Thrill of a Lifetime

B.B. King's immortal "The Thrill Is Gone"

- BY JOE BONAMASSA

WHEN PUTTING THE tracks together for B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100—my band's two-disc, 32-track tribute to B.B. King in celebration of what would have been his 100th birthday, on September 16, 2025 — we knew that the most essential track would be “The Thrill Is Gone." B.B. originally recorded this song back in 1969 for the Completely Well album, and it immediately became his signature tune and the most successful record of his career.

“The Thrill Is Gone" is so iconic, in fact, that no one wanted to cover it! I felt that I had two choices: one would have been to approach a young, budding blues artist with no fear about tackling the beast! Luckily enough, we were able to get Chaka Kahn for vocals and Eric Clapton for guitar. They are the crown jewels, two of music's greatest icons, paying tribute to an icon.