During 2025’s The Baddest Show on Earth Tour, they played nearly 90 explosive shows, were honored by The Recording Academy’s GRAMMY Museum, saw George’s famed Gibson ES-125TDC ‘Bad To The Bone’ guitar placed on permanent exhibit at The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, performed at halftime for the Las Vegas Raiders, were inducted into The Musicians Hall of Fame, delivered the top-rated PBS Special Recorded Live At Analog, and more.
But now it’s 2026. What could George Thorogood & The Destroyers possibly do for an encore?
“Encore?” bellows George with a good-natured laugh. “We’re just getting started!”
For an artist whose music honors the blues, rock and country legends of the past, Thorogood’s forward momentum is now stronger than ever. And along with longtime Destroyers Jeff Simon (drums), Bill Blough (bass), Jim Suhler (guitar) and Buddy Leach (saxophone), they continue “to slap a custom flame paint job onto those classic sounds” (Blues Blast Magazine) like never before. “There’s never been a master plan,” George says. “We’ll always be focused on playing music that makes all kinds of people happy. Because when the house lights go down, the downbeat hits and the audience erupts, there is no greater feeling in the world.”
For the past 5+ decades, over 8,000 live shows and more than 15 million albums sold, they’ve been called “The All American rock & roll party band” (Goldmine Magazine), “one of the 5 best acts left out of The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame” (WNBF Binghamton) and “one of the most iconic bands in rock history” (Rapid City Journal). And for their 53rd year of “playing rock & roll hot enough to melt the polar icecaps and flood the world’s major population centers” (Rolling Stone), the 2026 continuation of The Baddest Show On Earth Tour is a stage-shaking, roof-raising, guitar-snarling blast
for the band and fans alike. “We’ve always been a high wire act,” says George. “The band and I now have a renewed taste for danger and an almost feral sense of purpose. Could be the state of the world. Maybe it’s the healing power of rock & roll. But when we hit the stage on any given night, I can guarantee that we’ll make you feel like a teenager again.”
George Thorogood & The Destroyers have always delivered on their promises. In 1976, they debuted as the most explosive indie breakthrough act of the decade. Throughout the ‘80s/’90s MTV era, Thorogood was the epitome of snakeskin & shades guitar-slinger cool. And with chart-topping hits like ‘One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer’, ‘Move It On Over’, ‘Who Do You Love?’, ‘I Drink Alone’, ‘Get A Haircut’ and the ultimate badass anthem ‘Bad To The Bone’, George & The Destroyers soon became undeniable cornerstones of Classic Rock. Meanwhile, their album catalog – which now includes George’s acclaimed 2017 solo disc Party Of One, 2020’s epic George Thorogood & The Destroyers Live In Boston 1982: The Complete Concert, and 2022’s The Original George Thorogood – continues to dominate streaming charts worldwide. As live performers, they will always be untouchable: whether it’s been their legendary 50 States/50 Days Tour, landmark performances at Live Aid and on SNL, opening club dates for Muddy Waters or stadium shows for The Rolling Stones, and recent smash tours with John Fogerty, ZZ Top and Sammy Hagar, one of rock’s premier
showmen and his band remain among the most reliable/formidable concert acts on the planet. “Over the past three years alone, we’ve played more than 200 shows in 20 countries throughout North America, Europe and Australia,” Thorogood says with pride.
“Don’t let anyone tell you this gig won’t keep you energized. I defy bands half our age to put on a show like we do night after night.”
Offstage, George & The Destroyers also set a stellar example with their commitment to humanitarian causes that include a long-term relationship with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a current partnership with Musically Fed, their annual ‘Who Do You Love’ holiday charity initiative now celebrating its 10th record-setting year, and The Marla Thorogood Memorial Fund for Ovarian Cancer Research, created in memory of George’s wife who passed away in 2019. . “My generation was raised on kindness and empathy,” Thorogood explains. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a rock star or the milkman. If you’ve been blessed with a successful career, you have an obligation to give back and help others. Wherever The Destroyers can spread love and make a difference, count us in.”
If the true spirit of rock & roll can turn uncharted territory into a blow-out party, then George Thorogood & The Destroyers are among rock’s great conquerors. And in a career which has seen him recently receive such monumental tributes as The B.B. King Award from The Montreal International Jazz Festival, being made honorary members of The Bo Diddley Centennial Committee by Bo’s daughter and grandson, and being invited to perform at The Grand Ole Opry, are there any milestones left for Thorogood to achieve in the next 50 years? “It’s crazy to think that we’ve spent the last half century performing music we love for audiences who love what we do,” George says. “But when you’ve got the best job in the world, you can’t ever rest on your laurels. Accolades are nice, but connecting with people is what really matters. We not only work hard to bring our best, but to keep getting better. That’s the only mission. That’s rock & roll.”
Tickets general on sale starts Friday, November 7th at 10AM local. Tickets are available online at: https://rialtosquare.com/
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