In late 2021 the book Led Zeppelin On Track: Every Album, Every Song was published by Velvet Thunder writer Steve Pilkington via Sonicbond Publishing, telling the story of the band via each album, going into them track by track, and also looking into the stories behind the album covers. We present here an exclusive sample..
Topographic Tangents: Tillison Talks
Photo: Kate Abbey The twelfth and latest Tangent album Songs From The Hard Shoulder finds Andy Tillison the same supercharged creative powerhouse he was twenty years ago when the band's debut album hopped into the spotlight and won over an unsuspecting progressive rock crowd. In fact, he may be even more invigorated now. With the..
Farewell, Alan White
It's no small feat to seamlessly assume the drum throne from one of the true greats of the classic progressive rock era. But with breathtaking courage and a touch of swagger, that's just what Alan White did when the baton was passed from the suddenly departing Bill Bruford of Yes back in 1972. He was..
There’s something on the move in Georgia – an interview with Movers
Athens, Georgia is a small University town with a population of around 120,000. But despite its modest size, it has produced a host of musical acts that, despite mostly being labelled alternative or new wave, have reached global audiences. That list includes REM and The B52’s. Amongst the new bands creating a following in Athens..
Interview with Torkjell Rød of Audrey Horne
Devil’s Bell, the new album by Norwegian rockers Audrey Horne, is coming out next Friday, on Napalm Records and is surely one of the highlights in heavy music this year. We caught up with the band’s frontman Torkjell Rød (or, if you prefer, Toschie) to talk about how you write a good melody or lyric,..
Interview with Erica Stoltz of Sanhedrin
Sanhedrin have a lot of reasons to be proud, like signing a deal with a great label, but an even better one is their fantastic new album Lights On, which was released on March 4th. We are glad to have been given the chance to talk with front-woman Erica about the new album, the inspiration..
AIRBORNE AGAIN: SONJA KRISTINA TALKS ABOUT CURVED AIR RETURNING TO THE ROAD AGAIN FOR UK TOUR DATES
It has been an unfortunate side-effect of the past two years of Pandemic disruption that some of the many great bands who began their careers at the turn of the 1970s, and were eagerly planning 50th Anniversary celebrations, found themselves suddenly 'all dressed up with no place to go', as the song has it. Uriah..
Interview – Lawnmower Deth – Pete Lee and Chris Parkes
It has been nearly three decades since thrash band Lawnmower Deth released an album but are now back with the quite brilliant Blunt Cutters. Velvet Thunder talks to Pete Lee and Chris Parkes about their surprise new album, the reaction and did someone say Pookiesnackenburger? Photo: Nick Parkes When it comes to the music industry,..
John Coghlan’s Quo – the interview
Why don’t you put a band together and do all your Quo songs? This year of 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the formation of British rock band Status Quo, one of the most popular, but at the same time unfairly maligned, bands in UK rock history. Formed when a bunch of school friends poached..
PETER DUNTON (T2): No More White Horses – A Personal Tribute
On Thursday January 20th, the news of Peter Dunton passing away from a brain tumour was announced by his partner Jackie. For the uninitiated, Peter Dunton was the drummer and songwriter of heavy psych-rock band T2, which he formed following a short time with Gun (best known for Race With The Devil). T2's only official..