Thunderstick

Thunderstick is a British heavy metal group from London, England, associated with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. It forms in 1981 around former Iron Maiden and Samson drummer Barry Graham Purkis, who performs under the name Thunderstick. The band is active between 1981 and 1988, and later continues to play occasional one-off gigs under the Thunderstick name with changing line-ups.

Releases

The band issues two releases in its first period: the EP Feel like Rock 'n' Roll? in 1983 and the album Beauty and the Beasts in 1984, both on Magnum/Thunderbolt Records. These recordings are later re-released together in 2011 as Echoes From The Analogue Asylum.

Band history and line-ups

Thunderstick splits up in 1986 while writing the album Don’t Touch, I’ll Scream, then splits again in 1988 during an attempted reunion. The project’s line-ups change over time. One listed line-up includes Jodee Valentine on vocals, Thunderstick Valentine on drums, Dave Kilford on guitar and John Slight on bass. A later touring line-up includes Raven Blackwing on vocals, Pete Pinto and Dave Butters on guitars, Rex Thunderbolt on bass, and Thunderstick/Barry Graham Purkis on drums.

Later activity

The group’s later material also includes Lockdown, issued through Roulette Records in CD format and on digital platforms. That recording features guest appearances from former Thunderstick guitarists Dave Kilford and Vinny Konrad, ex-Iron Maiden guitarist Terry Wapram, Dave John Ross of the NWOBHM band More, and solo heavy metal guitarist Marius Danielson.