The Beast Outside the Cage
After he left Samson for artistic divergences,
Thunderstick then went on to form his own eponymous band called Thunderstick consisting of two
guitarists, bass and female vocalist. They recorded two hard rock albums, the
EP Feel like Rock 'n' Roll? (1983)
and a full feature LP Beauty and the
Beasts (1984) via Magnum/Thunderbolt Records. These have been restored and
remastered for a 2011 CD release, an anthology called Echoes from the analogue asylum which also features
previously-unreleased material.
The band first disbanded in 1986, after having
recorded their yet-to-be-released final album Don't Touch, I'll Scream. Both Thunderstick and vocalist Jodee
Valentine went to the United States to try to secure a new deal. A new American
line-up was considered, but was soon abandoned in favour of maintaining their
identity within the NWOBHM scene. Both returned to the UK. A fifth incarnation
emerged in 1988, secured by a high-profile management contract, but Thunderstick disbanded again after
failing to sign a major deal with a label.
Barry Graham Purkis eventually performed as Thunderstick
in a series of successful Samson gigs in America along with Paul Samson and bassist Eric
Mauriello, in October 1989. Ace Frehley jammed with them during an encore at the New
York Roxy. Thunderstick rejoined Samson twice, once in 1990 to write and record
new material (later issued on 1999's Past
Present & Future) and then again in 1999-2000, for reunion gigs in Japan and on the Wacken Festival set in Germany. His songwriting input
is present on Paul Samson's posthumous solo album P.S.... 1953-2002 (2006) originally scheduled to be Samson's new
album with the title of Brand New Day.
On the 22th April 2016, former lead vocalist Jodee Valentine died aged 56. Following Jodee's passing, Barry Purkis decided to bring back his beloved Thunderstick. The band reformed with a new line-up and released a new album: Something wicked this way comes (2017).
Line-Ups
1981-82: Vinny Munro (vocals); Neil Hay
(guitar); Colin Heart (guitar); Ben K. Reeve (bass); Thunderstick (drums,
backing vocals).
1982-83: Ana Marie Carmella Borg (vocals); Wango
Wiggins (Neil Hay's new stage name, guitar); Cris Martin (guitar); Ben K. Reeve
(bass); Thunderstick (drums, backing vocals).
1983-84: Jodee Valentine (vocals); Wango
Wiggins (guitar); Christopher Martin (guitar); Ben K. Reeve (bass); Thunderstick
(drums, backing vocals); Ana Marie Carmella Borg (vocals for the 1983’s EP were
provided by Ana, but the cover featured a photo of Jodee Valentine who had by
then replaced her and was touring with the band).
1984-86: Jodee Valentine (vocals); Wango
Wiggins (guitar); Bengt Sorenssen (guitar); Ben K. Reeve (bass); Thunderstick
(drums, backing vocals).
1987-88: Jodee Valentine (vocals); Dave Kilford
(guitar); John Slight (bass); Thunderstick (drums, backing vocals).
2017: Lucie V (vocals); Martin Shellard
(guitar); Dave Kilford (guitar); Rex Thunderbolt (bass); Thunderstick (drums,
backing vocals).
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