George Thorogood received the University of Delaware’s Medal of Distinction — UD’s highest non-academic honor — in a June 21 ceremony at the Hyatt Hotel on Newark’s Main Street.

Honoring a rock icon

Article by UDaily Staff Photos by Evan Krape June 26, 2024

George Thorogood, the First State native and rocker whose fame swelled with hits like ‘Who Do You Love?’ and ‘Bad to the Bone,’ receives the University’s Medal of Distinction

George Thorogood’s distinctive voice has blared from stages and stereos across the country and around the world. Along with his band, The Destroyers, he has released 17 studio albums, two of which went platinum along with six that went gold.

Even with all of those accolades, an honor recently bestowed upon him left the rocker practically speechless.

Thorogood received the University of Delaware’s Medal of Distinction — UD’s highest non-academic honor — in a June 21 ceremony at the Hyatt Hotel on Newark’s Main Street.

“Jeff [Simon, the band’s drummer] and Bill [Blough, its bassist] and I are just kind of taken aback because of all the places we weren’t invited to, and all the places we were invited to leave,” the guitarist said, drawing laughs with his typical self-deprecating humor. “This is more than an honor. It's a shock. So the three of us thank you.”

Vice Chair of the University’s Board of Trustees William M. Lafferty, joined by UD President Dennis Assanis, conferred the honor upon Thorogood. He is the first entertainer ever to receive the Medal of Distinction, which has been awarded by the University since 1979. The medal recognizes those who have made significant cultural, humanitarian, scientific or intellectual contributions to society or in their profession.

“My wife, Eleni, and I are excited to be a part of this celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of George Thorogood’s legendary career,” Assanis said. “Our community is thrilled that the University of Delaware is where he and his band played their very first concert together. The University has always had a deep commitment to the arts and to our community, so it is very fitting that we helped to honor one of Delaware’s most influential artists for his successful career that was launched right here on our campus.”

Thorogood, pictured with UD First Lady Eleni Assanis and President Dennis Assanis, is the first entertainer ever to receive the Medal of Distinction, which has been awarded by the University since 1979.

Also at the event, Newark Mayor Jerry Clifton issued a resolution on behalf of the city, and Delaware Rep. Paul Baumbach presented a tribute to Thorogood from the state’s General Assembly.

“For a whole generation of Delawareans, George Thorogood represented a pinnacle of success that most of us could only dream about,” Delaware Senate President Pro Tempore Dave Sokola said. “New Jersey had Springsteen. Indiana had Mellencamp. But for those of us coming of age in Delaware during the ’70s and ’80s, George was ours. Many of my neighbors still talk about catching his early performances at the Deer Park and, to this day, the only name of his band that we recognize is the Delaware Destroyers. After representing the First State all the way to two platinum and six gold records, George is more than deserving of the Medal of Distinction and I am more than thrilled to play a small part in welcoming home a true Delaware icon.”

“To be able to say that Delaware produced such a talented musician is an honor, and I am so glad the UD Board of Trustees chose to award him the Medal of Distinction,” said Delaware State Representative Paul Baumbach. “Neither classic rock nor the bourbon, scotch, or beer industries would be where they are today without the work of George Thorogood.”

After the ceremony, those gathered in celebration of Thorogood’s career made a short walk across Main Street for the unveiling of a plaque that read ‘Thorogood Alley.’ The pedestrian thoroughfare, renamed in Thorogood’s honor, sits adjacent to the former Stone Balloon Tavern, which existed in Newark for more than 50 years and had hosted legendary musical acts like Bruce Springstein, Dave Matthews and Metallica.

“I want to thank you for what you’ve done for Newark, putting us on the rock and roll map, and what you’ve done concurrently for the University of Delaware,” Newark Mayor Jerry Clifton said. “We can’t say thank you enough for the contributions that you have made.”

Born in Wilmington, Thorogood began belting songs in the 1970s, playing gigs in residential basements for sparse crowds several years before he started booking higher-profile shows in venues between Baltimore and Philadelphia. Predating even those early-years shows was Thorogood’s first public performance, in December 1973. He played on a tiny bandstand in Lane Hall, a UD residence hall. That short set consisted of only a few songs, most of which were cover tracks, and it is credited with launching an international music career that has spanned five decades and led to 8,000 concerts.

The ensemble that Thorogood fronts, better known as George Thorogood and the Destroyers, has gone on to sell 15 million albums worldwide. Two albums have reached platinum status, meaning they have sold at least one million copies, and six others have gone gold (500,000+ copies sold). Thorogood’s impact on music is undeniable. His unique singing style and the band’s genre have always been difficult to define. Is it rock? Is it blues? “It’s loud and it rocks. You can call it what you want,” Thorogood has previously said to that frequent query.Outside of music, Thorogood has aimed to change lives with the formation and financial support of the Marla Thorogood Memorial Fund for Ovarian Cancer Research in memory of his wife who died in 2019. Proceeds from his current tour, “Bad All Over The World: 50 Years of Rock,” benefit the memorial fund.

Thorogood and his bandmates performed the following night, June 22, in Selbyville — the only Delaware date on their current tour.

It’s clear that he will be carrying his Delaware pride with him as he takes the stage.

“Some people get avenues named after them, streets named after them, or airports named after them. I’ve got them all beat. I will now have an alley named after me,” Thorogood said. “I thank the University of Delaware for the Medal of Distinction. I’m not sure how distinctive I am, but I accept it in the spirit it is given and am certainly flattered to receive the honor.”