Anyone who has followed the career of Welsh band Jump to even a cursory extent, or indeed has ever seen the band live, will know that frontman John Dexter Jones loves to talk. Indeed, more than that, he is among the great raconteurs of our time when he gets going. No Jump show is complete..
Joanna Connor, Chicago Blues Guitarist – the interview
Oh yeah, the early two thousands, when we played for tens of people! It’s always a bit embarrassing when a new guitarist suddenly registers on your bluesometer, and you have the sneaking suspicion you should have known them all along. Having been into the blues for over 40 years, from Clapton, The Bluesbreakers, Peter Green,..
Twister – The Interview
Twister are a high energy rock band of the highest order. Their anthemic songs are bursting at the seams with soaring guitars, catchy melodies and whopping choruses. These four North-East Lads are absolutely going for it, if you haven’t seen them live yet, make it a priority, you won't regret it! The band have sold..
STEVE HACKETT INTERVIEW – ‘From Genesis To Vaccination’
If I play a song I’ll do the whole thing – I don’t really see the point of putting bits into a medley arrangement. The year 2020 has impacted every single musician and listener on the planet, I think it would be fair to say. Musicians themselves most of all, because while those of us..
Interview – Accept guitarist Wolf Hoffmann
It has been three years since The Rise Of Chaos and while the Covid-19 pandemic has got in the way of tours, it has not stopped Accept with their new album Too Mean To Die. guitarist and lone original member WOLF HOFFMANN talks to Velvet Thunder about the new record, new band members and takes..
When Rivers Meet – The Interview
It's been one heck of a year for blues rock twosome When Rivers Meet! It started off with the British husband-and-wife duo busily touring while beginning to plan for their debut studio album We Fly Free; electing to work tirelessly on social media during the pandemic, releasing an EP in May, being highlighted on BBC..
Fraternity (featuring Bon Scott)
Scott’s tenure in the band ensured that Fraternity would at least gain some historic significance... Music is the universal language, so they say. It transcends speech and cultural barriers and gives the whole human race a basis for communication. That being the case, it’s a peculiar phenomenon how some bands can become massive in one..
‘IRON MAIDEN – ON TRACK’ – EXCLUSIVE SAMPLE CHAPTER
Recently, two members of the Velvet Thunder writing team had books published in the ‘On Track’ series by Sonicbond Publishing, delving into every album and every track by a selected artist – Graeme Stroud covering Thin Lizzy and Steve Pilkington taking on Iron Maiden. A little while ago we presented an exclusive sample chapter from the THIN LIZZY volume,..
MARIUSZ DUDA – The Soul Of The Shaded Woods
Mariusz Duda began his extraordinary musical journey back in the late nineteen nineties, as a member of bands such as Xanadu before, in 2001, joining the band with which he’s become better known for fronting, atmospheric progmeisters Riverside. The band were started by Piotr Grudzinski (guitar), Piotr Kozieradzki (Drums) and Jacek Melnicki (keyboard), and the..
Velvet Thunder Albums of 2020
It is that time of year again and the round up of VELVET THUNDER's writers choices for albums of 2020. It is unlikely that anyone would argue that 2020 has been a unique year with our daily lives being altered by a global pandemic. Music and the arts have truly suffered with tour after tour..