Simon Rushworth
Founder members Danny Bowes and Luke Morley have both revealed their delight at reforming to play a one-off show at High Voltage this summer – but both men have killed off rumours of a long-term reunion.
On the day the band announced the release of the new 4CD Rough & Ready live retrospective, both Bowes and Morley have made it clear their Victoria Park set will be a festival exclusive. And fans shouldn’t expect anything more from the celebrated blues rockers in 2011.
The 4CD live release features Thunder recorded at two shows during the The Magnificent Seventh tour in 2005. It’s called Rough & Ready to contrast the difference in audio quality between the two shows (one was recorded straight off the mixing desk, the other is a proper multi-track recording).
Whilst the audio quality varies, the band’s performance does not. Several songs from The Magnificent Seventh CD made their live debut on this tour, and two of them (Monkey See Monkey Do & The Gods Of Love) were seldom played afterwards.
But any hopes that more Thunder shows could follow appear to have been dashed. Morley and bass player Chris Childs have stressed their commitment to The Union and the new album release (later this year) is undiminished. Drummer Harry James is about to go on tour with Magnum and other ex-Thunder band members Bowes and Ben Matthews remain dedicated to other projects.
Bowes said: “I can’t lie, I’ve missed singing and being in the band more than I thought I would over the past couple of years, so when High Voltage called last week, I was keen to explore it. We’re still releasing the new Rough & Ready live album, but there’s no plan to do any other recording going forwards. It will be great to play again, and we’re really excited.”
Morley added: “I thoroughly enjoyed playing at the inaugural High Voltage last year with The Union, so I’m really looking forward to getting together with the rest of the boys for a one-off reunion (no pun intended). Fortunately it fitted in nicely with everything else we’re doing so in the end it was difficult to say no. I’m sure we’ll have a lot of fun”.
Rough & Ready details:
CD1 & 2 – Rough
Recorded live straight off the mixing desk at Club Citta, Kawasaki, Japan on July 3rd 2005. Ben sprinkled some magic fairy dust reverb during mastering, but there are no overdubs, no mix tweaks, nothing. It’s a bootleg in all but name, that’s why the audience is so quiet.
CD3 & 4 – Ready
Recorded using the Thunder Mobile at Shepherds Bush Empire, London UK on March 10th 2005. Mixed & mastered by Ben at Chez Bez Studios, London. Once again there are no overdubs, no fix ups etc.
CD1 – Rough
1. Loser
2. Amy’s On The Run
3. Higher Ground
4. I’m Dreaming Again
5. Monkey See Monkey Do
6. You Can’t Keep A Good Man Down
7. Don’t Wait For Me
8. The Gods Of Love
9. River Of Pain
CD2 – Rough
1. Until My Dying Day
2. Fade Into The Sun
3. I Love You More Than Rock’n’Roll
4. She’s So Fine
5. Low Life In High Places
6. Dirty Love
7. A Better Man
8. Pinball Wizard
CD3 – Ready
1. Loser
2. Amy’s On The Run
3. Higher Ground
4. I’m Dreaming Again
5. Monkey See Monkey Do
6. You Can’t Keep A Good Man Down
7. Don’t Wait For Me
8. The Gods Of Love
9. Stand Up
CD4 – Ready
1. Love Walked In
2. Fade Into the Sun
3. I Love You More Than Rock ‘n’ Roll
4. Backstreet Symphony
5. A Better Man
6. Dirty Love
Full High Voltage festival and line up details can be found at http://www.highvoltagefestival.com/