I Die was the final Destroyers album to feature Hank "Hurricane" Carter, he was replaced by Buddy Leach. In 2004, Greatest Hits: 30 Years of Rock was released, it was the band's final album to be certified gold by the RIAA. Eagle released their fourth live album, 30th Anniversary Tour: Live, also in 2004, and The Hard Stuff in 2006.

The Destroyers toured with Buddy Guy in the summer of 2008, before returning to EMI/Capitol in 2009 to release their next studio album, The Dirty Dozen. It was their first studio album since Haircut to reach the Billboard 200, peaking at number 169. In 2011 they released their most recent studio album, 2120 South Michigan Ave., which was a tribute to Chess Record artists. In 2012, Thorogood was named one of the "50 Most Influential Delawareans of the Past 50 Years". The next year the Destroyers celebrated their 40th year anniversary with a national tour. Thorogood released his first proper solo album in 2017, titled Party of One, which was his best selling album in a long time. On April 21, 2018, the Destroyers released the single "Shot Down" for Record Store Day.

On March 14, 2020, Thorogood was inducted into the Mississippi Music Project Hall of Fame in Biloxi, Mississippi, and was awarded the MMP Music Award for his lifelong commitment to the music industry, by Joseph W. Clark.

Hank Carter, who served as the saxophonist for Thorogood's band from 1980 to 2003, died on September 14, 2021, at the age of 71.

On April 11, 2023, Thorogood's social media pages announced that he was seriously ill, although the nature of his illness was not disclosed. Tour dates from April 27 to May 21 were all cancelled.

In February 2025, just before Thorogood's 75th birthday, the band launched their "Baddest Show on Earth Tour", which would take them across several states and then to Australia.

Personal life

George Thorogood married Marla Raderman on July 16, 1985. She died from ovarian cancer in 2019. They have one daughter, Rio Thorogood.

Thorogood has been a baseball fan for most of his life, playing semi-pro ball as a second baseman during the 1970s (drummer Jeff Simon played center field on the same team). He took his daughter to Chicago for her first major league game (Cubs vs. Rockies), during which he sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game". In a 2011 Guitar World interview, he stated "I'm a Mets fan. There aren't many of us but you know, that's me."

In April 2023, Thorogood had to cancel the first leg of his 50th anniversary tour due to a serious medical condition.

Band members

The Delaware Destroyers

• George Thorogood – lead vocals, guitars (1973–present)
• Jeff Simon – drums, percussion (1973–present)
• Billy Blough – bass guitar (1976–present)
• Jim Suhler – guitars (1999–present)
• Buddy Leach – saxophone, piano (2003–present)

Former members

• Michael Levine – bass (1973–1976)
• Ron "Roadblock" Smith – guitar (1973–1980)
• Hank "Hurricane" Carter – saxophone (1980–2003; died 2021)
• Ian Stewart – keyboards (1982; died 1985)
• Steve Chrismar – guitar (1985–1993)
• Waddy Wachtel – guitar (1997)

Timeline

ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:100 top:10 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1973 till:01/01/2026 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors =

id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:keyboards value:purple legend:Piano id:drums value:orange legend:Drums,_percussion id:saxophone value:tan2 legend:Saxophone id:lines1 value:black legend:Studio_album id:lines2 value:gray(0.7) legend:Live_album id:bars value:gray(0.9)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3 ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:1973 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1973 LineData = at:08/16/1977 color:lines1 layer:back at:11/01/1978 color:lines1 layer:back at:09/01/1979 color:lines1 layer:back at:10/01/1980 color:lines1 layer:back at:08/09/1982 color:lines1 layer:back at:01/25/1985 color:lines1 layer:back at:08/01/1986 color:lines2 layer:back at:01/13/1988 color:lines1 layer:back at:02/26/1991 color:lines1 layer:back at:07/27/1993 color:lines1 layer:back at:04/01/1995 color:lines2 layer:back at:03/25/1997 color:lines1 layer:back at:04/13/1999 color:lines1 layer:back at:11/23/1999 color:lines2 layer:back at:03/25/2003 color:lines1 layer:back at:10/19/2004 color:lines2 layer:back at:05/30/2006 color:lines1 layer:back at:07/28/2009 color:lines1 layer:back at:07/27/2010 color:lines2 layer:back at:06/14/2011 color:lines1 layer:back at:11/18/2013 color:lines2 layer:back at:12/18/2020 color:lines2 layer:back

BarData = bar:Thorogood text:George Thorogood bar:Smith text:Ron Smith bar:Chrismar text:Steve Chrismar bar:Suhler text:Jim Suhler bar:Levine text:Michael Levine bar:Blough text:Billy Blough bar:Carter text:Hank Carter bar:Leach text:Buddy Leach bar:Simon text:Jeff Simon

PlotData= width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(7,-4)

bar:Thorogood from:start till:end color:vocals bar:Thorogood from:start till:end color:guitar width:3 bar:Smith from:start till:01/01/1980 color:guitar bar:Chrismar from:01/01/1985 till:01/01/1993 color:guitar bar:Suhler from:01/01/1999 till:end color:guitar bar:Levine from:start till:01/01/1976 color:bass bar:Blough from:01/01/1976 till:end color:bass bar:Leach from:01/01/2003 till:end color:keyboards width:3 bar:Leach from:01/01/2003 till:end color:saxophone bar:Carter from:01/01/1980 till:01/01/2003 color:saxophone bar:Simon from:start till:end color:drums

Discography

Main article: George Thorogood and the Destroyers discography

Studio albums with the Destroyers

• George Thorogood and the Destroyers (1977)
• Move It on Over (1978)
• Better Than the Rest (1979)
• More George Thorogood and the Destroyers (1980)
• Bad to the Bone (1982)
• Maverick (1985)
• Born to Be Bad (1988)
• Boogie People (1991)
• Haircut (1993)
• Rockin' My Life Away (1997)
• Half a Boy/Half a Man (1999)
• Ride 'Til I Die (2003)
• The Hard Stuff (2006)
• The Dirty Dozen (2009)
• 2120 South Michigan Ave. (2011)

Solo studio album

• Party of One (2017)

Concert tours

• The 50/50 Tour (1981)
• Bad to the Bone Tour (1982-83)
• Around the World in 80 Days Tour (1983)
• Maverick Tour (1985)
• Boogie People Tour (1991)
• Haircut Tour (1993)
• 40th Anniversary Tour (2014)
• Rock Party Tour (2018)
• Good to Be Bad Tour (2021)
• Bad All Over The World Tour (2023)
• Baddest Show On Earth Tour (2025-26)

References

References

1. (March 19, 2010). "Bad to the funny bone". [[The Valdosta Daily Times]].
2. (November 30, 2024). "George Thorogood: Age, Net Worth, Relationships & Biography".
3. Hasted, Nick. (September 6, 2017). "Breaking bad: George Thorogood looks back over a tumultuous career".
4. White, Ian. (September 1978). "The Thorogood News".
5. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "George Thorogood Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine".
6. McStea, Mark. (December 16, 2022). "George Thorogood's Top Five Career-Defining Destroyers Tracks".
7. Fraley, Jason. (August 2, 2021). "George Thorogood ready to rock Wolf Trap with 'Bad to the Bone' hits".
8. (1978-01-15). "Clipped From The Morning News". The Morning News.
9. Simmons, Karie. (August 26, 2015). "George Thorogood fan selling musician's former Newark home".
10. (March 31, 1979). "Billboard".
11. Chrispell, James. "Better Than the Rest Review".
12. BurnSilver, Glenn. (February 25, 2014). "George Thorogood: "Sometimes the Fear of Failure Is Greater Than the Thrill of Success"".
13. (December 9, 1978). "Cash Box - Singles".
14. (February 24, 1979). "Singles To Watch".
15. uDiscover Team. (March 8, 2020). "George Thorogood - Prodigiously-Talented Boogie Blues Guitarist".
16. Scully, Michael F.. (2008). "The Never-Ending Revival". University of Illinois Press.
17. ''Washington Post'' Op Ed May 15, 1993 – "M Street Shuffle" – fact-checked correction to Weekend section feature "Tune Town"; May 7, 1993
18. (1997). "[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music". [[Virgin Books]].
19. Arar, Yardena. (October 20, 1981). "Thorogood will play 50 states in 50 days". The Spokesman Review.
20. 7th Inning interview on WGN Radio, June 27, 2007.
21. (October 3, 1981). "George Tourgood".
22. "Gold & Platinum - RIAA".
23. Beviglia, Jim. (2018). "Playing Back the 80s: A Decade of Unstoppable Hits". Rowman & Littlefield.
24. Uitti, Jacob. (October 4, 2023). "The Meaning Behind the Rousing Classic Rock Song "Bad to the Bone"".
25. (1994). "Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years". [[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt]].
26. "GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS".
27. (February 5, 1983). "Act-ivities".
28. (November 19, 1983). "Xmas Product".
29. Braidis, Pete. (June 28, 2016). "Unstrung Heroes: Fifty Guitar Greats You Should Know". [[Schiffer Publishing]].
30. (December 17, 1983). "Christmas 45s".
31. (October 22, 1983). "East Coastings".
32. (September 8, 1984). "World's Largest Video".
33. (May 4, 1985). "Mapping The Route To The Top Of The Charts And Large Arenas".
34. (February 23, 1985). "Maverick Thorogood LP released by EMI America".
35. "Billboard Hot 100".
36. (April 20, 1985). "Thorogood Sliding Into Country".
37. Graff, Gary. (December 24, 2025). "“I went, ‘Jack Nicholson? You know who I am?’ He says, ‘Yeah, Georgie, I always follow the rough boys.’” George Thorogood on his Live Aid performances with Bo Diddley and Albert Collins — and the two actors who made his day".
38. Graff, Gary. (July 11, 2025). "The 12 Most Underrated Live Aid Performances".
39. Peeples, Stephen K.. (September 13, 1986). "Rockers Release Records Recorded By Reels On Wheels".
40. (July 2, 1988). "Setzer Disk Doesn't Stray".
41. (October 7, 1990). "With All This Yet To Come...".
42. (May 4, 1991). "Billboard - May 4, 1991".
43. (23 Apr 1991). "Thorogood's live show beats his Memorex". The Milwaukee Journal.
44. "George Thorogood & the Destroyers Chart History".
45. Marchand, Francois. (April 29, 2014). "George Thorogood: Rock is a very real job".
46. (April 14, 1995). "Rock Tracks - New & Active".
47. (April 28, 1995). "Thorogood Says It Was Time For Another Live Disc".
48. "George Thorogood Awards". [[AllMusic]].
49. (August 29, 1998). "Billboard - August 29, 1998".
50. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Half a Boy/Half a Man Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine".
51. (June 4, 1999). "Tube Times".
52. "Live In '99 - George Thorogood & the Destroyers {{!}} AllMusic".
53. (October 12, 2002). "Eagle Flies".
54. "30th Anniversary Tour: Live - George Thorogood & the Destroyers {{!}} AllMusic".
55. Billboard Staff. (April 27, 2006). "Thorogood Rocks 'Hard' On New Album".
56. Graff, Gary. (August 9, 2008). "Bringin' It All Back Home".
57. (August 15, 2009). "Billboard 200 - Week of August 15, 2009".
58. (June 20, 2011). "Interview: George Thorogood Discusses His New Album, '2120 South Michigan Ave.'". Guitar World.
59. (March 14, 2012). "The 50 Most Influential Delawareans of the Past 50 Years". Delaware Today.
60. "George Thorogood & The Destroyers To Kick-Off 40th Anniversary National U.S. & Canadian Tour".
61. "George Thorogood extends 40th Anniversary Tour schedule through summer with RCF".
62. Kocher, Chris. (May 30, 2017). "George Thorogood reaches back to blues heroes on new album".
63. "Shot Down - George Thorogood {{!}} AllMusic".
64. Lifton, Dave. (March 6, 2018). "AC/DC, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd and More Releasing Albums for Record Store Day".
65. "George Thorogood".
66. Hooke, Matt. (October 1, 2021). "Newark's Hank Carter, saxophonist for George Thorogood, dies at 71".
67. Benitez-Eves, Tina. (April 12, 2023). "George Thorogood Forced to Cancel Shows Due to Undisclosed 'Serious Medical Condition'".
68. Varvaris, Mary. (February 13, 2025). "George Thorogood & The Destroyers Plot Two Australian Headline Dates".
69. "George Thorogood Biography". IMDb.
70. "George Thorogood Announces the Marla Thorogood Memorial Fund for Ovarian Cancer Research".
71. (March 3, 2023). "'Blowing Your Mind' with the great George Thorogood".
72. (April 11, 2023). "George Thorogood Cancels Tour Dates After Being Diagnosed with 'Very Serious Medical Condition'".
73. Hassler, Abby. (May 9, 2017). "George Thorogood to Release First-Ever Solo Album 'Party of One'".
74. (June 19, 1982). "EMI Pact Gives Thorogood "Best of Both Worlds"".
75. (May 11, 1985). "Cash Box - May 11,1985".
76. Rene, Sheila. (March 15, 1991). "Hear And There".
77. (September 4, 1993). "RPM - September 4, 1993".
78. "George Thorogood and the Destroyers Launching the Rock Party Tour in Late February".
79. Starr, Richard. (November 15, 2022). "George Thorogood 'Good to Be Bad' Tour".
80. Wardlaw, Matt. (December 1, 2022). "George Thorogood Announces 50th Anniversary Tour for 2023".
81. Wardlaw, Matt. (November 3, 2025). "George Thorogood Announces First 2026 Tour Dates".