Formed in Vancouver, Canada in 2003, Thunderbird play original songs that recall the classic hard rock sound of the late 1970s and early ’80s.
Inspiration came from the entire spectrum of hard rock styles of that era. So much was going on at the time – everything from blues-rock to boogie, metal and punk. A major influence for Thunderbird has been ‘Oz Rock’, the raw and powerful sound developed by bands gigging in Australian pubs in the Seventies.
Thunderbird’s debut album, ‘What’s The Word?‘ was released in 2006. The first single ‘No Prisoners‘ was Number One for several weeks on online music site Boost Independent Music, and also charted in the Top 10 in Mike Cameo’s Indie Rock out of Cincinnati, Ohio.
A decade later the band – now scattered across the globe from Canada to Australia, the UK and Costa Rica! – have reunited for a follow up album and to have fun rocking out once more with songs that evoke the swagger and groove of the days of classic rock.
Marc LaFrance (vocals) tours with Bachman & Turner and has sung on albums by Motley Crue, David Lee Roth, Blue Murder, The Cult & many more. Rod Coogan (guitar) has played in progressive rock bands in Australia & Japan. Holding down the bottom end are veterans Rob Becker and Tim Rath on bass and Kelly Stodola, one of Vancouver’s in-demand session musicians, on drums.
In this interview spotlight, we chat with Thunderbird about their music, influences, their newest project, and more.
Full Q&A with links and streams below.
Let’s dive a little deeper into the band and your music. Why this style(s) of music?
Thunderbird is a project celebrating a particular era in rock of the late ’70s and early ’80s. Think of just some of the bands hitting their stride in or around that period – ZZ Top, Thin Lizzy, Van Halen, AC/DC, Motorhead. And so many more. Amazing times. Thunderbird play original songs that emulate that spirit. ‘New Music, Old School’.
What led you into this journey? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?
A love of this kind of music and wanting to make some more of it and share it with the world!
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?
This project is about looking backwards rather than forwards. Recreating the feel that rock music had some 30-40 years ago. Having said that, within that particular template we tried to do some interesting things. And our guitarist, Rod, is a talented songwriter in his own right of modern, very original and progressive material. Two of his tracks are on the album and showcase that more.
Considering the band “reunited” for this new album…what have you all been up to the last 10 years?
Relocating! The members of Thunderbird currently live in Canada, Australia, the UK and Costa Rica. Everyone has their own thing going on and are doing well at it.
How has the music biz and the overall landscape of the industry changed in that time?
It’s a lot easier now to do a long distance project when people aren’t always in the same room or even the same country. Digital files can be sent back and forth, for example. Wonder what it will be like 10 years from now – today’s technology will probably seem primitive!
Other than this digital era overwhelming us with an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?
Finding the right platform to reach people who will enjoy this genre of music, and make them aware that this album exists.
Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?
Rock and Roll !!
