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George Thorogood talks about Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan and Martin Scorsese

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After 50 years in the music business, guitarist and “Bad to the Bone” singer George Thorogood still has many goals in his life.

“I want to be better than George Thorogood was last week,” Thorogood said.

In his recent interview with The Desert Sun, Thorogood sarcastically expressed everything from his delight that actresses Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Adams are single again (which they are not, they are both married) to how cool it would be if Bob Dylan asked him to play slide guitar on his next studio project. He also wondered aloud if he could join Sir Paul McCartney on tour and rock the maracas and star in a movie with Martin Scorsese.

Wait, was he serious about that last thing?

“I would turn down Martin Scorsese. I would say, 'No, Marty, I have better things to do today, I have to wash my socks. Find someone else,'” Thorogood said in a sarcastic tone. “If Scorsese wants me, I'm available. Robert Di Niro has to retire one day, so I want (Scorsese) to be aware of that.”

George Thorogood and the Destroyers, who have been on the road for most of 2024, will end their summer tour on September 6 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.

George Thorogood had a health scare that slowed him down in 2023

In 2023, the band canceled their 50th anniversary tour because Thorogood had a “very serious health condition” that required emergency surgery, from which he has since recovered. He spent the early summer touring with former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty, describing his repertoire as being on the same level as Hank Williams, the Beatles and Bob Dylan.

“(Fogerty) can play anything he wants first, last or in between because all of his songs are hits. Not many people have that. Some of those songs people like more than others, but Fogerty is one of those people whose catalog rivals anyone else's,” Thorogood said.

George Thorogood and the Destroyers is “like a restaurant”

As part of the band's recent anniversary, George Thorogood and the Destroyers released a compilation of over 30 songs in 2023. Of course, there are some tracks from the past that he has listened to and thinks could have been better, but Thorogood did not specify which ones.

He explained that the early years were fraught with challenges, such as there being only three band members and a tight budget that meant they couldn't finance an additional guitarist, saxophonist or the desired producers. However, the songs “Bad to the Bone,” “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” “Who Do You Love?” and “I Drink Alone” became classics on rock radio and many others are popular with fans.

And as a true man of the people, he knows what his audience likes.

“We're like a restaurant with a menu. If people like something on it and keep coming back, we'll keep it on the menu, but maybe add something new. But it's never been about me writing a song because I'm heartbroken, my wife left me, or because my father died. There's nothing personal about it,” Thorogood said.

For George Thorogood, artistic freedom is important

Many say the 1980s were the best decade for music, due to the commercial success of artists such as Michael Jackson, Van Halen, Guns N' Roses, Duran Duran, U2 and many others. With new sounds and genres emerging in pop, R&B, rock, metal and more, there was often pressure from labels and many artists lost creative control during the recording process.

Thorogood explained that he signed contracts for “a little less money and worked a little less to achieve a little more” in order to preserve his artistic freedom.

“I want to be paid fairly, but I'm not greedy. I need the freedom to record what I want. A few times the big guys have told me, 'that's not a good song,' and they were wrong. I vowed a long time ago that I would never again be dissuaded from recording a song that I know will be well received by our fans, played on the radio, or both,” Thorogood said.

George Thorogood was honored by the University of Delaware

In June, the Delaware native was honored with the University of Delaware's Medal of Distinction, the highest non-academic honor given by the university's Board of Trustees. The recognition came 50 years after Thorogood and the Destroyers played their first concert together in a dorm lounge on the University of Delaware campus.

Thorogood was the 133rd person to receive the honor since the designation was introduced in 1979. In addition to UD alumni, President Joe Biden and former Major League Baseball pitcher and manager Dallas Green are among those in attendance, along with numerous faculty members, donors and more.

“I thank the University of Delaware for the Medal of Distinction. I am not sure how exceptional I am, but I accept it in the spirit in which it is presented and am very flattered to receive this honor,” Thorogood told Delaware Online/The News Journal before receiving the award.

“Where something is lost, something is gained”

For a rock veteran like Thorogood, the industry has gone through a lot of changes. It's not just about new sounds and bands, but also the business side of recording, marketing and distributing music in the digital age. Even though it's harder now than it was 50 years ago, Thorogood said, “Where something is lost, something is gained,” because there are more opportunities for artists today than ever before.

“When we started, there was one radio station. It was called 'Underground Rock' back then, FM radio. Now there are millions of stations you can listen to at home with a computer, where you can write your own song, put it on Facebook and send it out to the world. That wasn't possible 40 or 50 years ago. Back then, it was word of mouth. Yes, some things are easier and some are harder. You have to own a computer and know how to use it, which I don't. I need a guitar to do my job,” Thorogood said.

George Thorogood turns 75 next year

After celebrating his 50th anniversary as a musician, Thorogood will turn 75 in February. When asked how he feels about it, he said: “I hope I can do it. Is that good enough?”

“If you can still breathe and urinate without pain, it's a good day. Today is a great day, and if I'm still here tomorrow, it will be an even greater day,” Thorogood said.

When you go

What: Concert by George Thorogood and the Destroyers

When: 8pm Friday, September 6

Where: Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio

Cost: 52 to 103 US dollars

More info: fantasyspringsresort.com/george-thorogood

Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment. Reach him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @bblueskye.

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