I-95 Drive Home Mystery Artist [VIDEO]

Tonight’s mystery artist was a childhood friend of his bandleader’s brother and he owned a van so he was included in the band.  He says that from the first time he met his boss he knew that he was going places and he wanted to go too. Think you can guess who his boss might be or the band he plays with  even today??

I found this story in The Aquarian with a drummer who has been with the band for over 40 years keeping time for George Thorogood and the Destroyers.  In case you aren’t familiar with George’s drummer, his name is Jeff Simon and this is how he told the story:

Aquarian: In 1973 your van and your drum skills helped birth one of the most legendary bands in music history. What was it like to grow up, work, and travel the world with your friend George Thorogood?

Jeff: “George is three years older than me, so we didn’t really go to school together. My older brother is four years older. He went to school with George. We all grew up together. I’ve known him since I was nine years old. When we were kids we played baseball all day and then dissect Rolling Stones’ records at night. My brother would buy the records. He had a job. He was a big influence on me. He would be the first kid on the block with the records. George spent a lot of time at our house and we would just talk about music. “Why did he do this?” “Why did he have a cymbal crash here?” It was a music education for me. That’s what we did when we were kids.

George had a charisma. Even when we were kids I could see there was something special about him. Something good was going to happen with him. It was my brother’s idea to get a drum kit. We got a drum kit and taught ourselves how to play along with the records. My parents had the patience for that. If my kids were playing drums in the next room I don’t know how much patience I would have, but they never said anything. My brother was in a couple of bands and they would always practice in the basement. There were neighborhood kids coming in and there was always music and loud stuff going on. My folks never said anything. They always encouraged it. I think that’s unique!”

Watch closely and you'll see Jeff drumming along to tonight's featured song.