Exclusive Interview with Thorogood
By Marisa Dawson, Courtesy Photo
Blues-rock legend George Thorogood is returning to Omaha’s The Astro this weekend, bringing decades of gritty guitar riffs, crowd-favorite hits, and the same high-energy performances that have kept fans coming back generation after generation.
Ahead of his Sunday, May 17 concert, Thorogood spoke with the newspaper about life on the road, loyal fans, and why he still approaches every performance as though he has something to prove.
“What keeps me going,” Thorogood said, “is the fact that we still have our fans behind us. We might not have the most fans in the world, but we have the best fans in the world.”
After more than 50 years of touring, Thorogood said the excitement of performing live has never faded. Even in familiar cities like Omaha, he says every crowd brings something different to the stage.
“It’s familiar, but it’s still new and fresh,” he explained. “There might be 50 people out there who have never seen us play before, and maybe 50 people who have seen us a lot. Usually the audience dictates where the show is going to go that night.”
Fans attending the upcoming show can expect exactly what they came for, the songs that made Thorogood and his band staples of American rock radio.
“Nobody pays money to hear a song off one of our worst albums that never sold real good,” he joked. “They want to hear you get it on. And we got a pretty good idea what songs they want to hear.”
Known for hits like “Bad to the Bone,” “Move It On Over,” and “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” Thorogood’s signature sound remains deeply rooted in blues influences that first inspired him as a young musician.
“When I first started listening to John Lee Hooker and Robert Johnson, it came very naturally to me,” he said. “I just revved it up in high gear, turned up the volume a little bit, and lo and behold, I can make a living. This is just who I am.”
Thorogood also reflected on the way rock music has evolved over the decades, growing from what was once considered teenage rebellion into something shared across generations.
“I’ve seen younger people bring their parents and grandparents,” he said. “Rock itself covers a lot of ground these days. It used to be just for teenagers. It’s just not that way anymore.”
That multi-generational connection is something many longtime fans can relate to, including those who first discovered Thorogood’s music riding in the car with their parents before eventually bringing their own children to concerts years later.
Even after decades in the spotlight, Thorogood said he never takes an audience for granted.
“I always like to walk on the stage like we’re playing for an audience that doesn’t know who we are,” he said. “We’ve got to work to get their approval.”
As for Omaha fans, Thorogood hopes the upcoming show delivers the same energy and connection as past visits to the city.
“I just hope everything goes as well as it did the last time,” he said. “Hopefully better.”
Tickets are still available and can be found online here: https://theastrotheater.com/event/george-thorogood-and-the-destroyers/
