Danny Bowes Speaks About Thunder Split
Thunder frontman Danny Bowes has spoken to Classic Rock about the band’s decision to split up.
After yesterday’s shock announcement that the much-loved Thunder are to split after one final July UK tour, Classic Rock caught up for a brief natter with frontman Danny Bowes about the band’s decision to call it quits. Check out our Top 10 Thunder Tracks!
When did you come to the decision to call it a day?
Danny Bowes: “This month. We talked about it initially in the first week of Jan, and then again twice more before finally making the decision.”
It came as a bit of a shock to us all. Has it been on your mind for a while?
Bowes: “It’s become increasingly difficult to schedule Thunder activities over the past 2 years. We’ve all been doing things outside of the band dating back to before we got back together in 2002. The trouble has been that as the band profile has grown with each record and tour, so has the time problem. We’re all a bit worn out, I was in a real state by the end of last year. Someone said “work to live, don’t live to work”. I’ve had to use that a lot lately, to myself and others.”
What can people expect from the July shows? How tough is it going to be to pick your final set-lists?
Bowes: “Not sure exactly, but I know what we want to do in the time we have left. It’s simply to enjoy it in the way we always have, and for the fans to go away with great memories. The shows have always felt a bit like being at the best party in the world, and we’ll be looking to ramp it up a couple of notches, so it’ll be the party to end all parties, every night! Actually, now I think about it, this tour could kill me…”
“I think it will be very hard to pick the setlists, but thankfully not for me, as Luke usually does that, so I’ll get him to let you know (ha ha).”
What do you anticipate that you’ll miss most?
Bowes: “That’s a tough one, mostly because there are so many things to miss. Maybe it’s the roar of the crowd at the end of the first song of a show (gets me every time), or maybe it’s simply all the laughing (we laugh a lot when we’re together). Ask me again in a couple of years, I’ll probably have a list by then.”
A real shame to hear that after july, no more thunder. I really hope Luke keeps producing solo albums as it will be a waste of a guitar genius to stop altogether. As for Danny i will miss him being the front man. Most front men are false but when u see danny on stage and the interaction he has with the fans you know its not an act or him just going through the motions. Ben, Harry and Chris one of the tightest rhythm section i have ever seen.
A big loss to the music scene. Even though i will be going to the gig i really hope they release a final dvd/cd to commemorate the event for the memory and to showcase to the fans who aren’t there what a true, talented band they were.
Thunder are one of my favourite bands. Seen them many times, even as Terraplane. Met them too. So I was absolutely gutted when I heard this news but it’s their decission and you have to respect it.
I wish all members Good Luck in all what they do and would like to Thank them for all the Great Music & Memories.
Maybe they will play the odd reunion show for The Fans you never know.
R.I.P. Thunder.
Phil……………………………………
Mmm, I think its a bit of a publicity stunt to get some late cash…
I know, we only just finished touring, lets split up, tell the press and then mail out lots of promo for the final tour..
Bang wasn’t the best album, but I highly doubt this will be the last we hear of them.
completely gutted this is as bad as when slade split up thunder are awesome.
All the best guys you were pure dead brilliant every time I saw you even as danny and the doo wops…living in hope you will return like the Phoenix from the flames
I lost my job recently and am currently engulfed in pathetic letter exchanging with my former employer which is doing me no good in terms of my health, so when I heard the news today about Thunder, I felt sad, but it also prompted me to fire up a few albums of theirs which I hadnt listened to in a while, and it had a calming effect on me.
So, thanks for the music and the emotions you were able to conjure within me. Good luck to the members of Thunder with anything else they do in future
amazing band, and such a shame they’re splitting up again, danny is one of the best front men out there, maybe luke has ran out of ideas for songs about breaking up or falling in love
i wished i had seen a xmas show now…. good luck
Last time they split up they reformed a few years later, hopefully they will be back sometime in the future. Meanwhile, let’s hope they release some great music in their other projects, maybe another Bowes/Morley album
I am sad.
Thunder is one and only;the only one.but good job.good luck.see you april in club citta.
I can’t understand anyone who espouses to like Rock music liking Thunder. They were utterly dull soft rock mince! Insincere weak and watery Garbage. Good riddance.
Here’s to genuine Rock!
ANOTHER CLASSIC BAND GONE WEST YOULL
BE MISSED I HOPE THERES A BETTER WRITE
UP THIS TIME UNLIKE THE TOTO SPLIT POSTAGE STAMP SIZE!!!!!! AFTER ALL THERE
ALLWAYS SEEMS TO BE ALOT OF COVER IF
ANTHING FOR THE BIG NAME BANDS NO NAMES BECAUSE I THINK YOU GET MORE
THAN YOUR FAIR SHARE OF HYPE
Thanks guys for all the good times and great shows,
good luck to one and all for the future, you leave us
with great memories and friends met through your music.
Hope you will play one more show in glasgow before
you go, if you do it will give us chance to say
farewell with one last party.
SEE YA DOWN THE FRONT
The best band in the genre of Free, Bad Company….You´re ever going to see or listen to….it´s hard for the classic rock to loose a group as Thunder….
To the prick who goes under the name Monkeyman(cos hes not grown up enough to have a real name),Thunder were quite simply the best British rock band ever.Forget your over hyped stones,Zeppelin et al.These guys were a true hard working band who didnt need the media to get success,theyre fans did it for them.Good luck guys,yet another great band dissapears and were left with wishy washy shite
its a shame after all these years that this is finally it for thunder.I can remember first seeing Danny and Luke at the white swan blackheath as Nuthin Fancy
even then there was something special about them
best of luck to them all for whatever they do in the future.
Simply the best, gutted!!!!!
Thunder – we may never see their like again.
I will take to my grave the memory of the final show of the Giving the Game Away tour (the Forum) when I turned round and saw a venue full of people crying their eyes out at the thought of never seeing Thunder play live again.
Hope it will be more of a party this time, but bring the Kleenex just in case……….
Monkeyman, I hope if your favourite band splits someone comes on here and slags them off……
In the meantime, maybe you could learn how to correctly incorporate capital letters into a sentence ?
Watched them through the early nineties and lost track of what they were up to until fairly recently. Only to pick up again with them round the Magnificent Seven album, watched them live several times since.
Thunder have always given a good show with the recent albums showing that older bands can still produce good honest classic rock.
Will miss them, and catch up with them for one last time in Manchester.
used to know them silightly in the early days. saw them play then, lost track,but I have
got the tickets should be great fun!
Well……saw them in Glasgow for the final time. The only time I didn’t see them was when I was heavily pregnant..almost 17 years ago.
I’m gutted! I really hope that Danny doesn’t give up performing and I know that Luke’s already got irons in his fire.
You were the best and most under-rated British Rock band, in my very humble opinion and I hope our paths will cross again. ‘Bye boys xx
one of the best british rock bands ever, and danny wot a voice!!!!! good luck in everything you do boys but wont half miss you.
Bit gutted Thunder ard playing Sonisphere (as I cant afford to go!), Saw them in Newcastle and the last show of the tour at Hammersmith. Fantastic shows, I blubbed all the way through ‘Better man’. Gonna miss you so much!
Thunder: Probably the best live rock band this country has produced not just in the last two decades, but ever. The band were unbelievably tight from day one and just got better through the years. It’s rare to witness a band that has a GENUINE rapport with their audience, but at a Thunder gig they always manage to enthuse. However on this final tour the band truly excelled and I can say that the one gig I managed to attend (Glasgow) was the probably the best show I’ve ever seen not just them do, but anybody. This is a massive lost to the live rock circuit, and hey they recorded some pretty damn good stuff too!
Only just heard Thunder for the first time, earlier this year – how did I not know about them???
Saw them in Glasgow and can hosestly say that they are one of the best acts I have ever seen. They gave everything of themselves and it wasn’t a chore. They were loving the night as much as the crowd were.
Wish them every happiness for the future. Hope the do the occasional reunion gig.
My wife is a massive Thunder fan and she was in tears when she heard the news.
Now she has challenged me to get Danny to sing at her 40th Birthday Party….. but I can’t even find an update on the web as to what he plans to do ‘post Thunder’?
Hey, a bit late I admit, but I went to Donnington Monsters Of Rock August 1992, Maiden Headlining, Slayer, Wasp, Skid Row etc….
Who were the overwhelming band of the day.
Thunder
Enough said
Neil…..
I’d like to apologize to Thunder and their fans, i was there at the biginning: Terraplane/Thunder, but life/wife, commitment and time ment i lost track of many bands i addord. At the age of 45, thank’s to a daughter’s delight of all things musical/performence related and the internet, i’ve one’s again become aquanted with the wonders of said many bands. I find those listening pleasures are DOMMINATED tho’ by ONE band/sound and voice: THUNDER……
My lose is i wasn’t part of the journey.
I wish to apologize to Thunder and their fans, i was there at the beginning: Terraplane/Thunder, but life/wife commitment and time meant i lost track of many bands i adored. At the age of 45 and with a daughter who loves all things musical/performance related and the internet, i’ve once again become acquainted with said ‘many bands’ and those lost years. I find my listening pleasures are dominated tho’ by ONE band/sound and voice; THUNDER…
My loss is that i was not part of the journey
don’t make it the be all and end all!! You have too many fans to make this the end permenantly. Have a well earned rest and come back at a later stage. All the best to you all. Till we meet again. XX
Thunder will make a comeback!!! They are far too good and far too young too disappear!!
Danny bowes voice is to good not to be heard in music again, but if not good luck to all the members
of Thunder one of the best bands ever.
Thunder rocked!! What an awesome band and I totally agree that it would be a shame not to hear Danny Bowes voice again,he is frickin’ amazing..Love these guys but hope that maybe they will make a comeback. Lotsa good memories with their tunes. God Bless guys you rock!!!
Alberta Canada
seen the band 3 times, been backstage with them twice (at cologne). absolutely gutteed, they will be missed. Glad harry paid up on his ‘95 cup semi bet with me. Mark (gibbo)
I have seen Thunder for many years and have enjoyed every concert. They had a unique way of making you feel part of the concert with the audience participation that went on other fun. Harry’s antics were great too. I wish them all the best, but am not looking forward to the future without a Thunder concert. They were truly original and will be very much missed in our lives. Thank you guys for all the fun x