One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer (Live 1985)

The Zoo Crew, a group of hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, is spinning "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer (Live 1985)" by George Thorogood and The Destroyers from the album Thorogood Live for their devoted Zoo Freaks. This iconic track, a staple of blues-rock, has a rich history filled with intriguing trivia. Originally written by Rudy Toombs and recorded by Amos Milburn in 1953 as "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer," the song was a mid-tempo jump blues hit that charted in the top ten of the Billboard R&B list. George Thorogood transformed it in 1977 for his debut album, blending it with John Lee Hooker’s “House Rent Boogie” to create a medley that tells the story of a man drowning his sorrows in a bar, pleading with a weary bartender for just one more round. The live 1985 version, captured on Thorogood Live, amplifies the raw energy, with Thorogood’s gritty vocals and slide guitar driving the crowd wild.

One fascinating story comes from the song’s legacy of excess. Amos Milburn, the original artist, was known to line up three shot glasses on his piano during live shows, often filled by eager fans or himself, embodying the song’s boozy spirit with his mantra, “I practiced what I preached.” When George Thorogood and The Destroyers took it on, they brought their high-energy boogie-blues style, making it a radio and live performance favorite in the 1980s. Fans on Reddit have shared drinking game rules for the track, suggesting a shot of bourbon or scotch each time Thorogood sings those words, but for the live version, they wisely advise just a shot of beer to keep the night manageable. The song’s enduring appeal led to Thorogood performing it at Live Aid in Philadelphia on July 13, 1985, alongside Bo Diddley and Albert Collins, with Nighthawks bassist Jan Zukowski backing them up.

George Thorogood, born February 24, 1950, in Wilmington, Delaware, started his journey not in music but in baseball, playing semi-pro as a second baseman in the 1970s alongside his future drummer, Jeff Simon, who took center field. His shift to music came after seeing a John P. Hammond performance, inspiring him to pick up the guitar and chase a blues-rock path. Forming The Destroyers in the mid-1970s, Thorogood blended influences from blues legends like John Lee Hooker and rock icons, crafting a “high-energy boogie-blues” sound. His big break came as a support act for the Rolling Stones on their 1981 U.S. tour, and the band’s grueling “50/50” tour—hitting all 50 states in 50 days—cemented their reputation for relentless live shows. Over the years, The Destroyers released more than 20 albums, with two going Platinum and six Gold, including hits like “Bad to the Bone” and their take on “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.”

Stay connected with George Thorogood and The Destroyers through their official website, where you can find tour dates, news, and merch. Follow them on Facebook for updates and live performance clips, check out their Instagram for behind-the-scenes shots, and join the conversation on X for the latest from the band and fans alike. For more community vibes, dive into fan-driven spaces like the George Thorogood and The Destroyers Fan Group on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks and other enthusiasts share stories, photos, and love for the band’s timeless blues-rock energy.