Thunder (band)
Thunder are an English hard rock band from London. Formed in 1989, the group was founded by former Terraplane members Danny Bowes (lead vocals), Luke Morley (guitar, backing vocals) and Gary “Harry” James (drums), along with second guitarist and keyboardist Ben Matthews and bassist Mark “Snake” Luckhurst. Originally signed to EMI Records in the UK, the band released their debut album Backstreet Symphony in 1990, which reached number 21 on the UK Albums Chart and number 114 on the US Billboard 200. The 1992 follow-up Laughing on Judgement Day reached number 2, while both albums were certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). All nine singles released from the two albums reached the UK Singles Chart top 40.
Luckhurst left the band in late 1992, and was replaced the following February by former Great King Rat bassist Mikael Höglund. The new lineup recorded only one studio album, Behind Closed Doors, which peaked at number 5 in the UK and spawned three UK top 40 singles. The 1995 compilation Their Finest Hour (And a Bit) reached number 22 in the UK and was certified silver by the BPI. Höglund left in 1996 and was replaced by Chris Childs, after Morley performed bass on fourth album The Thrill of It All, which reached the UK top 20. Thunder’s 1998 live album Live reached number 35 on the UK Albums Chart, while the following year’s fifth studio album Giving the Game Away reached number 49. The band broke up in early 2000 due to “outside business forces”.
After a brief hiatus, Thunder returned in 2002 and formed their own record label, STC Recordings. The band’s sixth studio album Shooting at the Sun was released the following year, supported by the UK top 50 single “Loser”. After three more new studio albums – 2005’s The Magnificent Seventh, 2006’s Robert Johnson’s Tombstone and 2008’s Bang! – Thunder decided to break up in 2009. Two years later, however, the group returned for a third active spell, scheduling a number of sporadic live shows over the following years. A tenth studio album, Wonder Days, was released on the earMusic label in 2015, giving the band their first UK top ten since 1995 when it peaked at number 9. Rip It Up followed in 2017, reaching a peak UK Albums Chart position of number 3.
Morley, Matthews and James began writing new material with producer Taylor in January 1996, before entering the studio to record their fourth studio album in April. The album would be the band’s first on their own B Lucky label, distributed by Castle Communications, with whom they signed in February that year. Recording took place at Rockfield Studios in Monmouthshire, Wales and saw Morley handling bass duties in addition to guitar due to the absence of Höglund as a result of “family commitments”.The album was completed by the end of May, after which Höglund announced that he was to leave Thunder permanently; he was replaced in the autumn by Chris Childs, formerly of Then Jericho. The Thrill of It All was released in Japan on 1 September 1996 through JVC, but was delayed elsewhere due to Matthews’s diagnosis of tendinitis, which prevented him from playing guitar. The album was eventually released outside of Japan in February 1997, reaching number 14 on the UK Albums Chart..
The UK Farewell Tour ran through December 1999, followed by a run in Japan the following March. The final Thunder show took place on 4 May at Dingwalls in London, and featured an acoustic set followed by a regular “electric” set. The final show was recorded for the live album They Think It’s All Over… It Is Now, which was released in July 2000; the acoustic set was also later issued as They Think It’s All Acoustic… It Is Now in May 2001. After Thunder’s breakup, Morley released his debut solo album El Gringo Retro in March 2001, Bad Influence featuring James and Childs released their second studio album One Way Love in May 2001, James joined Magnum in February 2002, and Bowes and Morley released an album together entitled Moving Swiftly Along in May 2002, under the name “Bowes & Morley”.
2002–2009: Reformation and second active spellIn July 2002, it was announced that Thunder would be reuniting for a series of shows in November marketed under the Monsters of Rock brand. In a post online, Bowes confirmed the news, which had been leaked without permission, but reiterated that it would be “a non permanent reformation” which the band agreed to “as it gives us the ability to play again without having to commit to anything long-term”. The band also began recording a new studio album in October, and in December formed their own record label, STC Recordings.
Band members
Current members
Danny Bowes – lead vocals (1989–2000, 2002–2009, 2011–present)
Luke Morley – guitar, backing vocals (1989–2000, 2002–2009, 2011–present)
Ben Matthews – guitar, keyboards, organ, backing vocals (1989–2000, 2002–2009, 2011–present)
Chris Childs – bass, backing vocals (1996–2000, 2002–2009, 2011–present)
Gary “Harry” James – drums, percussion, occasional guitar and backing vocals (1989–2000, 2002–2009, 2011–present)
Former members
Mark “Snake” Luckhurst – bass, backing vocals (1989–1992)
Mikael “Micke” Höglund – bass, backing vocals (1993–1996)
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