As most acts will duly note, it's through the strength of live perfomances that groups garner a weighty reputation. Hit The Lights aims to document the strive and determination which lies behind such outfits, and appropriately salute these greats of the stage. On August 18th, 1990, one such act arguably cemented their reputation by performing at Donington's "Monsters of Rock" festival. The group in question performed upon a bill which featured the likes of Whitesnake, Aerosmith, Poison and Quireboys, and earnt themselves a legion of fans. Nearly nineteen years has passed since that very date, with various acts having formed and split within that time. Now, the time has arrived for another group to bid farewell. Feel free to look back at the life and times of Thunder, and debate what they did or didn't contribute to the world of rock music.
In late January 2009, London's
Thunder announced that they would split following July's conclusion to pursue new musical interests. February European shows were honoured, and the group plan to honour April Japanese dates.
Thunder had originally formed in 1989, and issued inaugural album "
Back Street Symphony" during April 1990 via EMI. Spawning two UK top thirty singles, the album itself charted at #114 upon North America's Billboard 200. August 1992 follow up "
Laughing On Judgment Day" spawned four UK top forty singles, and the record claimed position two upon the album charts. By the British Phonographic Industry, both of
Thunder's two initial albums were certified Gold. Winding the clock forward to 2009,
Thunder have accrued twenty top fifty UK singles, and nine studio albums.
To mark their farewell and say goodbye to British fans, Thunder planned an early July British tour. One date was scheduled to occur at London's Shepherd's Bush on July 11th, though was upgraded to the Hammersmith Apollo - apparently, tickets had sold out within forty-six hours. Four groups which Thunder were friends with, or have worked with in the past, have been invited as special guests upon the tour. Logan will support Thunder in Glasgow and Manchester on the 1st and 3rd respectively, whilst Airrace will support the act in Sheffield and Cambridge on the 4th and 5th respectively. The Quireboys, meanwhile, will support the outfit in Newcastle and Nottingham on the 7th and 8th respectively, whilst The Electric Boys will support in Wolverhampton and London on the 10th and 11th respectively.
To discuss Thunder's split and hear reflection's upon the group's two decade career, songwriter Luke Morley telephoned Hit The Lights' Robert Gray on March 11th, the interview beginning 14:00pm.
UG: Hello?
Luke Morley: Hello. Can I speak to Robert Gray please?
This is Robert Gray. Is this Luke?
Yes, it is.
First of all Luke, how are you?
I'm fine, thank you.
Would it be ok if I began the interview?
Absolutely. Start when you like.
After two decades as an outfit, Thunder has opted to split. Could you provide reasons as to why the group has decided to throw in the towel, so to speak?
Well, why we decided to split is due to a mixture of reasons really. Following twenty tours as a group, we've taken stock somewhat I think. Over the last several years, we've ran our own label, and ran the business as well. It's massively time consuming, and some of Thunder's members have young children. It's just time to sit back slightly, reflect on twenty years, and say "Fuck me, that was great". It's possibly time to look at life in a slightly different way, and try a few different things.
Did some of Thunder's group members feel somewhat burnt out?
I don't think we're burnt out, no. I wouldn't say that at all.. Literally, the amount of time it takes to handle various Thunder related activities just doesn't allow much time for other things. We're all in our late forties, and approaching fifty. We're at that age where if we don't attempt to try a few other projects now, then we probably never will (laughs). Splitting now just felt like a good time.
Have Thunder's members been missing their families a lot, and things of that nature?
It's something that we, as musicians, have always done, so I wouldn't describe the situation as melodramatically as that. It's like any other person; in whichever job you work in, there comes a time where you have to take stock, and step back from that job slightly. I think some of Thunder's members need to do that, and that's all there is to the situation really.
Were financial reasons involved?
To be perfectly honest with you, no. Even if financial reasons were involved however, I wouldn't tell you (laughs).
"It's possibly time to look at life in a slightly different way."
Thunder formed during the middle of a recession (1989), and it didn't harm us at all. I think that entertainment is one of the few sectors which actually performs very well, whether it be movies, theatre, rock concerts, or whatever. In a recession, entertainment always does well. During a recession, people feel extremely depressed, so they almost try harder to go out, and enjoy themselves. It's an interesting phenomenon. No, Thunder's split isn't related to the recession. Our last tour was one of our most successful, and our July 2009 farewell tour is the quickest selling tour we've arranged since 1990, so that'll tell you.
As long as good groups continue to tour, do you feel that live music won't be affected?
I think people always need to go out, and see good groups. Live entertainment is very important, I think. You can sit indoors, and view live footage through the internet, or watch a live DVD. Something about the shared experience of watching live music, however, is unique, and people need that I think.
Is Thunder's split permanent?
At the moment, yeah. One should never say never, but there are certainly no plans to reform. I doubt very much if we would reform, but we said that several years ago. To say never would be foolish, but there are no plans to conduct any live performances beyond July.
In a few years, someone could offer Thunder an attractive opportunity which could be worth the group's while, as was the case with November 2002's 'Monsters of Rock' UK tour.
It's not beyond the realms of possibility, although I would say it's not very probable. That's likely the greatest way I can phrase it.
Is there any material which Thunder plans to release?
Following the release of 'Bang!', we haven't recorded anything else, and there are no plans to do so. Having said that though, for our final tour during July, we'll be working with a company called Concert Live. If you attended the concert, and enjoyed the show, Concert Live provide a service whereby you can purchase a CD recording of the performance as you leave. Also, I think we'll make efforts to film at least one of the shows during our farewell tour. Our last output, if you like, will be live material.
Would this mean that a live Thunder DVD is in the works?
Yeah. At the moment, we're in negotations with several film companies. It'd be a shame not to film one of the shows, and that's what we aim to do.
Would you say a live Thunder DVD is likely then?
Absolutely, yeah.
Might this potential live DVD possibly feature a documentary regarding Thunder?
Since we announced our split, many people have called us, wanting to pursue different projects. Obviously, we're wading through various proposals at the moment, and we'll always consider any suggestions. If a production company approaches us, and wants to film a documentary, then we would definitely consider filming one. We'd consider the possibility, providing the project doesn't stop us doing what we do, and doesn't get in the way. A documentary is quite an undertaking. From our point of view, we want to enjoy our farewell tour as much as we can, as opposed to having a camera crew following us everywhere.
Should fans opt to attend one of Thunder's July 2009 farewell shows, what can they expect?
As we always do, we'll try our best to make Thunder's farewell shows as entertaining as we can. We've just announced the various support groups that'll accompany us during those shows. We tried to recruit many support groups who're groups we've worked with before, but groups we're old friends with. We've managed to recruit such groups, which is quite nice. In Glasgow and Manchester, a group called Logan will support us. In Newcastle and Nottingham, The Quireboys will support us. The Electric Boys just reformed, who actually supported us in 1990 funnily enough. They'll support us for our concerts in London, and Wolverhampton. Airrace have just reformed as well, and they'll support us in Sheffield, and Cambridge. Basically, we've recruited really good opening acts, and that's great. In terms of our own show, we'll attempt to make our performances as special as we can. At the moment, I don't want to talk about our farewell tour too much, as I'm not a hundred percent sure what we'll exactly plan. We're looking at various possibilities, though.
Will Thunder's July 2009 farewell tour feature any surprises? Surprises that'll happen on a given night, but surprises which haven't been leaked online?
Possibly. I don't know, yet. In terms of making the shows as special as we can, we'll consider many possibilities. For twenty years, fans have attended our shows. For that reason, we want our farewell performances to be as interesting and as fun as they can be. We're still considering various possibilities, as I said. My answer isn't a cop out - I'm just not a hundred percent sure, and I don't want to tell you about something which doesn't actually materialize.
Is Thunder's split quite an emotional experience for you?
Well, not at the moment. I don't think we're particularly prone to huge outbursts of emotion; we're very English, and have a stiff upper lip mainly, not to mention stiff upper characters (laughs). No, I don't think so. After the last performance, we'll host a colossal party I'm sure. The next morning, we'll all reach for anodyne. We're all still great friends though, and it isn't as if anyone has died. Even if we don't work together under the guise of a group, I'm sure that each of us will work together individually, and that'll likely be in twos, or threes, or whatever.. That's always a possibility, I guess. I don't anticipate us being overwhelmed with huge emotional outbursts, but some heavy drinking will take place.
On the night of the farewell tour's last show on July 11th at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, do you feel that Thunder's split might emotionally affect you more?
I don't know. Roughly ten years ago, we split up. Our farewell performance was a great show, as well as a lot of fun. We had a few drinks at the bar afterwards, toasted our split, and wished each other luck. That was it, and I think our current split will follow much the same pattern.
On each respective night during the farewell shows, what length of time does Thunder plan to perform for?
Likely, we'll perform for somewhere between an hour and a half, and two hours. We'll play for as long as we physically can. In terms of content however, and how we approach our performances, I'm not a hundred percent sure yet.
Has a set list been composed?
No. That's a part of the show, and I'm not going to plan anything yet. We're still discussing how we can make our performances as interesting as they can be.
"One should never say never, but there are certainly no plans to reform."
Some tracks were important career tracks for us, such as "Love Walked In", "Dirty Love", "A Better Man", "Low Life In High Places", and "I Love You More Than Rock 'N' Roll". Obviously, we'll perform a fair amount of those tracks. We want people to have value for money. When you've issued nine studio albums, it's difficult. It's impossible to perform each and every track, so someone will always be slightly disappointed that we didn't perform their favourite number. It's the way of things I'm afraid, though we'll bear all of those things in mind, and make the set list as balanced as we possibly can. As long as the show is well grounded, achieves its purpose, and everyone travels home happy, then I'll be happy.
Are there any specific live tracks which you felt particularly exhibited your personality?
Some tracks develop their own identity, and their own momentum, in a live situation. "Dirty Love", a track we've performed during most of the tours we've conducted, can vary between ten minutes to twelve minutes in length, according to how we feel. Some of the tracks bear a degree of spontaneity, which is a lot of fun. That's prevented "Dirty Love" from becoming boring over the years, and means we don't perform the track the same way each night. Sometimes we're never quite sure where we're venturing with the track, though it's never dull, and is always entertaining. Other tracks are set pieces, however, which you can't really change too much. I don't think those tracks are constructed that way.. We always try to build some spontaneity into the set though, and leave room for ourselves to improvise. Sometimes, we even venture into a few directions which surprise the group.
So Thunder's live set is more of a blues type jam at times?
Sometimes our live set is more of a jam, and sometimes it isn't. It just depends on the track in question, and how we feel on the night. Also, it depends on how the audience feels. You have to gauge an audience - sometimes they'll travel with you so to speak. It's just one of those things. It's spontaneity, like I said. Good music should concern how you feel.
Of Thunder's studio albums, which is your favourite?
I'm probably the worst person to ask, since I wrote the tracks. It's difficult for me to say, though I think all of our studio albums have good elements. That's a hard, hard question. I'm very fond of the last two albums we recorded (2006's 'Robert Johnstone's Tombstone', and 2008's 'Bang!'), and our first couple of albums are very good as well. I have no idea is the honest answer (laughs). I don't have a favourite, particularly. Some tracks will stand the test of time, and others won't. Making albums, or recording music, isn't an exact science. Music concerns how you feel at that time, and tracks take shape how they take shape. You can't attempt something which isn't natural, and organic. You just have to let the music guide you.
Which particular Thunder tracks will stand the test of time?
It's not really for me to say. I have no idea. Ask me in twenty years, and I'll answer your question (laughs).
Whether certain tracks stand the test of time is up to fans then?
Yeah, I think so. If you ask me regarding someone else's music, I find it much easier to be objective. It's very difficult to be objective regarding tracks I've written. I don't know. I have no idea. How my tracks affect other people is something I can't control, especially when people approach me, and say "We got married to "Love Walked In"", or "Our second child was conceived to "A Better Man"", or whatever (laughs). That's a powerful thing, but you don't think of that when you write a track. You just think "Right, what rhymes with orange?" (laughs). Whilst in the process of writing a track, you don't think of how that track will affect people long term. I'm the worst person to ask. You should likely ask some of our fans, since our fans can answer that question better than me.
When someone approaches you, and says "We got married to "Love Walked In"" or something similar, does that mean quite a lot to you?
That means quite a lot to me, yeah. If tracks you've written affect people, or contribute to their lives, or people relate to them in a positive way, then it's a massive, massive compliment which makes you feel very humble. When that happens, it's very special without doubt. Writing tracks can be the most mundane task in the world - whilst in your little studio, you worry about, or try to discover the correct word, or the next chord, or whatever it happens to be, and how that track will affect people once released is the last topic on your mind.
When you've spoken to fans and critics, is there a specific Thunder album which they always centre upon?
In terms of the fans particularly, it depends upon their age. Thunder's fanbase is quite interesting, I think, and ranges from the age of seventy to seventeen. Many fans at the older end of the spectrum would say that 'Back Street Symphony' (1990) is their favourite Thunder album, as that album reminds them of a time when they were twenty years younger (laughs). Over Thunder's last three tours on the other hand, many young kids have attended our performances, and the first Thunder track they heard was "I Love You More Than Rock 'N' Roll" (from 2005's 'The Magnificent Seventh'), which came out later in the group's career. They became familiar with Thunder's more recent material, and subsequently listened to the group's older material. That's a difficult question, somewhat. Our debut album certainly performed so well, and was issued at a time when rock music was more acceptable to the mainstream media. 'Back Street Symphony' had quite a high profile, I would say. However, fashion, the times, and all types of factors played their part. Whether that album is a great piece of work or not, who knows? I'm not sure. With each album we've ever written, we've attempted to write the greatest album we could. I'm very proud of our body of work. Upon a Thunder album, you won't discover many filler tracks. That's one of the reasons we managed to maintain a very large and loyal fanbase in Britain, I think. That's partly the reason, definitely.
In terms of songwriting, Thunder is extremely strict then? If a track is somewhat mediocre, then the group discards that track?
As the member who mainly writes Thunder's tracks, much of that responsibility falls to me. Myself and Danny (Bowes, vocals) have worked together for so long, and have been a part of groups together since we were fifteen years old. That amounts to thirty years or so, and for that reason, our inbuilt quality control is extremely tough - it always has been. We never think "Oh, just place that composition upon the track listing, and make up the numbers" - that's not how we approach songwriting. We attempt to write an album that happens to be a decent work from its beginning to its conclusion. This is so that each track upon the track listing serves a purpose, and entertains. If people part with their hard earned cash, you don't want them to think "Oh, that track's a bit rubbish", or "They didn't try very hard with that". When a listener approaches an album's conclusion, it's important that the album happens to be a satisfying piece of work.
"It'd be a shame not to film one of the shows, and that's what we aim to do."
No, not at all. Writing tracks has never been a problem for me - I've always been an extremely prolific songwriter.
Did you feel any pressure? Some groups cannot escape the shadow which their debut casts.
If I had felt pressure, I would've cracked twenty years ago (laughs). I've never felt any pressure at all, and there's no point in experiencing such feelings. This is not a job. If you're a sensitive type of person, then rock 'n' roll likely isn't the right field for you. Whatever you write, someone will always criticise. It's inevitable. You can't always please everyone. You just have to do the best you can, and hope that people like it. That's what we've done, really. We've never excessively worried about these types of issues. We've trusted our own ability, and without trying to sound egocentric, have always trusted that we possess quality. We hoped that this approach would bring us through, and just worked as hard as we could.
Of Thunder's studio albums, was there a specific full length which was quite difficult to write tracks for?
No, not really. Writing tracks is what I do, and I don't feel any pressure in composing tracks - it's second nature to me. I wake up in the morning, pick up my guitar, or sit at my piano, and write. That's what I do. I love music, and involve myself in music a lot. It's a natural process.
If you experienced personal issues during a certain period of your career, was it difficult to write tracks during that time?
It's easy to write tracks in that situation, since the opposite is likely true. If nothing much happens at a certain period of your life, and you quite happily move along in a merriful fashion without pigs and troughs of any type, then that's likely the most difficult time to write. The easiest time to write tracks is when things've happened; whether the situation be good or bad particularly, you'll find much songwriting inspiration at each end of the emotional spectrum. Inspiration comes when you feel emotions, and think thoughts. Some might be negative, whilst others might be positive, but those are times when lyrics and inspiration are obvious.
So you feel that personal trials and experiences bring out the greatest in groups?
Yeah, sometimes. You rise to each challenge - it's like life, isn't it? Music's just a metaphor for life, and you deal with issues as they come along. When things mess up, that's when you discover what your character really is. When things go well, that's when you have to be philosophical. You look at everything, and try to take stock. Music is just a microcosm for life.
From Thunder's two decades as a group, which live performance do you particularly remember?
Through the years, I remember a few of Thunder's live performances. Performing at Donington in 1990 was a big show for Thunder. It effectively put us on the map, and not only in the UK, but internationally. The first time we sold out the Hammersmith Odeon in London was important. Over the years, we've performed at some massive venues. Thunder, I think, has always been a group which enjoys performing at big festivals, and in big outdoor venues. Over the years, we've performed at some extremely large festivals, and in large outdoor venues. That hasn't been just in the UK, but all over the world really. Many of our performances are very memorable.
Have you changed much over those twenty years?
(Laughs) That's difficult to answer. I don't know, though I hope I haven't. I'm a bit wiser, I'd like to think, and am definitely older. I can still get into my size thirty-two jeans, so that's not so bad (laughs).
How will you look back on Thunder?
With great positivity, I think. Personally, I feel extremely lucky for the last twenty years. I've earnt a nice living pursuing what I love, and you can't ask for more than that really.
You said that you put things into perspective. How would you summarise Thunder's career?
Really, you can only look back at Thunder's twenty years, and ask "Did we do everything we could? Was the material as good as it could've been? Did we try hard at every show? Did we do the best we could?". Most of the time, the answer to those questions are absolute yes'. It's best to measure the group's consistency by the size of the fanbase that we maintain, I think. God bless them.
Musically speaking, where will you venture from here?
I'm not a hundred percent sure yet. Basically, it's too early for me to say. In support of the final tour, we're extremely busy with organisation. We're travelling to Japan next month. Much is happening. At the moment, we're undertaking much promotion. People have asked to participate in all types of different activities - you wouldn't believe it. Since we announced our split, the phone hasn't stopped ringing. More people seem to want us than ever before, so it's a curious thing. We've all made the decision to really enjoy the next few months, and not really worry too much about anything else. As someone who's a musician, I love what I do, and I have no intention of no longer performing, writing, touring and so on. I'll have to discover another guise, another vehicle, and another method of pursuing those activities. Now isn't really the time to talk about it, though.
Will you possibly write another studio album?
I don't know. Possibly. I'm not sure. I'd like to involve myself in other musicians' projects, since I enjoy working alongside other musicians. Possibly, I'd pursue something along those lines. Like I said though, I don't know yet. There'll be a time for such talk.
For those who've supported Thunder over the last two decades, do you have a message?
Yeah. I'd just like to say thank you, really. I hope we haven't been disappointing, and did the best we could. We would like to thank fans for their constant support. Hopefully, following Thunder's split, we'll pursue different musical projects, and hopefully, those projects will be equally as interesting. We shall see.
Alright. Thanks for the interview Luke.
No problem.
Ok. Take care, and goodbye.
Take care. Bye.
Interview by Robert Gray
Ultimate-Guitar.Com © 2009
it'll be the 3rd time I've seen them! Shame they're quitting, I've gone from not knowing who they were to having 5 albums by them, and still looking for more. I really hope they do a DVD of the London show, if they record any one it HAS to be the last big one. 
