BIOGRAPHY – Thunder

Thunder were one of two British acts to open the Monsters of Rock festival in 1990 and the first to take the stage. To be included on the same bill as the likes of Aerosmith and Whitesnake was a major achievement for a group that had only officially been together for a year. As with many of the band to emerge during the late 1980s, Thunder would struggle to remain relevant during the following decade and would eventually split, yet their earlier success won them an army of loyal fans. Prior to forming, three of the members had been in a pop rock group during the 1980s called Terraplane and had released two albums (1985′s Black and White and 1987′s Moving Target) through Epic Records, as well as the independent single I Survive in 1983.

Disillusioned with the music they were playing, the band eventually split and two of the members – singer Danny Bowes and guitarist Luke Morley – immediately formed a new rock band, Thunder. They are soon joined by drummer Gary James, who also played with Terraplane, and the band commence work on their demo, under the supervision of producer Andy Taylor (guitarist for Duran Duran). Before long, the band begin to attract interest from record company scouts and the line-up is soon completed with rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Ben Matthews and bassist Mark Luckhurst (who, much like Skid Row’s Dave Sabo, would become known as ‘Snake’). Within just three months of forming, the band sign to EMI in late April 1989 and perform their first gig together on July 13th in Southend at a rock club called Reids. The following month, the group enters the studio to record their debut album with the help of engineer Mike Fraser, whose prior work included several AC/DC albums and Aerosmith‘s 1987 comeback Permanent Vacation.

On August 30th Thunder released their debut single, She’s So Fine, but fail to generate much interest amongst rock fans or critics, but their second release, Dirty Love, makes its way into the UK Top 40. Their album, Backstreet Symphony, becomes an instant hit soon afterwards and the band continue to tour extensively in support. Over the next few months the group release a further two singles – the title track from the album and a cover of the Spencer Davis Group‘s Gimme Some Lovin’. On August 18th Thunder open Monsters of Rock at Donington Park, which is broadcast live by BBC Radio 1. Four weeks later, EMI re-release She’s So Fine with their performance of Backstreet Symphony at Donington as a B-side. (the 12” also included an exclusive poster). After signing with Geffen Records as their North American representatives, Thunder released their final single from their album, Love Walked In, which narrowly misses the Top 20.

After touring the world alongside such acts as Bryan Adams, The Quireboys, Metallica and ZZ Top, the band return to the studio in early 1992 to commence work on their second album, Laughing on Judgement Day. The first single to be released was Low Life in High Places, in time for their second appearance at Monsters of Rock, which would also feature returning acts Iron Maiden and W.A.S.P. Laughing on Judgement Day makes its way into the Top 10 and the band continue to enjoy major success, although Luckhurst suddenly announces his departure. With Mikael Höglund as a replacement, Thunder continued to tour Europe and Canada, as well as playing around the UK under the name Danny & The Doo Wops. By the mid-1990s the band had begun to lose commercial appeal and despite their third album, Behind Closed Doors, landing in the Top 10, the singles that were released failed to enjoy the same success. After changing management and leaving EMI, Thunder launch their own label, B Lucky, and release their fourth album, The Thrill of It All, in February 1997.

With Höglund having left the band for personal reasons, Morley was forced to play bass on the album but they soon recruited Chris Childs to complete the line-up. Following difficulties with releasing their fifth album, Giving the Game Away, Thunder eventually split in early 2000 after several farewell shows. Following the collaboration Bowes & Morley the following year, Thunder decided to reform in the summer of 2002 to take part in the Monsters of Rock tour. Over the next few years, the band released four more studio albums, with the last being Bang! in 2008, but once again they decide to bring the group to an end following an appearances at Download, Hammersmith Apollo and Sonisphere.