Sludge metal stalwarts the Melvins announced earlier this year that they were hoping to be recognized by Guinness World Records by playing shows in all 50 U.S. states, plus Washington, DC, in just 51 days. Well, it looks as if their effort might have been for naught, since George Thorogood and the Destroyers apparently have them beat.
As Rolling Stone reports, back in the early '80s, Thorogood and his band embarked on the "50/50 Tour," in which they planned to play all 50 states, plus the capital, in just 50 days (one day short than the Melvins' 2012 jaunt). Melvins frontman Buzz Osborne knew about the prior tour, but was apparently under the impression that Thorogood never completed the trip.
"George says he did it — other people say he did it," Osborne told the Anchorage Daily News. "When I was a fan of George Thorogood in 1980 when he tried to do it, I remember him specifically not doing it. Also, if George had done it, why isn't he in the Guinness Book of World Records?"
Now, Thorogood manager Mike Donahue has stepped in to debunk Osborne's claims. He told Rolling Stone, "There are a multitude of promoters and press people who can verify they did complete the tour [in 1981], and, in fact, took one day off, then went on tour with the Rolling Stones for five days. In fact, the band completed 10 days with the Rolling Stones less than a week before kicking off their '50/50 Tour.'"
Thorogood apparently doesn't feel any resentment towards the Melvins, since he's supposedly wished them well on their tour. Still, if the claims are true, it doesn't look as if we'll be seeing the words Freak Puke in Guinness World Records anytime soon.
"They'll have to do it in 50 days, not 51, just to tie the record set by George Thorogood and the Destroyers in 1981," Donahue said.
See the Melvins' tour schedule here.
As Rolling Stone reports, back in the early '80s, Thorogood and his band embarked on the "50/50 Tour," in which they planned to play all 50 states, plus the capital, in just 50 days (one day short than the Melvins' 2012 jaunt). Melvins frontman Buzz Osborne knew about the prior tour, but was apparently under the impression that Thorogood never completed the trip.
"George says he did it — other people say he did it," Osborne told the Anchorage Daily News. "When I was a fan of George Thorogood in 1980 when he tried to do it, I remember him specifically not doing it. Also, if George had done it, why isn't he in the Guinness Book of World Records?"
Now, Thorogood manager Mike Donahue has stepped in to debunk Osborne's claims. He told Rolling Stone, "There are a multitude of promoters and press people who can verify they did complete the tour [in 1981], and, in fact, took one day off, then went on tour with the Rolling Stones for five days. In fact, the band completed 10 days with the Rolling Stones less than a week before kicking off their '50/50 Tour.'"
Thorogood apparently doesn't feel any resentment towards the Melvins, since he's supposedly wished them well on their tour. Still, if the claims are true, it doesn't look as if we'll be seeing the words Freak Puke in Guinness World Records anytime soon.
"They'll have to do it in 50 days, not 51, just to tie the record set by George Thorogood and the Destroyers in 1981," Donahue said.
See the Melvins' tour schedule here.
