Thunderbird Gerard

Thunderbird Gerard is the performing name of Trevor Gerard Ferguson, also known as ezra bang. He is an American singer-songwriter, musician, DJ and writer. His work sits across indie, electronic and hip-hop, and he begins his career in 2004 after moving to Liverpool.

Early career in Liverpool

He starts out as a session drummer for Welsh band The Mountaineers after they leave Mute Records. He contributes to the group’s next EP and tour, with appearances at Carling Leeds Festival and Summer Pops while supporting The Beach Boys. In 2005 he joins Super Numeri’s Snap Ant for a UK tour supporting Ladytron.

DJ work and first releases

Gerard establishes himself in Liverpool as a DJ and promoter before releasing his first single, “Gesundheit Zeitgeist”, in 2007 on Invicta Hi Fi Records. He then moves to London in 2008 and begins working with former So Solid Crew member Ashley Walters, who releases his next single on AD82 Productions.

Ezra Bang & Hot Machine

The follow-up single, “Erotic Adventures of John The Butcher”, debuts on Steve Lamacq’s Radio 6 show and is followed by a UK tour supporting Public Enemy. After parting ways with Walters, Bang forms the Gold Swine imprint with Linus Jackson and Carina Steinmetz, and they release “What U Can’t Kill U Must Envy”, produced by Spider J, in 2009. The track is issued as a 7-inch white label and receives support from Radio 6 presenter Tom Robinson and from music blogs. Robinson later invites the group for a live session on his Friday night show.

With a full live set as Ezra Bang & Hot Machine, the band tours extensively in 2009, appearing at Glastonbury, Splash!, the BBC Introducing stage at T in the Park and the main stage at Standon Calling. Later that year they release “White Power” on Gold Swine. Although it does not match the profile of the earlier single, it gains the band their first mainstream radio play, debuting on Rob da Bank’s show and later appearing on Huw Stephens and NME Radio.

Later activity

The band ends 2009 with shows in Dubai and an appearance at Les Transmusicales in Rennes. They record their next EP in London and Berlin with producer Howard Gray. Since August 2009, Bang lives in Berlin.