Simon Rushworth
It’s that time of the year when we turn the spotlight on the bands you simply can’t afford to miss at this year’s typically eclectic 2015 Download Festival.
As usual RUSHONROCK will be on site – come rain or shine – for the full three days bringing you the very best news and reviews from the UK’s biggest and best rock and metal fest.
And to get you in the mood we’ll be pointing you in the direction of the cream of the crop – with British blues rock royalty Thunder next up.
Band: THUNDER
When: Friday June 12 19.00-19.50
Where: Zippo Encore Stage
Who: The cream of the late 80s/early 90s UK rock crop, Thunder battled The Quireboys, Little Angels, Gun and Terrorvision for top billing before the cruel onset of grunge. But unlike their peers the blues rockers rode the tide of changing taste and recorded continuously for two decades before ‘calling it a day’. Back with a vengeance in 2011, the band released Wonder Days earlier this year – their first long player in almost seven years! Guitarist Luke Morley was most recently spotted playing with Spike’s Free House at Sweden Rock but is relishing a return to the day job.
Why: Few bands were born to play festivals but the combination of Danny Bowes’ effervescent vocal delivery, Morley’s exquisite mastery of the fret board and a whole bunch of bona fide classic rock anthems make Castle Donington faves Thunder the perfect pick for Download Friday. Guaranteed to put a smile on the faces of sun-soaked punters, second stage headliners Black Stone Cherry could’t ask for a better warm-up act.
Listen out for: Dirty Love – the first of 17 Top 40 singles!
For fans of: Bad Company, The Union, UFO
What we said: ‘The semi-retired bastions of bluesy British rock rifled through a 45-minute slot with Bowes’ idle banter juxtaposed alongside some seriously compelling music. A blistering version of Higher Ground brought the very best out of Morley and with Love Walked In any sceptics checked out. These days less is more where Thunder are concerned but their ‘national treasure’ status is assured.’ From May 2013 Newcastle Arena live show.