"Bad to the Bone" is a rock song by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers, released in 1982 on the album of the same name by EMI America Records.[2] It was written by George Thorogood.
| "Bad to the Bone" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 US single picture sleeve | ||||
| Single by George Thorogood and the Destroyers | ||||
| from the album Bad to the Bone | ||||
| B-side | "No Particular Place to Go (Live)" | |||
| Released | September 17, 1982 | |||
| Recorded | April, 1982 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:52 3:36 (single edit)[1] 7:05 (25th Anniversary Edition) | |||
| Label | EMI America | |||
| Songwriter(s) | George Thorogood | |||
| Producer(s) | The Delaware Destroyers | |||
| George Thorogood and the Destroyers singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Bad to the Bone" on YouTube | ||||
Bad To The Bone became a staple of classic rock radio.[3] It is on many compilation and live albums, and is often played live by the Destroyers. The song is often considered to be the Destroyers' best song.[4]
Writing
editGeorge Thorogood wrote Bad To The Bone sometime during their 50/50 tour. It took "a few months" for Thorogood to write the song.[3] The lyrics took longer to write.[5] Thorogood says "If we don’t write a song called ‘Bad to the Bone,’ somebody else will, so it might as well be us."[6]
Thorogood originally wanted Muddy Waters and Bo Diddley to record the song,[7][8] but neither could, so the Destroyers recorded it.[3][5]
Recording and composition
editRecording of the song took place in the Dimension Sound Studios in Jamaica Plains, Boston in April, 1982.[5][9] Rolling Stones keyboardist Ian Stewart helped record the song, and played piano on the song.[2]
Bad To The Bone was written in open G tuning, and makes use of a slide.[10] The song adapts the hook and lyrics of Muddy Waters' 1955 song "Mannish Boy".[11][12]
Release
editBad To The Bone was first released in 1982 as the title track to their fifth studio album, before being released as a single on September 17.[2] The song peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.[13] Although the single was not widely popular upon its initial release, its music video made recurrent appearances on MTV, created a year before.[14]
"Bad to the Bone" has been featured in many movies, including "Christine" (1983), "Talk Radio" (1988), "Problem Child" (1990), "Problem Child 2" (1991), "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" (1991), "Major Payne" (1995), "The Parent Trap" (1998), and "Joe Dirt" (2001). Former Major League Baseball player Ryan Klesko used the song as his entrance music during his tenure with the San Diego Padres.[8] "Bad to the Bone" was also featured in Nestea commercials, with the lyrics changed to "Cool to the Core." The song was used to promote Nestea's iced tea products. In 2002, "Bad to the Bone" was featured in a UPS commercial that aired during NASCAR broadcasts. The commercial featured George Thorogood changing the lyrics to "Brown to the Bone." In 2004, "Bad to the Bone" was featured in a commercial for Kit Kat White Chocolate called "Bikers." In the commercial, several motorcyclists are sitting on their motorcycles, except for one man, who is eating Kit Kat White Chocolate.
Music video
editThe video intercuts a live performance by Thorogood and his band with footage of him entering a pool hall and challenging Bo Diddley[6][8] to a game. Word of the challenge quickly spreads throughout the neighborhood, and a spectator brings pool player Willie Mosconi from an adjoining boxing gym where he is watching a fight. Mosconi wagers a large sum of money on Diddley, and the game lasts several hours, with Thorogood gaining the advantage.
As the video ends, Thorogood attempts to sink the 8-ball but leaves it sitting at the edge of a pocket. He grins and flicks ashes onto the floor from a cigar he has been smoking throughout the game, causing just enough of a disturbance to sink the ball, and the children gathered outside the pool hall celebrate his victory.[15]
Critical reception
editBad to the Bone was received positively by critics. Author Jim Beviglia opined that despite the song not landing on the Hot 100 chart, it "outstrips all other 80s songs in terms of the way it has essentially become cultural shorthand".[16]
Personnel
edit- George Thorogood – vocals and electric guitar
- Ian Stewart – piano
- Hank Carter – saxophone
- Billy Blough – bass
- Jeff Simon – drums
Authorship claim
editChicago area musician James Pobiega, who goes by the stage name "Little Howlin' Wolf", has claimed that he wrote "Bad to the Bone" and that Thorogood stole it from him.[8][17]
References
edit- ^ "News & Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. October 2, 1982. p. 8 – via World Radio History.
- ^ a b c Friedlander, Matt. "George Thorogood and the Destroyers' 'Bad to the Bone' album celebrates 40th b-b-b-b-b-birthday". ABC Audio Digital Syndication.
- ^ a b c Wardlaw, Matt. "The Story Behind George Thorogood's Slow-Developing 'Bad to the Bone'". Ultimate Classic Rock.
- ^ Graff, Gary. "'Bad to the Bone': Beyond George Thorogood's Hit Song". Ultimate Classic Rock.
- ^ a b c Yates, Henry. "The story behind George Thorogood & The Destroyers' Bad To The Bone". Classic Rock.
- ^ a b Fraley, Jason. "George Thorogood ready to rock Wolf Trap with 'Bad to the Bone' hits". WTOP News.
- ^ "George Thorogood Interview 2014". earlofnewt.com. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
- ^ a b c d Uitti, Jacob. "The Meaning Behind the Rousing Classic Rock Song "Bad to the Bone"". American Songwriter.
- ^ Adam. "George Thorogood & The Destroyers 'Bad to the Bone' Turns (almost) 40". ROCK 92.9.
- ^ "Bad To The Bone by George Thorogood". Guitar Alliance.
- ^ Fender.com, Muddy Waters. "Learn How to Play 'Mannish Boy' by Muddy Waters". Fender.com. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Bad to the Bone. "Rolling Stone Magazine". Retrieved 2021-01-25.
- ^ "George Thorogood Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 3, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Rotter, Joshua. "George Thorogood revisits his career-making album 25 years later". Recordnet.
- ^ "George Thorogood & The Destroyers - Bad To The Bone (Music Video)". YouTube.
- ^ Jim Beviglia. "'Bad to the Bone' by George Thorogood and the Destroyers." Playing Back the 80s: A Decade of Unstoppable Hits. Rowman & Littlefield, 2018. ISBN 9781538116401 p. 79.
- ^ Mehr, Bob (10 November 2005). "Out of the Wilderness". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 13 June 2014.