Musicians Danny Bowes, Harry James, and Luke Morley worked together in the 80s-era [tab]blues outfit Terraplane. After experiencing what Morley has called "a 'eureka' moment", the guys devised a high-energy British rock project directly inspired by the likes of Bad Company, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin. The aptly named Thunder spent a year or so in constant touring and gradually built a positive reputation that helped its debut album, named Backstreet Symphony, reach a wide audience. Released 4 April 1990 by EMI / Geffen, it became an international success. The album didn't just get RIAA certified as 'Gold' but earned them a spot on BBC's 'Top of the Pops', playing their hard-edged version of "Gimme Some Lovin'" to a global audience. A well-received performance at Castle Donington's 'Monsters of Rock' event before gigantic crowds brought it home to the guys how far they'd broken through.
After touring with female-fronted rockers Heart and other artists with the same style, the guys prepared the second album, which they ominously titled Laughing on Judgement Day. Despite their deliberately 'retro' sound quite unlike the alternative and post-punk trends of the time (or, in fact, precisely because of their sticking to their guns), their sophomore album achieved even more success. Released on 24 August 1992, it proved an even bigger hit in the U.K. than their debut, reaching the number two slot on the nation's top albums chart. Its singles include "Everybody Wants Her" and "Low Life in High Places", the titles alone showing Thunder's interest in classic rock n' roll hedonism.
Bassist "Snake" Luckhurst left the band citing 'personal differences', a move that wasn't just Thunder's first line-up change but a sign of future turmoil to come. He got replaced by Swedish musician Mikael Höglund, and the band went on to record their third album, 1995's Behind Closed Doors, before facing a dilemma with their label. Finding that "most of the people who'd been there at the beginning of our tenure had moved on", as Morley put it, as well as that talk of a contract extension had terms that they simply couldn't accept, Thunder jumped from EMI.
Despite being championed by U.S. contemporaries such as Aerosmith and Guns n' Roses, the guys still faced a tough time making a lasting impact 'across the pond'. Though focused on pumping out more and more material, Morley later remarked that the mid-90s found Thunder "suffering from 'hamster in the wheel' syndrome". Mikael Höglund was unavailable for recording the band's fourth album, called The Thrill of it All, and so the 1996 release had bass duty left with Morley. For the subsequent tour, the band recruited bassist Chris Childs, who stayed with the band to record their fifth album. Although Giving the Game Away, released in 1999, earned a positive fan response, it had become totally clear how Thunder had disconnected from a record industry whose connected network of radio stations, TV networks, and music magazines dismissed the guys' sort of melodic hard rock as either endangered or extinct.
In Autumn of that year, the group announced an upcoming split, and their final tour concluded in May 2000. Still, Thunder's interest in new technology and the continuing camaraderie felt among the band's members meant that they didn't drop off the radar. After being given a slot in the 2002 'Monsters of Rock' shows, Thunder decided to return in 2003 with a new album, titled Shooting at the Sun, which the guys released on their own record label. Fully embracing the internet's ability to unite hard rock fans across the globe, 2005 resulted in the band's seventh album, aptly titled The Magnificent Seventh! by the guys. It earned praise from many critics, with musicOMH writer Neil Daniels remarking that the "terrific return to form" seemed like "a hard-hitting giant but with fists of steel and cast iron balls".
Feeling vindicated, the group's album managed to produce a return to the top 40 singles charts and spawned a bunch of live performances. After two well-received tours in 2006, with many gigs completely selling out, and two gleeful experiences in Japan, the band captured that live feel in the DVD Thunder Go Mad in Japan. The release included a documentary piece following the band's situation setting everything up and trying to sort out all of the traveling. That year additionally saw the guys releasing their eight studio album, titled Robert Johnson's Tombstone, which featured nods to the musicians' early history before Thunder's very formation. Receiving acclaim from critics and fans alike, some even claimed that the album was Thunder's best studio release yet. A U.K. tour took place at the end of November 2006, with the band extending things into shows in Europe as well.
The 2000s represented not only a period of frequent touring but also increasing musical activities by the guys outside of the band. Thunder's career renaissance continued with a 2008 studio album, which the guys simply titled Bang!, and the group's appearance with Def Leppard and Whitesnake at multiple gigs that same year. The group had found itself coming up to its twenty-year anniversary. Although not experiencing the same kind of personal conflicts or debates about musical direction that many of their contemporaries had, Thunder still appeared to have reached a kind of inflection point. In early 2009, the guys announced plans to split for the second time. Final tours and festival appearances occurred throughout the rest of the year. A well-received compilation album, called simply The Very Best of Thunder, came out as well that year.
Luke Morley stressed "only a fool would say never" when it came to talk of getting back together at some point. Still, he'd gotten focused on other endeavors and particularly dedicated himself to working on The Union, an outfit formed with musician Peter Shoulder (formerly of Winterville). Featuring a blues and soul drenched sound, that band has achieved significant critical acclaim. Other ex-Thunder members perused similar projects. Drummer Gary "Harry" James, for example, played with progressive rockers Magnum (including on their popular 2011 release The Visitation).
Thunder briefly reunited for the 'High Voltage Festival', held in Victoria Park, in 2011. Though expressing their reluctance to formally get back together, the guys agreed to future shows together, including a December performance at Nottingham's 'Rock City' venue. They intermittently took to the stage as the 2010s went on yet remained committed to their alternate projects.
In 2015, however, Thunder announced a full return with an upcoming studio album of new material. A tongue-in-cheek collective statement cited "a rather silly amount of knob-twiddling and string-pulling" as the final inspiration. The release of Wonder Days earned a warm response from critics and fans alike (the fellows at Classic Rock magazine, for example, naming it one of the year's 11 best albums), and multiple gigs got announced to preform the new material. 2017's Rip It Up was also well-received (the record's #3 spot on the U.K. Albums Chart was the highest the band reached for over two decades). This was followed with an acoustic selection, Please Remain Seated, after which the band promised to return to the "full throttle sound of Thunder" for the next studio record.
Delayed due to the pandemic situation, that full throttle new album was released in March 2021, All The Right Noises.
UK rockers Thunder will be releasing a new double album titled Dopamine on April 29, 2022.
Official Website: http://www.thunderonline.com/
2) - Thunder was additionally used by an obscure funk-based Southern rock band from the U.S. Their 1974 self-tiled album picked up some attention but failed to break through commercially. It's hard to find information about the group, but a bit is known given how it served as a stepping stone in the career of popular Texan singer-songwriter and guitarist John Nitzinger. The 1974 album is described on Discogs.com here.
3) - Thunder is the name of a defunct Pagan Black Metal band from Poland, formed in 1994.
4) - Thunder is the name of a German heavy metal band, that released 'All I Want' in 1984.
Everybody's Laughing
Thunder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the party was going strong
Champagne, beer wine and whisky
Everyone was totally gone
2am in the morning I see a stranger walking in
Said his name was Charlie and somebody'd sent for him
Everybody's laughing, but I don't know why
I'd never seen such a queue for the bathroom
Since I hung out at The Sunset Bar
And that line of Californian denial
Didn't stretch even halfway as far
I never had so many people boring me to death
Am I the only fool that needs to go to bed?
'Cause everybody's laughing, everybody's high
Everybody's laughing, but I don't know why
Just wanna die
If you're staring in the face of temptation
But it don't blow your skirt up high
You're naive to the situation
'Til your friends get that look in their eyes
'Cause when they ask the question
Why I never had a try,
I said
"Take a look around the room, you'll see the reason why!"
'Cause everybody's laughing, everybody's high
Everybody's laughing, but I don't know why
Don't know why
'Cause everybody's laughing, everybody's high
Everybody's laughing, but I don't know why
No I don't know why
'Cause everybody's laughing, everybody's high
Everybody's laughing, but I don't know why
'Cause everybody's laughing, everybody's high
Everybody's laughing, but I don't know why
The song "Everybody's Laughing" by Thunder focuses on the themes of temptation, peer pressure, and the desire to fit in with a group. It is set on the last night of the 20th century at a party that is going strong with guests drinking Champagne, beer, wine, and whisky. As the night continues, a stranger named Charlie walks in claiming that someone had sent for him. Despite feeling bored by the many people who seem to talk endlessly, the singer does not want to leave the party.
As the night progresses, the guests become more intoxicated and their laughter becomes more frequent. However, the singer does not understand why they are laughing and is starting to feel more and more disconnected from the group. The singer begins to question if they are the only person who sees the situation for what it truly is.
The lyrics highlight the pressure to fit in and conform to peer groups, especially in social situations where alcohol is involved. The chorus expresses the feeling of being left out and not understanding why everyone is laughing and inebriated.
Overall, the song is a commentary on how societal pressures can lead to conformity and recklessness, and how it is important to stay true to oneself and not give in to temptation simply to fit in.
Line by Line Meaning
It was the last night of the 20th Century
The events of this song took place on December 31, 1999.
And the party was going strong
The party was still lively and active despite being late at night.
Champagne, beer wine and whisky
There was a variety of alcoholic beverages at the party.
Everyone was totally gone
Most, if not all, party guests were drunk or otherwise under the influence.
2am in the morning I see a stranger walking in
At around 2:00 in the morning, a person the singer did not recognize arrived at the party.
Said his name was Charlie and somebody'd sent for him
The stranger identified himself as Charlie and claimed to have been invited by someone at the party.
Then everybody's laughing, everybody's high
At some point during the party, everyone was in a state of drunkenness and joy.
Everybody's laughing, but I don't know why
The singer is confused as to why everyone is laughing.
I'd never seen such a queue for the bathroom
There were a lot of people waiting to use the bathroom, which the singer found strange.
Since I hung out at The Sunset Bar
The Sunset Bar is a point of comparison to further emphasize the strange bathroom line.
And that line of Californian denial
The California attitude of not wanting to admit that something is wrong.
Didn't stretch even halfway as far
The line for the bathroom was still shorter than what the singer is used to seeing in California.
I never had so many people boring me to death
The singer is bored by the people at the party.
Am I the only fool that needs to go to bed?
The singer is wondering if they are the only person who wants to sleep instead of partying.
'Cause everybody's laughing, everybody's high
A repeated line that emphasizes the drinking and laughter at the party.
Just wanna die
The singer is having a difficult time at the party and would rather not be there.
If you're staring in the face of temptation
The singer is addressing the listener and speaking generally about temptation.
But it don't blow your skirt up high
If temptation doesn't interest you, no need to seek it out.
You're naive to the situation
Not recognizing temptation shows a level of innocence in the situation.
'Til your friends get that look in their eyes
Once the singer's friends show an interest in temptation, it becomes clearer and harder to ignore.
'Cause when they ask the question
When friends ask why the singer isn't indulging in temptation.
Why I never had a try,
Why the singer has not tried the temptation.
I said
The singer responded to the question.
"Take a look around the room, you'll see the reason why!"
The singer points to the drunkenness and chaos of the party as the reason they are not indulging in temptation.
No I don't know why
The singer is still unsure why everyone is laughing and partying.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LUKE MORLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alexandra Winkler
One of the most underrated bands.
alien al
you gotta love this band ,
paulhanmore2011
Great DVD, great band AWESOME at converting songs to acoustic, SO GOOD!!
Greg Maxwell
Love all the music AND the messages within the songs....(the insight my breathren)
58LP
just a totally tight band really, can't think of any other vocalist that can match this guy tho' especially 'live', seen em many times~ always a great show!
Blackdog
The thing with Thunder is that they're a working band. Record Label glory days gone they still love what they do and play their asses off every night. Great live and always entertain the audience with every show.
Clare Marie
I love this song. It rocks. I can't wait 'til they go to Nottingham in July with Def Lep and Whitesnake. With those three there, it's gunna be a blowout night xD
Vvesterr
"One of the most underrated bands." - exactly! :/
GratitudeHappinessBacon
Love, love, love!!!!
András Pétsch
brilliant!!!