# Gear Jammer

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"**Gear Jammer**" is a [rock song](/source/Rock_and_Roll) by American [blues rock](/source/Blues_rock) band [George Thorogood and the Destroyers](/source/George_Thorogood_and_the_Destroyers), released on their 1985 album *[Maverick](/source/Maverick_(George_Thorogood_and_the_Destroyers_album))* by [EMI America Records](/source/EMI_America_Records).[1] It was written by George Thorogood.[2] The song is often considered one of their best, and is often played live.

## Writing and recording

*Gear Jammer* started out as an [instrumental](/source/Instrumental) [jam session](/source/Jam_session), both Terry Manning[3] and the Destroyers liked the song, so Thorogood came up with the lyrics for it.[4] Thorogood later said that "Gear jammer is a [slang term](/source/Slang) for a trucker, and it had a kind of cool vibe about it. I started putting some words together in my head, and I came up with the riff at the start."[5]

Thorogood said the title "Gear Jammer" came from a [Johnny Cash](/source/Johnny_Cash) song.[4]

## Release

*Gear Jammer* was released as the lead single from their sixth studio album *[Maverick](/source/Maverick_(George_Thorogood_and_the_Destroyers_album)),[6]* as a [12-inch single](/source/Twelve-inch_single).[7] The song debuted at No. 46,[8] and peaked at No. 26 on the [Mainstream Rock Tracks](/source/Hot_Mainstream_Rock_Tracks) chart.[9][10] The song was included on several [live](/source/Live_album) and [compilation albums](/source/Compilation_album).[11]

## Critical reception

*Gear Jammer* was received positively by critics. Tim Peacock of uDiscover Music described the song as a "tour de force truck drivin’ anthem".[12] Fidel Bessera of Blues Rock Review calls the song a "hard-hitting bluesy rocker".[13]

## Personnel

- George Thorogood – vocals, guitar
- Billy Blough – bass guitar
- Jeff Simon – drums
- Hank Carter – saxophone

## Chart performance

Chart (1985) Peak position U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks[9] 26

## References

1. Viglione, Joe. ["Maverick Review by Joe Viglione"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/maverick-mw0000192091). *AllMusic*

1. uDiscover Team (March 8, 2020). ["George Thorogood – Prodigiously-Talented Boogie Blues Guitarist"](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/artist/george-thorogood/). *uDiscover Music*

1. Bosso, Joe (March 4, 2014). ["George Thorogood runs down his 11 greatest hits"](https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/george-thorogood-runs-down-his-11-greatest-hits-595303). *MusicRadar*. p. 5.

1. Wardlaw, Matt (April 13, 2022). ["The Story Behind George Thorogood’s Slow-Developing ‘Bad to the Bone’"](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/george-thorogood-bad-to-the-bone-song/). *Ultimate Classic Rock*

1. McStea, Mark (December 16, 2022). ["George Thorogood’s Top Five Career-Defining Destroyers Tracks"](https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/george-thorogoods-top-five-career-defining-destroyers-tracks). *[Guitar Player](/source/Guitar_Player)*

1. ["Maverick Thorogood LP released by EMI America"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/RPM/80s/1985/RPM-1985-02-23.pdf). *[RPM](/source/RPM_(magazine))*. Vol. 41. February 23, 1985. p. 7. – via World Radio History.

1. ["The Gavin Report – January 11, 1985"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/80/85/Gavin-1985-01-11.pdf). *[The Gavin Report](/source/Gavin_Report)*. January 11, 1985. p. 27. – via World Radio History.

1. ["Billboard Volume 97 No. 3"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1985/BB-1985-01-19.pdf). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. January 19, 1985. p. 18. – via World Radio History.

1. ["Billboard Volume 97 No. 5"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1985/BB-1985-02-02.pdf). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. February 2, 1985. p. 24. – via World Radio History.

1. ["George Thorogood Awards"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121203033725/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/george-thorogood-mn0000647834/awards). [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic). Archived from [the original](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/george-thorogood-mn0000647834/awards) on December 3, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2021.

1. ["Gear Jammer – George Thorogood | AllMusic"](https://www.allmusic.com/song/gear-jammer-mt0050009902). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*

1. Peacock, Tim (February 25, 2022). ["New George Thorogood Collection, ‘The Original George Thorogood’ Due In April"](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/original-george-thorogood-collection-april/). *uDiscover Music*

1. Beserra, Fidel (June 24, 2021). ["Top 10 George Thorogood Songs"](https://bluesrockreview.com/2021/06/top-10-george-thorogood-songs.html). *Blues Rock Review*

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gear Jammer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear_Jammer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear_Jammer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.