Bad to the Bone
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| “Bad to the Bone” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by George Thorogood & the Destroyers from the album Bad to the Bone |
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| Released | 1982 | ||||
| Recorded | 1981 | ||||
| Genre | Blues-Rock | ||||
| Length | 4:56 | ||||
| Label | EMI America | ||||
| Writer(s) | George Thorogood | ||||
| Producer | The Delaware Destroyers | ||||
| George Thorogood & the Destroyers singles chronology | |||||
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"Bad to the Bone" is a blues-influenced rock song by George Thorogood and the Destroyers released in 1982 on the album of the same name. While it was not a major hit on initial release, its memorable video made frequent appearances on MTV, which was in its infancy and had very few titles at the time. Widespread licensing for films, television, and commercials has since made Bad to the Bone one of the best-recognized songs of the 80s.
[edit] Structure and influences
The song's roots can be traced back to rock and roll legend Bo Diddley's song I'm a Man, which uses the same guitar riff and vocal rhythm, and has a similar overall structure, as well as Muddy Waters's She Moves Me and Mannish Boy. The song also holds a very similar melody to AC/DC's hit Whole Lotta Rosie, released on their 1977 album Let There Be Rock.
[edit] Music video
The video intercuts a live performance by Thorogood and his band with him playing a lengthy game of pool with Bo Diddley himself (who therefore presumably did not mind Thorogood's reworking of his song). Pool legend Willie Mosconi is summoned from another room by a spectator, and he wagers a large sum of money on Diddley. As Thorogood appears to be winning, a group of children outside celebrate while Diddley gets a dirty look from Mosconi.
Thorogood prominently smokes a fat cigar throughout the pool-playing sequence. The video ends with Thorogood making the 8 ball drop into a pocket by flicking a large quantity of cigar ash on the floor, apparently triggering the drop of the ball.
[edit] Appearances in other media
The song was used in the bar scene in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Bad to the Bone can also be heard in the remake of The Parent Trap (featuring Lindsay Lohan) in the poker scene, the opening credits to Major Payne, in the first scene and during the closing credits of Stephen King's Christine, as well as multiple episodes of the sitcom Married... with Children and in the Super Nintendo classic game Rock 'n Roll Racing. The song also served as the main theme to Problem Child, with its main riff appearing through the movie.
The song is used by for Dennis Anderson's Grave Digger monster truck as entrance music, and plays during his portion of the freestyle round at Monster Jam events, and as an entrance theme for closing pitcher Takashi Saito of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
