GEORGE THOROGOOD GIVES FANS INSIGHT AT GUITAR CENTER SESSIONS

Legendary Blues Hall of Fame guitarist George Thorogood performs an evening of dialogue and music at Guitar Center Sessions.

Legendary Blues Hall of Fame guitarist George Thorogood was on hand at Guitar Center in Hollywood, California on Monday July 27th for a special evening of dialogue and music in conjunction with Guitar Center’s next installment of Sessions. Besides a special performance from George Thorogood and his band The Destroyers, the evening also focused on George’s historic role in the evolution of blues guitar, the secrets behind his instantly recognizable finger-picking and slide technique as well as his distinguished career.

We caught up with George Thorogood before taking the stage to talk to the hundreds of fans in attendance to get his thoughts on what type of guidance he has for beginning musicians and why they should play for fun first.

“Well, pick out an instrument you’re comfortable with first of all. Don’t scrimp on your equipment because if you buy a lousy instrument you’re not going to want to play it. Get something that’s right for you and feels right. You’re going to move on as you go along. The first guitar you play is not going to be the one you stay with because as you develop you’ll go onto a different one and then a different one. For the style of music that you play, that you want to play, play what’s in your heart. Play the music that you really like because that’s the only kind of music that you can play well. Music is based on truth. Johnny Winter once said ‘Play for fun first and then all the things that are supposed to happen will come to you. The profit, the fame or whatever you’re after. That’s what you have to start with.”

Guitar Center Sessions serves as an incubator for musicians, providing them an opportunity to network with their peers in an intimate setting and gain career-fostering advice from their heroes. Past Guitar Center Sessions have featured music legends such as Slash, RZA, Pete Rock, Dave Mustaine, Dick Dale, and Joe Satriani. George Thorogood is currently touring in support of his latest release “The Dirty Dozen” which features Thorogood’s signature blues-rock vocals and guitar playing on 12 songs, many of which were written by a who’s-who of American blues legends, including Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, “Sleepy” John Estes, Chuck Berry, Howlin’ Wolf, and Willie Dixon. George Thorogood and The Destroyers will be performing in more than 30 cities this Summer on a tour that includes 22 Co-Headlining dates with guitarist Johnny Lang.