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George Thorogood’s original backing band was known as the Delaware Destroyers. March 18, in Wilmington, Vicious Rumors gathered a hard drinking, denim & leather contingent, bent on a St. Pat's Day redux. In just over six weeks, was able to see Vicious Rumors three times: their pair of performances on the 70K Tons cruise and a headlining gig at Bar XIII, the venue they played twice before, pre-pandemic. Aside from getting reacquainted with old favorites, for many, the drawing card this time around was the recent addition of ex-Metal Church singer Ronny Monroe. Unlike the cruise, mainstay Geoff Thorpe was packing his usual weaponry, the Dean guitars "lost" by the airline had returned, so did that crucial "crunch" in the sound. Welcome back! 

Celebrating 40 years, with a 12-song set culled exclusively from the Atlantic Records era, the Rumors are in fine form, Munroe slotting in nicely, between the savage guitar tandem of Thorpe and Gunnar DuGrey. The opening salvo of "On The Edge" is a warning shot across the bow: audience beware, searing metal forthcoming! "Abandoned" is followed by "You Only Live Twice", the latter employing multiple backing vocals. In fact, drummer Larry Howe (been in the band w/ Thorpe, for 44 years!) is the most frequent voice, behind Munroe. Adding cymbal accents, the tune offers the first showcase for the guitars, center stage. Purple lit "Digital Dictator", a bit of a slow-down, after the frenetic pace set, thus far, is begun by Howe, as wisps of smoke creep from behind the VR scrims (the only visual prop afforded by a small stage that can barely hold the five players, let alone any additional accoutrements). Four part harmonies, especially on the titual chorus.

Green tinted (‘60s mind?), "Ship Of Fools" sees Munroe hitting some really high notes. Speaking of ships, it's all hands (voices) on deck, for "Strange Behavior", with twin guitars center stage. Geoff's whammy bar attack segues into Gunnar's blazing, fleet fingered display. When not laying down wicked riffs, Thorpe and Ronny groove, face-to-face. The gang vocal "World Church" is augmented by yellow streaks of illumination and Munroe's sustained notes. Impressive. Howe hammers down a roll of double bass for almost the entirety of "Six Stepsisters" as DuGrey again displays his speed/dexterity. Wow! 

The heavy rumble of "Down To The Temple" provides another, brief respite, for the guys onstage (and maybe a few fans, as the hour approaches midnight). When the lyric announces "Clutch the beating heart," Munroe grasps Thorpe's left chest. In a synchronized maneuver worthy of a set closing (but it's not), the song finishes with each of the string instruments, raised vertically overhead. It runs right into storming "Hellraiser", which got the otherwise stationary crowd to move. A dual (or should that be duel?) shredfest ensues, between Thorpe and DuGrey. For the first time, Geoff speaks to the fans, starting the stomp of blue/green bathed "March Or Die". Had forgotten what a screaming guitar track that one is! As Gunnar's fingers threaten to ignite (if rubbing sticks together can induce enough friction to produce sparks, certainly this man is defying physics by neither he, nor his fretboard, combusting!), Geoff and Ronny goof around, stage right. 

The evening draws to a close (well, apart from the well wishes and all important merch sales, entire band hanging in the bar, afterwards) with "Don't Wait For Me". Built on a locomotive chug, it also possesses a chorus as infectious as any variant. As a finale, the trio of strings offer a synchronized stage move, the notes bending in time, as their torsos dip, headstocks practically scrapping the floor, then up righting themselves, time and again.

Have long been infected with Vicious Rumors' brand of rock ‘n’ roll disease, for which there is no antidote, even years of global quarantine. An epidemic that needs more "casualties."