Thunderstick

Thunderstick needs no introduction, the man behind the mask in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, best known for being Samson drummer in the early days. We had a chat, to know a little bit more about the return of Thunderstick.

Q. - Hello Barry, What made you feel like reunite the band Thunderstick again?

Thunderstick - My reasons for putting together another THUNDERSTICK more than anything Jodee’s death. In case you readers think what is he talking about? Jodee Valentine was my singer and one time partner back in the 1980s when the band was most active. She was the voice and focal point for 5 years. Last year I was notified that she had died at the age of 55 after a 5 year battle with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. It really had a big impact on me. There was a lot of material that we performed back then that had never recorded and released so I thought that a way of paying my respects would be record that material and release it.

Q. - 33 years separate Beauty and the Beasts from Something Wicked This Way Comes, which great differences will we be able to find between this work and yours previous?

Thunderstick - It was my intention to try and record an album using digital equipment but maintaining that analogue feel in the recorded sound. Also it was important for me to try and stay true to NWOBHM; it was during that period that the first THUNDERSTICK band was born. So I wanted the new album to have that British Rock swagger to it. So many albums these days are so overproduced because of the amount of software available to musicians and producers. Of course I wanted it to be of a certain level sonically, but to still have that open naivety about it.

Q. - With a completely renovated team do you expect to capture the same spirit of the 80's, with this new line up?

Thunderstick – see above.

Q. - Where did you record "Something Wicked This Way Comes"? Did you take a long time to compose it?

Thunderstick - SWTWC was recorded in Wales. A good majority of the songs I composed with Jodee’s voice in mind .We had a large amount of material that was played live but never properly recorded. I had to lay some ghosts to rest.

Q. - Do you have, perhaps, a favourite song on “Something Wicked This Way Comes”?

Thunderstick – “I close my eyes” is the first true ballad that I have written. The lyrics were my final goodbye to Jodee. So I would say that is my favourite as it was very much a departure from the way I normally write.

Q. - Recently some changes have been made on the line-up, and the singer Lucie V was replaced by Viixen, do you feel that Viixen is the right person for the job?

Thunderstick - Most definitely. Viixen is so much more than just a singer she fits the Thunderstick criteria perfectly, embracing the ‘theatre’ in the band both in recorded and live work We now need to get some new material recorded so that everyone can hear how great her voice is.

Q. - Are you going to tour this year? Do you intend to play some festivals in the summer? Will you play any Samson song live on tour?

Thunderstick - We will be doing some festivals one in August ‘A New Day’ and then in the autumn the ‘Hard Rock Hell’ Festival which we are really looking forward to doing, but our first gig will be on 28th July at a music venue named ‘Leos’, where a Thunderstick line up will take to the stage for the first time in over thirty years. We will be filming it for a DVD release later on in the year.

Q. - Why “Don't Touch, I'll Scream” didn’t see the light of the day back in 86? Does this lead to the end of the band at that time?

Thunderstick - A I think that back then we had gone about as far as we could go .It had been a long hard struggle to try and secure a major record which we never achieved, and I felt burnt out by it all so I broke the band and walked away from it all.

Q. - Some of these songs are in “Something Wicked This Way Comes”, like "Thunder Tunder", did you try to keep the essence of to the original recordings?

Thunderstick - Very much so. That song I have recorded in many different forms throughout the years some versions ‘heavy’ other versions more ‘arranged’. The one that is on the SWTWC album takes a new look at what has always been my signature tune. Live it will be far heavier suiting Viixen’s voice more than Lucie’s.

Q. - Do you still keep in touch with some of the former members of the band?

Thunderstick - Some of them but to be honest I’ve really moved on. I have always been passionate about the music I make my tastes are quite eclectic but I always regard rock as the most honest and truthful form of music. Various members of my band through different line-ups (I won’t mention which ones) have been false in their claims that metal/rock was their first love. They were just there to see if they could elevate their standing within the music biz by their association to me. Sad but true.

Q. - Speaking of Samson, tell us a bit about those days and the importance of being part of such an important movement as the n.w.o.b.h.m.

Thunderstick - Punk had ruled for a few years with both record companies and promoters only too keen to keep it alive so that they could appear to be ‘hip’. There was a huge under current of bands that had taken the raw energy of punk but had actually learnt how to play their instruments properly ready to break out as soon as the musical tide changed direction this was what became NWOBHM. It did feel that we were all part of a new movement challenging the ‘old guard’ whether it be punk or the dinosaur heavy groups that had proceeded us who had somehow lost their way and were becoming far too self –indulgent. It was time for the New Wave.

Q. - Do you still use the mask and the cage live? You may have told this a thousand times, but, can you tell us the origin of the idea?

Thunderstick - Yes the mask IS the Thunderstick character. Just in the same way that Alice draws a couple of lines on his face with some make up and becomes his other ‘self’. The reason Thunderstick came about was because not many people were able to identify drummers in bands, singers and guitarists were the pin-ups instantly recognisable, bearing in mind that this was a time of no social media, no dvd, and a very young vhs industry. Posters of bands were about all there was. Drummers were almost ‘faceless’ so I created the faceless drummer.

Q. - In your opinion what are the main differences between the eighties and the reality of today? Do you keep an eye to the metal scene of today?

Thunderstick - Technology has dramatically changed music. It has both advanced it and destroyed it both at the same time. The industry these days is unrecognisable, albums can be made in a bedroom that sound just as good as any professional studio of the past at virtually no cost, but once again the tide is changing direction, vinyl is challenging the dominance of CD’s and downloads because people are missing the warmth and honesty of the sound contained in vinyl. Digital vs Analogue is a good thing and healthy for music in general.

Q. - Besides Thunderstick, do you play in any other band now-a-days?

Thunderstick - No Thunderstick seems to take up all of my time these days I’d forgotten what it was like to run a band. It’s quite full on.

Q. - How do you want to end up this interview? Anything more you want to say?

Thunderstick - Just that I would like to thank both you and your readers for the interest shown in the new band we are so looking forward to getting out there once again and hope that you will come and see us somewhere sometime… Luv B THUNDERSTICK.

Thank you for your time, and wish you all the best for the future!