Thunderstick
Encyclopedia
Thunderstick, real name Barry Graham Purkis, is an English drummer
who wore various masks and used to perform on-stage closed in a cage. He was in the popular cult-band Samson
which his name is most associated with.
In 1979 he developed his persona modeled after horror icons such as The Rocky Horror Show
, Dr. Phibes and the old Hammer
horror films, alternatively wearing black and white make-up, an old man/schoolteacher mask, a leather mask and his trademarked rhinestone covered mirrorball mask. He played inside a cage, even used during a brief but memorable 2000's Samson reunion. Thunderstick is considered as being the precursor of the later theatrical metal band Slipknot
.
With Samson he enjoyed a certain degree of success, especially when their album Head On
was released in 1980 to much acclaim (UK #34) and the following single Riding With The Angels, from the album Shock Tactics
, charted good (UK #54).
In a rare occurrence his face was seen when he performed the main-role in the b-movie Biceps of Steel
, featuring his band at the time Samson
. In the film his then brother-in-law Ben K. Reeves performed as Thunderstick in his stead, only for the shots where Purkis and Thunderstick were set to appear at the same time.
In the June 2005 issue of Classic Rock Magazine, Thunderstick has been listed as no. 36 in the "50 Greatest Drummers in Rock" feature.
Then he became a drummer for the English band Iron Maiden
briefly in 1977, long time before he would create his masked persona. A lot of fantastic stories about the behaviour of Purkis during his tenure in Iron Maiden exist, one of which was that during a gig he actually fell asleep whilst on stage. This however has never been substantiated and has been long confirmed as fake.
During his early Samson tenure, Purkis was also asked to rejoin Iron Maiden in 1980 after the band had been touring with Samson but declined in favour of staying with Samson. This was mainly down to the fact that his bizarre theatrical image had now gained huge recognition and he was then seen to be "the face of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal". His Samson predecessor Clive Burr eventually took the Maiden position.
The band disbanded in 1986, after having recorded their yet-to-be-released final album Don't Touch, I'll Scream. Both Thunderstick and vocalist Jodee Valentine went over to the States to try to secure a new deal (by then they were married). A new American line-up project was toyed, but the idea was soon abandoned in favour of maintaining their identity within the NWOBHM scene. Both returned to the UK. A fifth incarnation emerged in 1988, secured by a high profile management contract, but Thunderstick chose to call it quits again after failing to sign a major deal with a label. He and Jodee subsequently split also.
As Barry Purkis, in the late eighties he worked with Bernie Tormé
and the Electric Gypsies, Ace Frehley
and many other artists, even becoming an accomplished sound engineer in the process.
He performed as Thunderstick again in a series of highly successful Paul Samson solo gigs in America along with bassist Eric Mauriello, in 1989. Ace Frehely jammed with them during an encore at the New York Roxy.
Thunderstick rejoined Samson twice, once in 1990 to write and record new material (later issued on 1999's Past Present & Future) and then again in 1999-2000, for memorable reunion gigs either in Japan and on the Wacken Festival set in Germany. His songwriting input is present on Paul Samson's posthumous solo album P.S... 1953-2002 originally scheduled to be Samson's new album with the title of "Brand New Day".
Purkis still writes music, and is involved in production for other artists. On April 25th 2009 he played at the Keep It True Festival in Germany with a reunion of various New Wave Of British Heavy Metal artists, marking the return of his Thunderstick persona.
1982-83: Ana Marie Carmella Borg (vocals), Wango Wiggins (Neil Hay's new stage name, guitar), Cris Martin (guitar), Ben K. Reeve (bass), Thunderstick (drums).
1983-84: Jodee Valentine (vocals), Wango Wiggins (guitar), Cris Martin (guitar), Ben K. Reeve (bass), Thunderstick (drums), Ana Marie Carmella Borg (vocals for the 1983 EP were provided by Ana but the cover featured a photo of Jodee Valentine who had by then replaced her and was touring with the band).
1984-86: Jodee Valentine (vocals), Wango Wiggins (guitar), Bengt Sorenssen (guitar), Ben K. Reeve (bass), Thunderstick (drums).
1987-88: Jodee Valentine (vocals), Dave Kilford (guitar), John Slight (bass), Thunderstick (drums).
Live albums with Samson
Studio albums as Thunderstick
Videos
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
who wore various masks and used to perform on-stage closed in a cage. He was in the popular cult-band Samson
Samson (band)
Samson was a British hard rock band formed in 1977 by guitarist and vocalist Paul Samson. They are best known for their first three albums with future Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson, then known as "Bruce Bruce", and drummer Thunderstick , who wore a leather mask and performed on stage in a...
which his name is most associated with.
In 1979 he developed his persona modeled after horror icons such as The Rocky Horror Show
The Rocky Horror Show
The Rocky Horror Show is a long-running British horror comedy stage musical, which opened in London on 19 June 1973. It was written by Richard O'Brien, produced and directed by Jim Sharman. It came eighth in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of the "Nation's Number One Essential Musicals"...
, Dr. Phibes and the old Hammer
Hammer Film Productions
Hammer Film Productions is a film production company based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1934, the company is best known for a series of Gothic "Hammer Horror" films made from the mid-1950s until the 1970s. Hammer also produced science fiction, thrillers, film noir and comedies and in later...
horror films, alternatively wearing black and white make-up, an old man/schoolteacher mask, a leather mask and his trademarked rhinestone covered mirrorball mask. He played inside a cage, even used during a brief but memorable 2000's Samson reunion. Thunderstick is considered as being the precursor of the later theatrical metal band Slipknot
Slipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
.
With Samson he enjoyed a certain degree of success, especially when their album Head On
Head On (Samson album)
Head On is the second album by British heavy metal band Samson. It was released in 1980. The cover art features the band's masked drummer, Thunderstick...
was released in 1980 to much acclaim (UK #34) and the following single Riding With The Angels, from the album Shock Tactics
Shock tactics
Shock tactics, shock tactic or Shock attack is the name of an offensive maneuver which attempts to place the enemy under psychological pressure by a rapid and fully committed advance with the aim of causing their soldiers to retreat...
, charted good (UK #54).
In a rare occurrence his face was seen when he performed the main-role in the b-movie Biceps of Steel
Biceps of Steel
Biceps of Steel is a short B-movie/movie video filmed circa 1980 but only released in 2003 . It featured the NWOBHM band Samson and two songs from their album Head On . The short film depicts a super roadie who fights evil orange jumpsuit wearing bouncers who are stopping a rock-n-roll crowd from...
, featuring his band at the time Samson
Samson (band)
Samson was a British hard rock band formed in 1977 by guitarist and vocalist Paul Samson. They are best known for their first three albums with future Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson, then known as "Bruce Bruce", and drummer Thunderstick , who wore a leather mask and performed on stage in a...
. In the film his then brother-in-law Ben K. Reeves performed as Thunderstick in his stead, only for the shots where Purkis and Thunderstick were set to appear at the same time.
In the June 2005 issue of Classic Rock Magazine, Thunderstick has been listed as no. 36 in the "50 Greatest Drummers in Rock" feature.
Early days and Iron Maiden
Purkis started playing drums on a semi-professional level when joining the highly successful English-born band The Primitives (also known as "Mal Ryder & The Primitives" - not to be confused with the eighties UK band) in 1974. They extensively toured south-Italy.Then he became a drummer for the English band Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
briefly in 1977, long time before he would create his masked persona. A lot of fantastic stories about the behaviour of Purkis during his tenure in Iron Maiden exist, one of which was that during a gig he actually fell asleep whilst on stage. This however has never been substantiated and has been long confirmed as fake.
During his early Samson tenure, Purkis was also asked to rejoin Iron Maiden in 1980 after the band had been touring with Samson but declined in favour of staying with Samson. This was mainly down to the fact that his bizarre theatrical image had now gained huge recognition and he was then seen to be "the face of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal". His Samson predecessor Clive Burr eventually took the Maiden position.
Self-named band and beyond
After he left Samson for artistic divergences, Thunderstick then went on to form his own eponymous band called Thunderstick consisting of two guitarists, bass and female vocalist. They recorded two hard rock albums, the EP Feel like Rock 'n' Roll? (1983) and a full feature LP Beauty and the Beasts (1984) via Magnum/Thunderbolt Records. These have been restored and remastered for a 2011 CD release, an anthology called Echoes from the Analogue Asylum which also features previously-unreleased material.The band disbanded in 1986, after having recorded their yet-to-be-released final album Don't Touch, I'll Scream. Both Thunderstick and vocalist Jodee Valentine went over to the States to try to secure a new deal (by then they were married). A new American line-up project was toyed, but the idea was soon abandoned in favour of maintaining their identity within the NWOBHM scene. Both returned to the UK. A fifth incarnation emerged in 1988, secured by a high profile management contract, but Thunderstick chose to call it quits again after failing to sign a major deal with a label. He and Jodee subsequently split also.
As Barry Purkis, in the late eighties he worked with Bernie Tormé
Bernie Tormé
Bernie Tormé is a rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, record label and recording studio owner.-Early career:...
and the Electric Gypsies, Ace Frehley
Ace Frehley
Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Kiss. He took on the persona of the "Spaceman" or "Space Ace" when the band adopted costumes and theatrics...
and many other artists, even becoming an accomplished sound engineer in the process.
He performed as Thunderstick again in a series of highly successful Paul Samson solo gigs in America along with bassist Eric Mauriello, in 1989. Ace Frehely jammed with them during an encore at the New York Roxy.
Thunderstick rejoined Samson twice, once in 1990 to write and record new material (later issued on 1999's Past Present & Future) and then again in 1999-2000, for memorable reunion gigs either in Japan and on the Wacken Festival set in Germany. His songwriting input is present on Paul Samson's posthumous solo album P.S... 1953-2002 originally scheduled to be Samson's new album with the title of "Brand New Day".
Purkis still writes music, and is involved in production for other artists. On April 25th 2009 he played at the Keep It True Festival in Germany with a reunion of various New Wave Of British Heavy Metal artists, marking the return of his Thunderstick persona.
Thunderstick band line-ups
1981-82: Vinnie Munro (vocals), Neil Hay (guitar), Colin Heart (guitar), Ben K. Reeve (bass), Thunderstick (drums).1982-83: Ana Marie Carmella Borg (vocals), Wango Wiggins (Neil Hay's new stage name, guitar), Cris Martin (guitar), Ben K. Reeve (bass), Thunderstick (drums).
1983-84: Jodee Valentine (vocals), Wango Wiggins (guitar), Cris Martin (guitar), Ben K. Reeve (bass), Thunderstick (drums), Ana Marie Carmella Borg (vocals for the 1983 EP were provided by Ana but the cover featured a photo of Jodee Valentine who had by then replaced her and was touring with the band).
1984-86: Jodee Valentine (vocals), Wango Wiggins (guitar), Bengt Sorenssen (guitar), Ben K. Reeve (bass), Thunderstick (drums).
1987-88: Jodee Valentine (vocals), Dave Kilford (guitar), John Slight (bass), Thunderstick (drums).
Discography
Studio albums with Samson- Survivors (1979)
- Head OnHead On (Samson album)Head On is the second album by British heavy metal band Samson. It was released in 1980. The cover art features the band's masked drummer, Thunderstick...
(1980) - Shock TacticsShock tacticsShock tactics, shock tactic or Shock attack is the name of an offensive maneuver which attempts to place the enemy under psychological pressure by a rapid and fully committed advance with the aim of causing their soldiers to retreat...
(1981) - Head Tactics (1986 - Head On and Shock Tactics fused together and remixed)
- Past Present & Future (1999, anthology featuring the 1990 tracks)
- The Early Singles (2011, EP, only for downloading)
Live albums with Samson
- Metal Crusade '99 (1999 - featuring four bands including Samson)
- Live in London 2000 (2001)
Studio albums as Thunderstick
- Feel like Rock 'n' Roll? (1983)
- Beauty and the Beasts (1984)
- A Bolt From The Black (1984, various artists compilation, one song: Runaround)
- Don't Touch, I'll Scream (1985, unreleased)
- Just'In Power (1987, various artists compilation, one new song: Don't Touch, I'll Scream)
- Best of British Metal (1999, various artists compilation, two new songs: Dark Night Black Light and Shining)
- Echoes from the Analogue Asylum (2011)
Videos
- Biceps of SteelBiceps of SteelBiceps of Steel is a short B-movie/movie video filmed circa 1980 but only released in 2003 . It featured the NWOBHM band Samson and two songs from their album Head On . The short film depicts a super roadie who fights evil orange jumpsuit wearing bouncers who are stopping a rock-n-roll crowd from...
(1980), featured on Bruce Dickinson's Anthology. - Thunder, Thunder (1985, unreleased videoclip).
- Iron Maiden: The Early DaysThe Early DaysThe Early Days is a DVD video by Iron Maiden, released in 2004. It features the first part of "The History of iron Maiden" series, a 90 minute documentary which describes their beginnings in London's East End in 1975 through to the Piece of Mind album and tour in 1983. The second part of the series...
. - Iron Maiden and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (2008 DVD).