George Thorogood ‘Recovering Nicely’ From ‘Serious Medical Condition’
by Best Classic Bands Staff
2022’s The Original George Thorogood album release
George Thorogood is said to be “recovering nicely” from his surgery that forced the rocker to cancel his 50th anniversary tour dates with his band, the Destroyers, through May. A post on May 18, 2023, on all of his social media platforms notes, “George & The Destroyers would like to thank you all for your lovely comments, well wishes, and prayers for George. His surgery went really well and he is home recovering nicely. We’re looking forward to getting back out on the road and rocking with you this coming July!”
On April 11, a dire post on the musician’s Facebook page noted “George has been diagnosed with a very serious medical condition that will require immediate surgery.” The guitarist, songwriter and singer turned 73 on Feb. 24. The celebratory tour began on March 17 and at the time of the announcement was on a planned break. The next leg, now canceled, was scheduled to resume on April 27 and continue through May 21. The tour is scheduled to resume on July 14.
From the original announcement of what was planned as a celebratory tour: On December 1, 1973, a guitarist, a drummer, and their rhythm guitarist loaded their gear into the drummer’s Volkswagen bus and drove to Lane Hall at the University of Delaware. In a week that saw new albums by Wings, Black Sabbath, and Bachman-Turner Overdrive, the three-piece band proceeded to play covers that included “No Particular Place To Go,” “Madison Blues” and “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.” The drummer, Jeff Simon, recalls the crowd was wary at first, “then it was like someone flipped a switch.” By the second set, the dance floor was packed.
“After the gig,” George the guitarist says, “Jeff and I thought, ‘maybe we’re onto something.’” It was the first-ever performance by George Thorogood & The Destroyers.
Five decades, more than 8,000 live shows, and 15 million albums later, George Thorogood and Jeff Simon (drums, percussion) – with long-time Destroyers Bill Blough (bass guitar), Jim Suhler (rhythm guitar), and Buddy Leach (saxophone) – have announced their Bad All Over the World – 50 Years of Rock Tour in 2023. “From that very first show, we’ve stayed true to ourselves and the music we love,” says Thorogood. “We’ve decided to celebrate our first half-century by throwing the biggest and baddest rock party ever.” (Yes, the band played what they called a 45 Years of Rock tour in 2021.)
George Thorogood in 1984
More from the tour announcement: Since 1976, the hard-working band has built a catalog of classic hits, and played more than 8,000 live shows. They did a 50 Dates/50 States Tour, performed at Live Aid and on SNL, and became mainstays of radio, MTV, and stages worldwide for more than two generations. Through it all, they’ve remained one of the most consistent – and consistently passionate – progenitors of blues-based rock. With more than 20 studio and live albums to their credit, the band has achieved Platinum and Gold success with eight. In the past few years, the band re-issued their legendary Bad To the Bone, Born To Be Bad, and Greatest Hits: 30 Years of Rock albums. Thorogood’s 2017 solo debut Party of One became his fastest-selling disc in over 20 years.
“It wasn’t about the amount of people we drew, but rather the impression we made,” Thorogood explains. “I asked myself, ‘Are we reaching them? Do they want more?’ And we knew from the very first set that we had something special.”
Watch the band perform a favorite on March 25, 2023, the final date of the tour’s first leg
Related: Our feature of Thorogood’s performance of “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer”
A new collection, The Original George Thorogood, was released in 2022 to celebrate Thorogood as a tunesmith. The album features radio favorites like “I Drink Alone” and “Rock and Roll Christmas,” as well as his mega-hit, “Bad to the Bone.”
Watch the band perform the classic in 1984
George Thorogood & the Destroyers’ Bad All Over the World Tour (Tickets are available here and here)
4/27/23 Commodore Ballroom / Vancouver, BC (Canceled)
4/28/23 Commodore Ballroom / Vancouver, BC (Canceled)
4/29/23 Trade and Convention Centre / Penticton, BC (Canceled)
4/30/23 CN Centre / Prince George, BC (Canceled)
5/2/23 Bonnetts Energy Centre / Grand Prairie, AB (Canceled)
5/4/23 The Venue at River Cree / Edmonton, AB (Canceled)
5/5/23 Grey Eagle Resort & Casino Event Centre / Calgary, AB (Canceled)
5/6/23 Casino Regina / Regina, SK (Canceled)
5/8/23 TCU Place / Saskatoon, SK (Canceled)
5/9/23 Burton Cummings Theatre / Winnipeg, MB (Canceled)
5/11/23 DreamMakers Theater / Sault Ste Marie, MI (Canceled)
5/12/23 Sudbury Arena / Sudbury, ON (Canceled)
5/13/23 Peterborough Memorial Centre / Peterborough, ON (Canceled)
5/14/23 MTelus / Montreal, QC (Canceled)
5/16/23 Centre in the Square / Kitchener, ON (Canceled)
5/17/23 Fallsview Casino Resort / Niagara Falls, ON (Canceled)
5/19/23 Foxwoods Resort Casino / Mashantucket, CT (Canceled)
5/20/23 Wind Creek Event Center / Bethlehem, PA (Canceled)
5/21/23 Michelob Ultra Summer Stage at Tag’s / Big Flats, NY (Canceled)
7/14/23 Jefferson County Fair Park / Jefferson, WI
7/15/23 Fraze Pavilion / Kettering, OH
7/16/23 Music Hall Center for the Perf. Arts / Detroit, MI
7/18/23 Surf Ballroom / Clear Lake, IA
7/19/23 Orpheum Theatre / Sioux City, IA
7/21/23 Arvada Center / Arvada, CO
7/22/23 Buffalo Thunder / Santa Fe, NM
7/23/23 Gila River Hotels & Casinos / Chandler, AZ
7/25/23 Belly Up / Solana Beach, CA
7/28/23 Pacific Amphitheatre / Costa Mesa, CA
7/29/23 Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino / Coarsegold, CA
7/30/23 Mountain Winery / Saratoga, CA
8/1/23 Britt Pavilion / Jacksonville, OR
8/3/23 Yakama Legends Casino / Toppenish, WA
8/4/23 Emerald Queen Casino / Tacoma, WA
8/6/23 Revolution Concert House / Garden City, ID
8/9/23 Sturgis Buffalo Chip / Sturgis, SD
8/11/23 Prairie Knights Casino and Resort / Fort Yates, ND
8/12/23 Northern Lights Casino / Walker, MN
8/26/23 New York State Fairgrounds / Syracuse, NY
8/28/23 Ocean City Music Pier / Ocean City, NJ
8/29/23 Ocean City Music Pier / Ocean City, NJ
8/30/23 Toyota Oakdale Theatre / Wallingford, CT
Sep 01 – Cohasset, MA – South Shore Music Circus
Sep 03 – Hyannis, MA – Cape Cod Melody Tent
Sep 05 – Rutland, VT – Paramount Theatre
Sep 07 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Sep 08 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount
Sep 09 – Charles Town, WV – Hollywood Casino
Sep 10 – Charleston, WV – Clay Center
Sep 12 – MGM Northfield Park – Northfield, OH
Sep 14 – Indianapolis, IN – Murat Theatre
Sep 16 – Burnsville, MN – Buck Hill Concert Series
Oct 20 – Bethlehem, PA – Wind Creek Event Center
Related: Listings for 100s of classic rock tours
2 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationSaw George Thorogood and the destroyers last night at the amphitheater in Costa Mesa, California. I don’t know what happened to him regarding his surgery or whatever but I can tell you the guy came back and performs like nothing I’ve ever seen. The last time I saw him was at the house of blues in Anaheim and this time all I can tell you is there was 100% difference. we were three women, two of which myself and another girl who are singers and absolutely think the world of George Thorogood and his music. The third girl was an airline stewardess and knew of him, but had never heard his music and she was on her feet thriving. It goes without saying he had reeled all of us and captivated us and we, of course, like everyone else did not want that concert to end . Hopefully his health is better, and he will be all right and in good health to continue the rest of his tour.
Saw George 09/01/2023 at Music Circus – great high energy show.