George Thorogood Meets Brian Setzer For Tour

GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS AND BRIAN SETZER CO-HEADLINE ON NATIONAL U.S. TOUR MAY 27-JUNE 20

SETZER AND THOROGOOD REUNITE AS CO-HEADLINERS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN 20 YEARS ON THE “GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS / BRIAN SETZER’S ROCKABILLY RIOT TOUR 2015”

For the first time in more than 20 years, fans will be able to catch two legendary acts on the road together this summer on the George Thorogood And The Destroyers / Brian Setzer’s Rockabilly Riot Tour 2015, as they co-headline a national U.S. tour from May 27-June 20.  The tour will begin in Red Bank, New Jersey, and will hit such cities as New York, Baltimore, Detroit, Chicago (Elgin), Milwaukee, Denver, and more.

Says Brian: “Blues and Billy with a kick! Where else you gonna see this?!?”  Adds George, “I am looking forward to working with Brian again.  He is a great American artist and a true rock & roller in the classic rockabilly fashion!”

Brian Setzer, iconic guitarist, songwriter vocalist and three-time Grammy-award-winner, is a “Musician’s Musician” credited with continually taking chances with innovative and daring musical styles, while single-handedly resurrecting two forgotten genres of music (rockabilly in the ‘80’s and swing in the ’90’s). Along the way, he has scored chart-topping hits, sold 13 million records and received the Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award throughout his decorated career as founder/leader of the Stray Cats, his 18-piece Brian Setzer Orchestra, and as a solo artist. He is consistently cited as one of the world’s greatest living guitarists, and has a best-selling, extensive line of elite Gretsch signature model guitars bearing his name. Brian appeared in the 1987 film, La Bamba (the biographical film written following the life and career of Chicano rock ‘n’ roll star Ritchie Valens), portraying rockabilly pioneer Eddie Cochran. In 2002, Brian earned the distinct honor of being one of the few musicians to be animated in an episode of “The Simpsons,” an episode which also featured rock ‘n’ roll legends Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. That same year, Setzer was personally requested to induct Chet Atkins into the 17^th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Setzer recently released his new album, ROCKABILLY RIOT!: ALL ORIGINAL, a straight-ahead rockabilly album from start to finish with 12 new songs featuring Setzer’s trademark twang and fretboard fire, on Surfdog Records. Last October (2014), Setzer earned the distinct honor of being asked by the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. to donate a replica guitar evocative of his original 1959 Gretsch 6120 “Stray Cat” guitar, joining an elite collection of musical instruments at the museum including John Coltrane’s saxophone, Dizzy Gillespie’s trumpet, Prince’s Yellow Cloud electric guitar and the Van Halen “Frank 2” guitar played and made famous by Eddie Van Halen.

George Thorogood And The Destroyers – whose lineup includes Jeff Simon (drums, percussion), Bill Blough (bass guitar), Buddy Leach (saxophone), and Jim Suhler (rhythm guitar),  performed more than 100 live concerts last year, touring the U.S. and Canada with their powerhouse rock with bar band roots, unchained attitude, and a fierce love of their country and blues history. Over the course of 16 studio albums during the last four decades, George and The Destroyers have stormed the charts with six Gold and two Platinum selling albums. They have performed more than 8,000 live shows, and have sold more than 15 million albums. From their first show at Lane Hall, through legendary appearances on SNL and Live Aid, the opening slot on the Rolling Stones historic ’81 tour, their own record-breaking 50/50 tour, or any of their current 100+ shows per year – the band is known worldwide as road warriors. Prior to the Thorogood/Setzer tour, Thorogood and his band will embark on the “George Thorogood And The Destoyers:  Badder Than Ever” tour which begins on February 27 in Burlington, Vermont, and concludes on April 26 at Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California. 

George Thorogood And The Destroyers / Brian Setzer’s Rockabilly Riot Tour 2015 is as follows: