Not even a pandemic could alter the way George Thorogood approaches life or his more-than-five-decade career making and playing what are now considered rock standards.
Best known for pounding out hits such as “Bad to the Bone” and “I Drink Alone,” Thorogood, as he refers to himself on occasion, pretty much has one speed, and it’s wide open, even when he is alone.
“My program wasn’t altered a bit,” he said of the pandemic. “People always want to keep Thorogood in solitaire. They want to keep their distance.”
Thorogood and his band the Destroyers will perform Tuesday at the Walker Theatre inside Memorial Auditorium at 7:30. It is the first show in the building since March 2020. It is one of the first shows on Thorogood’s Good to be Bad Tour, and the star said he is ready to get out and play.
“We played for the first time last week, and the reaction was amazing,” he told the Times Free Press.
Music is a healing agent, Thorogood said, and even during the pandemic, people found a way to rock.
“People do have record players,” he said. “They can play it at home as loud as they want. The music is a constant.”
Now that he is able to hit the road, Thorogood said, he hopes to do as many shows as possible in the coming weeks.
“We are planning on doing everything we can to get out and play,” he said. “We had a massive amount of bookings when the pandemic hit, and we are doing some of those and adding to it, God willing.”
Last year he released “Live in Boston, 1982: The Complete Concert.” Before that, he made his first solo record, “Party of One,” in 2016. It was a taxing experience, he said at the time, and he still feels that way. He may drink alone, but he likes to play music with others.
“It was an experience for sure,” he said.
“There were no second takes, and no one there to bounce ideas off of,” he said. “It was tough, but I’ve said that before with other records. They are a big deal for me.”
So is touring, and he said he looks forward to playing in Chattanooga and anywhere else people will show up to listen.
“All of the cities and shows are big to me. I just want to play,” Thorogood said.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.