GEORGE THOROGOOD HAS been playing his unique blend of blues and rock and roll — “American music,” as he describes it — for more than 50 years now. He served his time working the coffeehouses and blues and folk clubs around New England, where he rubbed shoulders with many of the legends of acoustic blues. He even spent a short period working as a roadie and driver for Hound Dog Taylor. During the early years that he was a solo act, Thorogood played acoustic blues from a set predominantly comprised of covers, but he knew early on there was plenty more mileage to be had in performing the more obscure songs. Whatever he played, he injected it with the unique sense of energy and dynamism that has become the hallmark of everything he’s done since.
Before long, Thorogood became frustrated by the acoustic blues scene and wanted to form an electric blues combo with the spirit of Hound Dog Taylor. He first hooked up with drummer Jeff Simon back in 1973, and bassist Billy Blough came onboard three years later. Both men still form the core of his band today. Thorogood has a short answer when asked his secret to keeping a band together for nearly 50 years. “I pay good,”
