MARCH/APRIL 2010 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM Q&A Jeff Frazier

GEORGE THOROGOOD Still rocking, still laughing and still b-b-b-b-bad to the bone

GUITARIST, SINGER AND SONGWRITER went off the air at 11. You had time to pull a me play and say, “I could be that guy.” I want George Thorogood’s raucous brand of bluesy record out and listen to the whole thing two the average girl to say, “I could get a guy like rock ’n’ roll has been steadily satisfying fans or three times. Now it just doesn’t seem that that.” They couldn’t get a guy like Brad Pitt, for more than three decades through hits like way. Why go spend $75,000 or $100,000 but they could get a guy like me. What guy “Bad to the Bone,” “You Talk Too Much” and making a record that nobody has time to can watch a Warren Beatty movie and relate “Get a Haircut.” Thorogood and his band, the listen to? Why not just do two or three new to that? My band is regular guys playing Destroyers, have just returned to the road in songs and let them have it? That’s all they music and having a good time. And there support of last year’s The Dirty Dozen, a mix want to hear anyway. Do you really need a are a lot more regular guys out there than of new songs with rare tracks. We spoke with new Rolling Stones album? You’re happy there are superstars. Thorogood about his continuing crusade to with what they have out already. They’re in make the world a more rockin’ place. good shape with or without a new record. What fi rst drew you to your primary guitar, the Gibson ES-125? What do you do to prepare for a tour? How important is a sense of humor to The Gibson 125 attracted me because We never say it’s “the end” of a tour—we your music? it really looked groovy when I fi rst saw it. say, “to be continued.” We are always in a When I put lyrics together, I give ’em I’m a fi nger-picker type guitarist, and the perpetual state of continuation, so we don’t something jolly. Tell me when funny ever semi-hollow body on the Gibson 125 just have to prepare. I just stay out of the bars went out of style! Why has comedy lasted works. The sound is unusual, and I knew it and stay on the treadmill. Try to keep the so long? Why do you see rerun after rerun would give me a signature sound. I wouldn’t weight down and the chops up. of the greatest shows in the world? Will sound like anyone else, because nobody we ever get tired of The Honeymooners? else played ’em! That appealed to me. Why is it that established artists these Comedy will never lose its charm if it’s done days have trouble getting fans to buy well. If you can’t laugh at Thorogood and Can you recall your most memorable their new music? his stories you’ve got problems. Besides, I onstage moment? I think people just don’t have time to listen know what kind of voice I have. I’m not gonna There’s been millions of ’em! I can’t whittle to it. Our society is so fast-paced now. make people forget Aretha Franklin! But as them down to just one. Let’s just say this: There isn’t enough time for anybody to do far as music goes, I’m the dude, man! You Any given night I could walk out on stage anything anymore. Who has time to listen dig? (laughs) and say, “This is the greatest moment of my to 13 songs on a record? Forty years ago life.” I’m thrilled when someone gets off on time was our biggest commodity. There were Humor also helps fans relate to you. my music as much as I do. only three stations on television and they I want the average person to come in, watch –Jesse Capps

‘I’m thrilled when someone gets off on my music as much as I do.’

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