After performing more than 8,000 shows in a career that spans 40 years, it’s easy to envision George Thorogood on autopilot when he hits The Pabst Theater stage on Tuesday, May 30. After all, at age 67, the king of full-throttle slide guitar boogie has earned the right to take the intensity of his shows down a notch or two, right?
Nothing could be farther from the truth. The king himself dispelled any notion of turning in a low-energy show during a recent phone interview before he and his band, the Destroyers, bring their "Rock Party" tour to town.
"I am up and ready to rock and roll, not just for Milwaukee, but for every show," Thorogood said. "I worked hard to get where I am. I love my job. If I didn’t, I’d quit."
Some of the audience members may be coming to see him for the first time, but many have been to one or more shows in the past. "It doesn’t really matter," he said. "All those people are my employers. I work for them."
Thorogood was eager to talk about his new album, "Party of One," scheduled for release later this summer. It’s the blues rocker’s first album without the Destroyers, a project that began more than four decades ago.
OnMilwaukee: "Party of One" is not a typical George Thorogood album. It’s just you and a guitar, playing live in the studio. What motivated you to do this?
George Thorogood: I really wanted to do something different, and "Party of One" is an homage to the days when I was singing and playing guitar on the streets of San Francisco. I was trying to break into the music business back then, and I was hungry, you know? I was playing for nickels and dimes just so I could eat.
What songs were in your repertoire at that time?
Oh, so many great songs. I was doing stuff by Robert Johnson, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Elmore James, Hank Williams, John Lee Hooker. I love those guys. They were among my earliest musical influences, and they, along with others, are represented on my solo album.
You included songs by Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and a cover of the Rolling Stones’ "No Expectations."
Seeing the Stones on the television show "Shindig" in 1965 was huge because it exposed me to the blues. The Stones refused to appear on "Shindig" unless the producers included one of their favorite singers, Howling Wolf. As soon as he began singing, I was like, "So THAT’S where they learned their trade!"
So you started listening to the musicians who influenced the Stones.
Exactly. I already knew how to play the guitar, and I knew I wanted to be in the music business, but I also knew that I wasn’t capable of doing what the Beatles, or Led Zeppelin, or The Who were doing. I couldn’t touch that. But my voice and guitar style lent itself to the blues. THAT I could do.
And you went to San Francisco because?
I went there because at that time San Francisco was a mecca for musicians like John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Albert King. There was work to be had there, and I was looking to get some.
The last song Chris Cornell sung was Blind Willie Johnson’s "In My Time of Dying."
Isn’t that scary? But blues songs convey pain and sadness. That’s what they’re all about. Still, remind me never to play that song!
Are you able to work any of the material from "Party of One" into your current set list?
Oh, no way, man. The live shows are all about rock and roll. Heavy duty rock and roll!
"Bad to the Bone" has become one of those iconic songs that everyone loves.
That song got good rotation on rock radio stations when it first came out. Then the movie and TV people got a hold of it and put it in "Terminator" and other stuff.
"Bad to the Bone" is probably played hundreds of times a day around the world. Even you only got a nickel for each play, the royalty checks alone must give you a nice income.
I can’t disagree with you there.
One final question. Are you able to walk down the street without causing a traffic jam, or do people respect your privacy?
You know, I’d have to say I’m truly blessed when it comes to that. I get a little attention, but not so much as to be a problem. I’m very comfortable with how that works out.
