George Thorogood and
his Delaware Destroyers have been raisin'
rock 'n' roll Shenanigans now for over
thirty years. Coming out of Detroit in
1974, they got to release their first
self-titled studio album in 1977. However,
it was not until another nine years of
roadwork, and several studio albums later,
that the band hit pay-dirt with their
first live album, simply titled ‘Live’
in 1986. It made the live Destroyer experience
available to the world. And after all
is said and done, it is not surprising
that this is where the band finally clicked
on album. George Thorogood and the Destroyers
have always been a live beast, bursting
into life when they hit the boards in
front of a frenzied audience, but wilting
slightly when cooped up in a recording
studio.
In the Destroyers career so far there
have been three live albums, the original
from 1977, then lately there was Live
in 1999, but it's this middle one from
1995 that I picked as the best of a good
bunch. The simple reason is that the performance
is explosive, well recorded, chock-a-block
full of Thorogood classics, the odd surprise
here and there, and, like any good live
recording, it is topped and tailed by
a good solid slab of Mr. Chuck Berry.
The ever dependable Destroyers, stripped
down to a basic four piece which this
dog prefers (I’d rather have four
musicians working hard than a nine piece
being able to take it easy), put out a
good solid sound. Apart from the amazing
George out front on lead guitar and vocals,
you have the exuberant Hank Carter on
saxophone, who also contributes a touch
of keyboards when the feeling takes. These
two are backed by one of the most solid
rhythm sections in history - Bill Blough
on bass and Jeff Simon on drums. Over
the years these two have welded together
a mighty partnership.
For the first eleven songs the boys crank
up their audience with a set full of Thorogood
destroyers, working the fifth member of
the band, the audience, to frenzy. Particularly
on the tribute to John Lennon with their
version of Larry Williams’ 'Bad
Boy', which the Beatles would of first
started playing in their days in Hamburg
nightclubs back in the early sixties.
But when George introduces Elvin (Bad
Boy) Bishop to the crowd to join the band
for some slide guitar on ‘Let's
Work Together’, the audience can
barely contain themselves with excitement.
To top that, out from the wings for the
final two songs comes Mr. Piano of Rock
'n' Roll/Blues/Boogie, Mr. Johnny Johnson.
In his past Johnson has been chief sideman
to all the greats including Chuck Berry,
Buddy Guy, etc., and if you have never
heard barrel house, honky-tonk piano,
lend an ear to the last two tracks on
this album. The first of the two is a
storming version of 'St. Louis Blues',
then we are led away by the rock 'n' roll
national anthem 'Johnny B. Goode'. By
this time the excitement contained in
the grooves of your CD can barely be controlled
as your CD player hangs onto the disc
by the skin of its teeth. The band members
shoulder each other out of the way to
take turns at soloing. Finally George
breaks back in to take control and brings
the song to a shattering climax.
All in all a very satisfying live recording
of a band at the top of their game. Not
many people know that when George sings…
"Why don't you get a haircut and
get a real job,
Just like your big brother Bob"
…he is of course singing about
his soul brother ‘The Prince of
Darkness’, Bob Finch of Tahitian
Queen fame. Well, now you know.
Rocked by Mott the Dog
Rolled by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
