Thunder
This British hard-rock quintet was heavily influenced by Bad Company and the The Rolling Stones. Thunder evolved from the ashes of Terraplane, with the surviving nucleus of Danny Bowes (vocals), Luke Morley (guitar) and Gary James (drums) recruiting Mark Lockhurst (bass) and Ben Matthews (guitar) to complete the line-up. Moving away from the melodic power-pop of Terraplane, they teamed up with producer Andy Taylor (ex- Duran Duran), to record BACKSTREET SYMPHONY, a stunning album of bluesy rockers and atmospheric ballads, which received widespread critical acclaim. Their style is characterized by a dual guitar attack of alternating riffs and lead breaks, with Bowes’ gritty and emotional vocals adding charisma and distinction. They landed the opening slot at Donington in 1990 and were the surprise success of the day. In 1991 they concentrated on the American market, touring extensively in an attempt to make the all important breakthrough.