Thor: Prepare To Get Hammered At The Gaff!
The mighty Thor is returning to London on April 19… and the legendary metal avenger is anticipating this will be a truly godlike event.
“This show is being done to launch the reissue of the Only The Strong CD, to celebrate its 25th anniversary,” says the immortal one. “It’s being put out by a Finnish label called Ektro, so I promise a night to remember.”
Thor recalls his all to brief association in the past with the UK with a huge affection.
“It changed my life. Playing at The Marquee all those years ago (1985) was such a turning point in my career. I owe so much especially to Kerrang!* back then for the support, so to return now means a lot.”
Thor has been away for so long because he actually moved away from music 1987 – “I suppose I retired” – and got involved with films like Rock ‘N’ Roll Nightmare (1987). He also started up his own sportswear company. But now Thor is back and bursting to reconnect with his British fans.
“I got back into music in 1997 and since then I’ve been touring and releasing new albums like crazy. I hope The Gaff show marks the beginning of regular visits. I like the fact that this is a small venue – so was The Marquee, and as we’re acknowledging the 25th anniversary of Only The Strong, it seems fitting to do it in such a location. I love being close to the fans as well.”
Thor is promising some real surprises and shocks in the show as well.
“I’ve reinvented Thor, and I know everyone’ll enjoy what we do. By ‘we’ I mean Steve Price on guitar, who was there in 1985. He’s now known as The Lighting Lord, plus two young guys, Hammerfoot on drums and Powerfist on bass. We’ll do the whole of Only The Strong, of course, plus one or two other numbers. We’ve a bonus live track on the album, which is a live version of Warriors Of The Universe, from last year’s Sweden Rock Festival. This song is the ultimate Thor anthem, a real call to arms for all the metal avengers.”
Which only leaves one question: will any hot water bottles be blown up onstage at The Gaff?
“Ha, ha. Let’s put it this way, the show will have a lot of bottle!”
For further info on the Norselike God, go to www.thorcentral.com
*In fact, Thor name-checked Kerrang! on his album Live In Detroit. When introducing his band, Thor said: “How many people out there read Kerrang!? It’s a magazine based out of England; they call it the heavy metal Bible. Anyhow, Kerrang! billed this young lady over here… this well-endowed young lady… as having the biggest Bristols in rock!” Thor was, of course, referring to the pneumatic Pantera. (Not the band, dumbo!) To see a classic Kerrang! photo-strip featuring Thor and Pantera battling Cronos of Venom, go here.
