Delaware-based George Thorogood and The Destroyers — currently founding duo George Thorgood (vocals, guitar) and Jeff Simon (drums) along with Bill Blough (bass), Jim Suhler (rhythm guitar) and Buddy Leach (saxophone) — formed way back in 1973. And since their formation, the band has played more than 8,000 live shows, developing a reputation for being one of the most consistent — and consistently passionate — progenitors of blues-based rock.
The band initially honed their sound on stages across the Northeast, building a devoted, word-of-mouth following through high-energy performances, blistering grooves and of course, one of the baddest motherfuckers out there, George Thorogood.
Things began to blow up in the late 1970s, after the band relocated to Boston and signed with Rounder Records. Their self-titled 1977 full-length debut channeled the power and energy of their live shows. They followed up with their breakthrough effort, 1978’s Move It On Over. The band’s profile nationally and elsewhere continued to rise with a string of popular releases 1980’s More George Thorogood and the Destroyers, 1982’s Bad to the Bone and 1985’s Maverick. And yet, their true passion always remained playing live.
“George’s connection to unvarnished, primal rock and roll made the music relevant in a way that no one could have predicted,” writes Scott Billington, who spent over 40 years as Rounder Records’ Vice President of A&R. “And even though he went on to make many wonderful records…he’s the first to say that he’d rather be on stage than in a recording studio.”
With the band now in their fifth decade, Craft Recordings shines a spotlight on their high-octane concerts with The Baddest Show on Earth: Greatest Hits Live. Spanning 1978-2024, this new collection showcases some of the band’s most electrifying live performances — many making their debut on record, including their enduring crowd favorites “Who Do You Love,” “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” “Bad to the Bone,” and “Move It On Over.”
Slated for a June 12, 2026 release, The Baddest Show on Earth will be available on vinyl LP featuring four previously unreleased tracks, while the expanded CD and standard/hi-res digital editions include eight previously unreleased performances. Both physical formats will feature new liner nots from Grammy Award-winning producer and blues musician Scott Billington.
There will be three vinyl variants for fans — Black, Translucent Yellow, which will be available exclusively at Barnes and Noble, and Blazing Red Smoke, which will be available exclusively through GeorgeThorogood.com and on tour. You can pre-order the album here, but in the meantime, Craft Recordings and the band shared a previously unreleased performance of “Who Do You Love,” which was recorded in Atlanta in 1980.
Speaking about The Baddest Show on Earth, Thorogood says, “When the lights go down, the downbeat hits and the audience erupts; all bets are off. The Destroyers are at their best when we play for the people, and these are some of our favorite—and rarest—performances from the past five decades. You wanted the baddest, you got it.”
Thorogood and the Destroyers’ rendition of Bo Diddley‘s “Who Do You Love” is one of my favorite versions of the song, and the live version captures the swaggering, badass swagger and sweaty voodoo-like rhythms of their recorded version — and just important how under appreciated Thorogood is as a guitar player.
The band is — fittingly — on the road as we speak. Check out the tour dates below.
The Baddest Show on Earth Tour Dates
March 20: Grey Eagle Event Centre (South Calgary, Canada)
March 22: Conexus Arts Centre (Regina, Canada)
March 24: Burton Cummings Theatre (Winnipeg, Canada)
March 25: Amsoil Arena (Duluth, MN)
March 27: FireKeepers Casino (Battle Creek, MI)
March 28: Brown County Music Center (Nashville, IN)
March 29: Rialto Square Theatre (Joliet, IL)
March 31: The Midland Theatre (Newark, OH)
April 2: FirstOntario Concert Hall (Hamilton, Canada)
April 3: Casino Rama Resort (Rama, Canada)
April 4: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa (Ottawa, Canada)
May 1: The Capitol Theatre (Port Chester, NY)
May 2: The Paramount (Huntington, NY)
May 3: Penn’s Peak (Jim Thorpe, PA)
May 5: Capital One Hall (Tysons, VA)
May 6: The Carolina Opry (Myrtle Beach, SC)
May 7: St. Augustine Amphitheatre (St. Augustine, FL)
May 9: Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival (Key West, FL)
May 10: Seminole Brighton Bay Hotel & Casino (Okeechobee, FL)
May 12: Macon City Auditorium (Macon, GA)
May 13: Pensacola Saenger Theatre (Pensacola, FL)
May 15: Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival (Richardson, TX)
May 16: Riverwind Casino (Norman, OK)
May 17: The Astro (La Vista, NE)
May 19: Vibrant Music Hall (Waukee, IA)
May 21: The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor (Windsor, CA)
May 22: Rose Music Center at The Heights (Huber Heights, OH)
May 23: Beaver Dam Amphitheater (Beaver Dam, KY)
Jun 20: Holland International Blues Festival (Grolloo, NL)
Jun 23: Uber Eats Music Hall (Berlin, DE)
Jun 26: Bataclan (Paris, FR)
Jun 29: The Civic Hall (Wolverhampton, UK)
Jun 30: Indigo at The O2 (London, UK)
Jul 4: Puistoblues (Järvenpää, FL)
Jul 10: Lakefront Music Fest 2026 (Prior Lake, MN)
Sept 4: Champlain Valley Fair (Essex Junction, VT)
Sept 25: One805Live! 2026 (George Thorogood & Buddy Leach) (Montecito, CA)
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