"Bad to the Bone" became a staple of classic rock radio. It is on many compilation and live albums, and is often played live by the Destroyers. The song is often considered to be their best song.[3]
Writing and composition
George Thorogood wrote "Bad to the Bone" sometime during their 50/50 tour. It took "a few months" for Thorogood to write the song,[4] while the lyrics took longer to write.[5] Thorogood said "If we don’t write a song called ‘Bad to the Bone,’ somebody else will, so it might as well be us."[6]
Thorogood first wanted Muddy Waters to record the song, but his manager declined the offer.[1][5] He then asked Bo Diddley to record the song,[7] but he didn't have a recording deal at the time, so the Destroyers ended up recording it instead.[4][5]
The Chicago musician James Pobiega, who goes by the stage name "Little Howlin' Wolf", claimed that he wrote "Bad to the Bone" and that Thorogood stole it from him.[1][11]
"Bad 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.[13] The song peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.[14] Although the single was not widely popular upon its initial release, its music video made recurrent appearances on MTV, created a year before.[15] The song was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on April 18, 2025.[16]
Music video
The video intercuts a live performance by Thorogood and his band with footage of him entering a pool hall and challenging Bo Diddley[1][6] to a game. Word of the challenge quickly spreads throughout the neighborhood, and a spectator brings pool player Willie Mosconi[17] 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.[18]
The music video was directed and produced by Mark Robinson.[17]
Critical reception
"Bad 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".[19] The song eventually became their signature song, being performed at every concert.[20]
Use in films
The song has been used in many films.[21] Heisler[22] and Chapman[23] both said it has been used too often,[24] and its use in films has been characterised as having become cliche.[25] According to Vaux, it was originally used in Christine (1983)[26] which, according to Keiper, was actually novel at time.[27] This use has been praised by Muir.[28][29] The song is the theme of the film and the titular car.[30][31] The song was used in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) to establish the image of the protagonist.[32][33][34][35][36][37][38] The song was subsequently ubiquitous.[26]
^Jim Beviglia. "'Bad to the Bone' by George Thorogood and the Destroyers." Playing Back the 80s: A Decade of Unstoppable Hits. Rowman & Littlefield, 2018. ISBN9781538116401p. 79.
