Most underrated guitarist ever: number 4 One night in December 1981, I bagged plans to study for three final exams to accept a girl's invitation to see the Rolling Stones. Having never seen the Stones in concert before -- and thinking this chance may never come my way again, I jumped at the chance. (Even though my girlfriend at the time was none too happy with my decision.) This was the Stones' "Tattoo You" tour, which many experts and music journalists speculated would be the final Stones tour ever. Of course, we now know that Mick, Keef and the boys will tour until they drop dead. But anyway.
The Stones put on a good show, as expected. But in terms of raw energy and kick-butt rock'n'roll, the opening act, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, outperformed the headliners. And gravel-voiced George Thorogood was at the forefront.
Blazing up and down the neck of his slide guitar, he performed the tunes that had made him an underground/FM rock radio favorite -- tunes like "Madison Blues," "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer," "Who Do You Love" and my personal favorite, his cover of Hank Williams' "Move In On Over."
It's that whiny, reeling slide guitar sound and that quick redneck pickin' that gets my toes to tapping. "Lonesome George" Thorogood's style may not be all that original, nor is it appreciated by blues purists. But I'm no blues purist, so there. I just like the way he builds on those classic sounds from the early days of rock'n'roll -- incorporating that infectious "Hey, Bo Diddley" riff into "Who Do You Love," firing off incendiary lickss throughout "Move It On Over," and yes, sliding smoothly along in "Madison Blues."
George Thorogood is no high-falutin' musician; he simply creates heart-pounding boogie-blues for the everyman. His influences ceom from blues legends -- John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Hound Dog Taylor -- as well as early rockers (like Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley) and rockabilly/country (Hank Williams, Johnny Cash). Thorogood pulls these influences together, pays homage to them and reminds his listeners that there was a time when rock'n'roll was straightforward and primal. He's a throwback rock'n'roller -- a guy who plays hard and loud. When you're in the mood for some flat-out guitar-heavy rock, George can set you up.
George Thorogood and the Destroyers started out in the '70s but flew under the radar until the early '80s, when "Bad to the Bone" became a hit. It wasn't one of the band's finer songs, but it gave the public a sense of this talent, and for a brief moment in time, the band gained some well-deserved recognition.