By: Lucy
Hall
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| Barry Graham Purkis, AKA Thunderstick |
Barry Graham Purkis, the virtuoso drummer with the
primal, otherworldly persona known as
Thunderstick has been creating experimental, transcendent, hypnotic hard rock
music for over four decades. Thunderstick’s rhythmic, rolling, thunderous drum
patterns and his sinister image has become legendary trademarks. He cites
theatrical acts such as Alice Cooper and The Tubes as his primary musical
influences and has said he has been greatly inspired by horror films. These
influences are evident as demonstrated in his unusual, experimental sound and
look.
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| Thunderstick Onstage
Thunderstick wore and continues to wear his ominous trademark masks which consist of various ski style
masks of leather, rhinestone, mirrorball rhinestone covered, tassel-topped, and black cotton. His stage
attire has also included black and white makeup, a Halloween (old man) rubber
mask, collars, capes, chains, animal print jumpsuits,
gloves, studs and lots, and lots of leather. Thunderstick often played onstage
in a closed cage, which marketed his concept of a drummer as a savage animal with whom needs to be
retained. Thunderstick’s groundbreaking conceptual ideals made him the most
memorable British artist in heavy metal music.
Thunderstick Promotional Photo
No two bands have been as intertwined through the
years as Samson and Iron Maiden. Not only did they tour
together, but Thunderstick was initially Iron Maiden’s drummer (1977-78) until swapping places with Samson’s drummer Clive Burr. In 1980 Thunderstick
was asked to re-join Iron Maiden, however,
he remained with Samson. Later on, in 1981
preceding the Live at Reading (live
album released in 1990) festival performance, bandmate
Bruce Dickenson switched over from Samson to Iron Maiden as their vocalist. Samson
was originally formed in 1977 by guitarist/vocalist, Paul Samson. The band had
several incarnations with various band member lineups. The classic line up
consisted of Bruce Dickenson (vocals), Paul Samson (guitar/vocals), Chris
Aylmer (Bass), and Thunderstick (drums). Everything about this line up was
masculine, commanding and primeval. From the band’s name Samson (which invokes
images of the mighty Samson Biblical
figure knocking down stone pillars) to Bruce
Dickenson’s stage name being known as simply Bruce Bruce, to Thunderstick’s persona
and the band’s film Biceps of Steel.
Samson Promotional Photo
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Samson’s debut album, Survivors was released in 1979. However,
it was their 1980 sophomore album, Head
On, featuring a menacing pose of Thunderstick in his leather mask as an executioner
on the album cover that put the band on the metal map and peaked in the UK
charts. Samson has had several reunions until the early 2000’s. They officially
disbanded in 2002 with Paul Samson’s death.
Samson Album, Head On Cover
Samson embarked on a wholly unique venture when they appeared in their
film, Biceps of Steel in 1980. The
plot played out the biblical story of Samson, heavy metal style. Thunderstick
had a rare appearance without his notorious mask in the film. He starred as the
main character, while his brother in law Ben K. Reeves switched places with the
drummer as his double and donned his mask. Thunderstick’s character was a heavy
metal roadie with supernatural strength. Instead of stone pillars, this
personage of Samson as a roadie knocks over stacked amps, in the very metal
scene. The film was a surreal fifteen minutes used as a promotional piece for
the band. The film was released on DVD as part of Bruce Dickenson’s Anthology DVD. I received my copy of the
Deadline Records DVD release (2003) of the film as a gift.
In 1981, Samson appeared in the cult horror film, Incubus. In this film, a clip from Biceps of Steel of Samson performing the
song, “Vice Versa” was used. The band’s performance and eerie sound transports the viewer to another time and
place. A place where concert-goers are stalked by a mysterious
monster and a murder scene in the venue’s toilet becomes conceptual art with
the addition of the Samson track. Because of Samson’s appearance, I have
replayed the film dozens of times and have also skipped through to the
performance scene numerous times. Although
there were murders and monsters at hand, I still wish I were part of that
audience. Now that’s an intense and extreme statement that I would risk being
stalked by a creature just to be able to see Samson in concert but that is just
a testimony of how the band’s performance draws in an audience. I could simply watch the music video of the song on Biceps of Steel, however, I enjoy
watching the sequence with the murder scene while the song plays out. Samson’s
“Vice Versa” track warrants its place in the film
and is a more than perfect fitting.
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| Incubus Official Movie Poster
Thunderstick’s solo
career began after he left Samson in the early 80’s and formed his self-titled
band, Thunderstick. This group had several female lead vocalists these
consisted of Vinnie Munro, Anna Marie Carmella Borg, Jodee Valentine, and
recent vocalist Lucie V. Thunderstick
has been known for his bold statements. In particular,
there is his concept of the drummer as a faceless, primal animal. Drummers have
often been viewed as the rhythm section behind prominent front men, who are the
most recognizable. However, the imaginative Thunderstick brought the drummer
figure to the frontlines. Whenever I see promotional photos of Samson or the
Thunderstick band my eyes inadvertently focus on Thunderstick as do anyone else
who views them. He experienced some controversy during the beginning of his
career due to his persona of the wild, masked, caged drummer. At that time in
news headlines, there was a masked rapist
stalking women, which in no way or form was Thunderstick glorifying or
endorsing these crimes. Never the less like
most rock stars, he received backlash and was blamed for promoting crime simply
due to his heavy metal image. Having had female vocalists fronting his band was
a type of throwback to all the controversy. In addition, he proposed that his
animalistic drummer image vs. the beautiful female vocalist was a type of
beauty and the beast concept for the stage.
Thunderstick Album, Echoes From The Analogue Asylum Cover
The heavy metal genre
known as The New Wave of British Heavy Metal took place near the end of the 1970’s decade. This occurred near the two-decade mark of the godfathers of heavy
metal Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin reign, which ushered in a harder sounding
new generation of British metal. Thunderstick is considered the godfather of
the “New Wave”. His dominant presence energized the movement and he became the
face of the scene. The best-known bands
from the genre were Samson, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, and Saxon. There were
many other groups that made significant contributions to the movement. The New Wave of British Heavy Metal ’79
Revisited is a compilation album
featuring various artists of the movement which included some unbelievable
heavy hitters. The album was assembled by Metallica’s drummer, Lars Ulrich and
music journalist, Geoff Barton and was released in 1990. Not only was the amazing
Samson featured on the album but also Diamond Head, Saxon, Raven, Def Leppard,
Girlschool, Iron Maiden, Tygers of Pan Tang, Venom, Angel Witch, Witchfinder General and Blitzkrieg. Several of the band's concert or promotional photos were
presented on the album cover, however, Thunderstick was dead set in the center
with a bigger promotional photo wearing his mask which in turn declared him to
be the “new face of the new wave of British heavy metal”.
New Wave of British
Heavy Metal ’79 Revisited Album
I recently had the opportunity to
interview the masterful man behind the mask, Thunderstick:
HEAVY
MAKEUP: When did you get into playing drums and why?
Thunderstick: Hi Lucy, The way I got involved did have a
defining moment. I was a young kid helping
my uncle collect stuff for a jumble/garage sale. Somebody threw out a pair of military
drumsticks for the sale. Guess what
…they didn’t make it - I kept them. The
flame had been lit. I started beating up
on my parent's furniture until they were forced
into buying me a drumkit just to stop the carnage……I was 9!
HEAVY
MAKEUP: Do you remember your first professional gig? What was that like?
Thunderstick: When I was 17, I left home and I went to Sicily and moved in with a band that had been going since the 1960s, a band called "The Primitives". It was a band that had done really well in those days and had huge hits in Italy and throughout Sardinia, Greece and all the Mediterranean area. The people that were listening to the band didn't really mind who was in it as long as it existed, so we were doing all this stuff in Italian and stuff like that but in between, we were doing numbers like "Jumping Jack Flash" and stuff that we were writing as well. I think that that's when I really did learn because I went out as a boy with a lot of young ideas, got experienced and came back to the UK with a far more ‘Grown Up’ attitude. HEAVY MAKEUP: Who are your favorite drummers? Also, what artists or bands do you currently listen to?
Thunderstick:
My favorite
drummers? Well, I really like to think that my musical ‘likes’ are quite diverse and
eclectic this also applies to drummers that I regard as big influences. So they
are: Pierre Moerlen (GONG) RIP, Prairie
Prince (The TUBES), Guy Evans (Van Der
Graaf Generator), Keith Moon (The Who) RIP, Ian Paice (Deep Purple) and John
Bonham (Led Zeppelin) RIP.
HEAVY MAKEUP: What is your favorite song to perform
live?
Thunderstick:
‘Thunder Thunder’ 2017 version on the
new album.
HEAVY MAKEUP: What advice would you give to a young
drummer?
Thunderstick:
Find your own style. Of course, it is great to know your rudiments but
if you sound like every other technical drummer you aren’t going to ‘stand
out’. I have never had a lesson in my life and my playing just comes from my
heart. I should’ve had a few lessons I suppose to help with the fundamentals of
playing but I was too busy having fun learning my own particular way of
playing.
HEAVY MAKEUP: You are one of the forefathers of
heavy metal, with that said, what do you think about the changes in metal music
today? Are you inspired at all by what’s going on in music today?
Thunderstick: Yes and No….. I think that ‘Metal’ or ‘Rock’ has become far too fragmented. Why does everything have to be so compartmentalized? Doom Metal/Speed Metal/Heavy Metal/Death Metal/Funk Metal/Alternative Metal….blah blah blah…… I have however never really regarded my band to be HM I have always maintained that it is a ‘Rock’ band. On the positive - technology has enabled musicians to find new and innovative ways of recording sound so that we are able to constantly evolve. Having said that though, the remit that I tried to stay true to on the new THUNDERSTICK album was trying to find balance - digital music with an analog feel. In other words capturing both sounds and arrangements of a time when ‘Heavy Metal’ was in its infancy coupled with today’s techniques.
HEAVY MAKEUP: Will there ever be a chance of a
Samson reunion?
Thunderstick:
Seeing as though the only original
Samson members that are still alive are Bruce and myself it is pretty unlikely.
Paul and Chris RIP.
HEAVY MAKEUP: The film, Incubus is in my collection of rock horror films. When I watch the
Samson scene in the film I feel like I am in a dream sequence and transported
to an alternate realm of reality. I could
literally watch it every day. Can you tell me about your initial thoughts on
starring in a rock horror film? Were you excited? Did you have any concerns on
how you or the band would be portrayed? Any highlights that stand out?
Thunderstick:
Samson had nothing to do with the
inclusion of using part of our ‘Biceps of
Steel’ footage within ‘Incubus’ I
think that it had something to do with the label that we were signed to ‘Gem
Records’ placing it within the film.
However, the making of ‘Biceps’
was pretty crazy for me. I played the super strength roadie as myself then for close-ups of Thunderstick in his cage donned
the mask. The audience that we had in the film were not aware that I was
playing both the Roadie and Thunderstick. We had a stand-in (my brother in law at the time) to put the mask on and be
Thunderstick whilst both were in a shot
at the same time. It was all shot on
film rather than video, using five cameras.
HEAVY MAKEUP: As an early member of Iron Maiden, and being in a band with Bruce Dickinson who appeared to have a very manic stage presence, out of all the musicians you have worked with who in the business has left the greatest impression on you? Thunderstick: THUNDERSTICK…
HEAVY MAKEUP: Have you ever had any mishaps or
Spinal Tap type experiences?
Thunderstick:
Oh Yes…The more that you put into a
stage show the more there is to go wrong until you become a well-oiled machine
like Maiden, doing the same each night.
Samson would regularly have ‘tapisms’ we were using a large amount of ‘pyros’ each
gig, nothing like Rammstein but still quite a large amount. On one occasion our
roadie/pyromaniac decided it would be good to pull apart the explosives and put
a trail of gunpowder right across the front of the stage for the ‘first chord’
of our set detonation. So we go into the
first song…and BANG… a six-foot high
sheet of fire roars itself across the stage taking the front row of the
audience completely by surprise, removing their eyebrows as it goes. We the
band, are left temporarily blinded for almost the whole of the first song
unable to see the tiny bits of molten shrapnel cascading down on top of both
band and audience, stinging as they land on bare flesh…After the gig my drum tech pointed out that my cymbals
were completely covered in small particles of metal that had actually welded
themselves to their surface. It’s only rock’n’roll but I like it….
HEAVY MAKEUP:
The film Biceps of Steel, is a
musical parody of the band’s namesake, Samson and a retelling of the Biblical
Samson and Delilah. The epic tale follows the hero Samson as he is portrayed to
be a heavy metal roadie. You were actually the actor portraying Samson, and
your brother-in-law portrayed the role of
you and wore your mask. Who made the decision for you to switch places with
your brother-in-law for that role? Also, the story and film was a brilliant
concept. Who came up with it?
Thunderstick:
As soon as the film company decided to
use me as the roadie I came up with the idea of having a stand-in THUNDERSTICK when we were both in the shot. As
already explained in question 8 my (then) brother-in-law at the time stood in
for me and he would much later become my bass player in THUNDERSTICK. The idea
of the ‘Samson & Delilah’ storyboard was presented by the film company,
then we (the band) added any additional ideas of our own to it.
HEAVY MAKEUP: Your self-titled band, Thunderstick
had three different female singers, which appeared to have punk and pop
elements. How would you describe the differing musical style of Thunderstick
compared to Samson? What was it like working with female singers?
Thunderstick: The concept of using a female vocalist to front a metal/rock band was comparatively new at that time (the 80s). There were all female bands such as Rock Goddess and Girlschool, but not females fronting a testosterone-fueled male bunch of hard rockers. I wanted to change that. The punk and pop influences came about really because as already stated my tastes in music are quite eclectic and I wanted to bring a little more ‘coloration’ to my compositions. Also, I have always regarded myself as first and foremost a musician more than just a drummer. I wanted to embrace my influences by putting them into my songwriting. Although Samson had variation its music there was always a formula and we wouldn’t stray too far from the ‘safe’ musical path. Unfortunately for me though the listeners that ‘got it’ fully understood my reasoning and fully supported it but they were however in the minority. So the ones that never understood the thinking behind it missed it…By Miles! That was the gamble I took.
HEAVY MAKEUP: You had said in past interviews that
you based your masked persona on your love of horror, in particular, Hammer House films. I am a huge
Hammer fan. My favorite film is The Devil Rides Out, and I would love to know,
what is your favorite film from Hammer studios?
HEAVY MAKEUP: Very interesting!
Thunderstick:
On another point, I once took Ingrid Pitt
(Vampire Lovers,
Countess Dracula, Where Eagles Dare) to lunch...!
HEAVY MAKEUP: Very cool! Wish I could have been a
dinner guest with you two great horror icons. You have one of the most truly
unique theatrical images in heavy metal music. You clearly stood out then and
you continue to be recognizable today and your image has never been out of
date. You wore leather, face paint, and performed inside a metal cage. In particular, you are known for wearing sinister
masks. Do you still have your original masks? How do you display or store your masks?
Thunderstick:
I am quite unceremonious about the
masks, they are stored in a stage clothes box that is in the loft at my house.
The only time my main one makes an appearance is when I metamorphosis into
‘him’. As far as the other masks are concerned, yes I still have most of them…including
the original one that I wore throughout my time with SAMSON.
HEAVY MAKEUP: You are one of rock’s radical musical
innovators who incorporated your own distinctive persona and talent for
incredible drum patterns into your stage performance. When you are writing your
music, where does your inspiration come from?
Thunderstick:
I think that we have covered this
question really already, but thank you for the praise. The inspiration for a
particular song will, like so many other songwriters, come from anywhere and
also when you least expect it. It is
great that smartphones now all have
facilities that enable recording of the ideas as and when they come. I have
been known to get up in the middle of the night and start singing at my phone and then go back to bed.
HEAVY MAKEUP: You are known for your huge drum sets
have you kept them all?
Thunderstick:
Yes! The main one being the Pearl Chrome
kit circa 1980 as used on the latest album ‘Something
Wicked This Way Comes’.
HEAVY MAKEUP: You were the face of the New Wave of
British Heavy Metal ’79 Revisited. A compilation compiled by Metallica drummer, Lars Ulrich and Music Journalist,
Geoff Barton. Samson had tracks on the album alongside Angel Witch, Venom and
Diamondhead. How does it feel to be the face of a nationwide musical movement?
Did you think Samson’s music was a good fit for this compilation?
Thunderstick:
I was quite disappointed that the
compilers of that particular album found it necessary to cover up the main
picture of THUNDERSTICK on the front cover by placing pictures of the other
bands over it. Apparently, it was deemed
to be too contentious and could somehow limit the
amount of mainline shops that would be prepared to stock it. Pathetic,
If that were to still be adhered to there would be no ‘Slipknot’. Lars Ulrich
did say that I was an early influence which was a great compliment. Did you
know that Metallica once supported THUNDERSTICK at a KERRANG party? Where did I go wrong???!!! LOL
HEAVY MAKEUP: Your face should have been on the only
image on the cover and should have extended to the back cover also. Whoa! I did
not know that, very cool. You have had an extensive background in music. What
else do you do outside of music? Is there anything that would surprise fans? Do
you have any upcoming projects?
Thunderstick:
Upcoming projects really are still music based as I am concentrating on trying
to promote the new album. Outside of music…Cycling…I have recently had a knee
operation and am slowly building up my stamina but before I had it done I was
cycling around 150 miles a week. I do
have a couple of new projects on the go at the moment and more will be revealed
next year!
Thanks
for all of the cool questions and of course your support…
Luv,
B THUNDERSTICK.
HEAVY MAKEUP: Thank you Thunderstick for being an
inspiration and entertaining us all! Much love and good luck with the new album
and your knee.
Thunderstick keeps busy with various projects. He not only is a great musician but he also is a sound engineer/producer for other musicians and has been a club promoter. He continues to write music and perform. Thunderstick’s new album, Something Wicked This Way Comes was released August 2017. Thunderstick has laid down the foundation for future mask bearing metal musicians as exampled by such bands as Slipknot and Gwar. Very few artists have been successful at creating their own unique rock image as a brand and became an icon due to it. However, Barry Graham Purkis pulled it off. He is a master visionary whose talent, focus and ambition are more than inspiring.
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),
Christopher 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).
2017
Studio Line-Up: Lucie V (vocals), Martin Shellard
(guitar), Dave Kilford (guitar), Rex Thunderbolt (bass), Thunderstick (drums)
Discography:
Studio albums with Samson:
·
Survivors (1979)
·
Head On (1980)
·
Shock
Tactics (1981)
·
Head
Tactics (1986)
·
Past
Present & Future (1999)
·
The Early
Singles (2011)
Studio albums with Thunderstick:
·
Feel like
Rock 'n' Roll? (1983)
·
Beauty and
the Beasts (1984)
·
A Bolt
from the Black (1984)
·
Don't
Touch, I'll Scream (1985)
·
Just'In
Power (1987)
·
Best of
British Metal (1999)
·
Echoes
from the Analogue Asylum (2011)
·
Something Wicked This Way Comes (2017)
Thunderstick Filmograhy:
·
Biceps
of Steel (1980)
·
Incubus (1981)
·
Thunder,
Thunder (1985).
·
The
History of Iron Maiden – Part 1: The Early Days (2004)
·
Iron
Maiden and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (2008)
Thunderstick Official Website:
Something Wicked This Way Comes… Album Cover
LucyComing Soon: Cult Movie Review: Incubus |
