Thor
b. Jon-Mikl Thor. This body builder turned singer who took his name from a Marvel comic character, was a former Mr. Teenage USA, Mr. Canada and Mr. North America. His band consisted of vocalist Pantera (b. Rusty Hamilton, a former model), Steve Price (guitar), Keith Zazzi (bass) and Mike Favata (drums). Their debut release, KEEP THE DOGS AWAY, appeared on the Three Hats Record label in 1978. This album was an uneventful affair of basic hard rock/heavy metal which, even at the time of its release, sounded dated. Thor then took quite a long break until returning with the release of a mini-album, UNCHAINED, in 1984. Then came Thor's most successful album, ONLY THE STRONG, released on Roadrunner in 1985. Much attention was paid to Thor's live party-piece—where, by blowing into it, he expanded and burst a rubber hot-water bottle (often with the claim ‘let's see Michael Jackson do this’). Other ‘theatricals’ included staged clas hes between Norse gods, with Thor replendent in spiked body armour, wielding a mighty (plastic) sword or bearded axe. All conducted without the tiniest trace of irony, and an almost camp machismo from the group's frontman. 1985 proved an eventful year for Thor as not only did he have two singles, Let The Blood Run Red and Thunder On The Tundra (both from ONLY THE STRONG), released, but also a live album, LIVE IN DETROIT. Also that year Thor entered the film world appearing in and writing the soundtrack for RECRUITS. Part of the film's soundtrack formed the basis for Thor's next release, RECRUITS (WILD IN THE STREETS). That marked the end of Thor's musical aspirations as he once again turned his attention to the movie business by appearing in the film ZOMBIE NIGHTMARE alongside the original BATMAN star, Adam West.