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Jon Mikl Thor John Leibel Ted Jedlicki Will Maravelas Richard Fabio Kevin Stuart Swain Frank Soda Frank Meyer Bruce Duff Joseph Turner
Past members
Terry McKeown John Shand Bill Wade Steve Price Frank Boehm John Tonin Michael Root Karl Cochran Jimmy Whang Mike Favata Jimmy Ambrose Pantera (Rusty Hamilton) Keith Zazzi Ani Kyd Cal "Fang" Thompson Mike O Jason The Pounder Marty Martian Mike Kischnick Joel "Savage" Watts Sean "Killer" Kilby Tom Croxton Matt Hamilton
Thor performing at the 2018 South Park festival in Tampere, Finland.
Thor started out as a concept band in 1973. They used the names "Thor", "Centaur" and "Mikl Body Rock". These entities were the brainchild of Jon Mikl Thor, a vocalist, musician and body building champion who won titles such as Mr. USA and Mr. World Canada.[4] He decided to combine muscle with music. In every show Jon Mikl Thor would appear as "Thor The Rock Warrior". Mikl Body Rock aka "Thor" toured throughout North America seeking fame and to garner enough attention to secure a record deal. The press dubbed them "Kings of Muscle Rock" or "Warriors of Gladiator Rock".
In 1976, Jon Mikl met guitarist Frank Soda while touring Canada. Frank Soda joined "Thor" who also became known as "Thor and The Imps". The band toured constantly in the Eastern USA and Canada region building a large following. The first album was recorded in Toronto, Ontario, Canada under the name Thor and was called Muscle Rock. Released by the independent label God Of Thunder Records, the record became a success, and gained the attention of various managers and producers who wanted to sign the act. Jon Mikl Thor was offered a large deal to star in a production at the Aladdin Resort & Casino in Las Vegas called 'Red Hot and Blue'. Frank Soda wanted to keep touring with the band, so Frank Soda and The Imps were formed. Jon Mikl Thor went on to star in Las Vegas and was discovered by Merv Griffin, who had Thor perform live on the Merv Griffin Show from Caesars Palace on national television. Thor's performance was a hit, and offers came in from various major labels. Thor decided to sign with RCA Records in late 1976.
This new incarnation of Thor was formed in 1977 by Jon Mikl Thor and released their debut album Keep the Dogs Away.[4] After much touring, Jon Mikl Thor resided in New York City. He formed a new band with backing members Rusty Hamilton aka Queen Pantera, Mike Favata, Jimmy Ambrose, James Whang and Keith Zazzi in 1983 and released the Unchained EP.[4] The record, which was on Mongel Horde Records in the USA got picked up for distribution in England through Albion Records. The band travelled to London, England to perform at the Marquee Club and signed with Motörhead's manager Douglas Smith. In 1984, the band decided to live in the UK. Most of the time was spent at studios in London, writing and recording new material. The songs "Let the Blood Run Red" and "Thunder on the Tundra" became instant chart toppers with "Thunder on the Tundra" reaching number one on the British rock chart.
The success of the singles soon led to 1985's album Only the Strong.[4] Thor's stage performances involved antics such as Jon Mikl Thor breathing into hot water bottles until they burst,[4] breaking bricks over his chest and head and bending steel bars and microphone stands.[5] In 1986, Thor released Recruits – Wild in the Streets on GWR Records. The band would break up in 1987 and Jon Mikl entered the world of acting, starring in such movies as Recruits (1986, as Thunderhead), Zombie Nightmare (1987, as Tony Washington), and Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare (1987, as John Triton).[5]
Ten years later in 1997, the band released the compilation album Ride of the Chariots (An-Thor-Logy). Following this release the band returned with new material and in 1998 they released Thunderstruck (Tales from the Equinox),[4] and have since released five additional albums.[6] In 1999, a selection of songs from Keeping the Dogs Away were re-released on a split CD with Ontario metalcore band Coalition Against Shane through 13th Day Recordings.[7]
From 2000-2011, Thor continued to record, release albums and tour, building a larger following and connecting with a new generation. Albums released have been Dogz II (2000), Triumphant (2002), Beastwomen from the Centre of the Earth (2003), Are U Ready (2004), Thor Against the World (2005), Devastation of Musculation (2006), Into the Noise (2007), Steam Clock (2008) Sign of the V (2009), The Guardian (2010) and Soundtrack from the movie THOR - The Rock Opera (2011). Thor wrote the music for and were starring in the movie Thor - The Rock Opera. In 2009 Thor performed at the Sweden Rock Festival, Sauna Open Air Metal Festival in Tampere, Finland and the Muskelrock Festival (named after Thor and The Imps first EP Muscle Rock) in Alvesta, Sweden.
On April 30, 2011, Thor headlined the Shock Stock Festival in London, Ontario, Canada. The band consisted of original guitar player Frank Soda as well as new additions Joel "Savage" Watts on drums and Sean "Killer" Kilby on bass. Then Thor embarked on a tour of Scandinavia from May 31 to June 7 playing at DOM (The Dome) in Helsinki, Finland on June 1, performing their live rock opera and showcasing film Thor - The Rock Opera; then revisiting the Muskelrock Festival in Alvesta, Sweden from June 2 to June 4.
In January, 2012, a special edition vinyl album called Thor's Teeth was released through the Baltimore-based label A389 Recordings. It was later launched digitally through Chicago based Smog Veil Records in April 2012. Thor signed a multi album deal with Rock Saviour/Pegasus Records in Germany and Frank Soda returned to the studio with Thor to write songs and lay down vocal tracks for albums Thor – Thunderstryke (2012) and Thor – Thunderstryke II (2013). On July 20, 2012, Thor headlined the Armstrong MetalFest at Hassen Arena.
The documentary film I Am Thor, directed by Ryan Wise and produced by Ryan Wise and Al Higbee, had a world premiere in 2015 and toured film festivals throughout the world, winning audience and critical acclaim. The movie got picked up for distribution in the USA through Dark Sky Films / MPI Media Group. The film won Best Documentary at the Fantasia International Film Festival 2015 in Montreal. Thor embarked on a sold out major city tour throughout the USA in November, 2015 screening the movie, followed by a live Thor concert. Another tour launched in March, 2016.
On May 13, 2016, the official reissue of Thor's 1977 Keep the Dogs Away album was released on Deadline Records. Thor: A Rock Odyssey, a live three part rock concert spectacular, was presented on stage at the Highline Ballroom in New York City on May 14 in celebration of the 1977 Keep the Dogs Away album and to launch the release.
On August 4, 2017, the album Beyond the Pain Barrier was released. The album was co-written by Jon Mikl, John Leibel and Ted Jedlicki.[8] Prior to the album's release the single and video for "The Calling" was released. Also in 2017, drummer Tom Croxton was added to the lineup. Croxton is a veteran of the music scene, notably for his long tenure in the shock rock band, Impaler. In September 2019, Matt Hamilton, a member of Croxton's other band, Hex Vortices, joined to help solidify the space left by McNallie's departure earlier that year.[9]
On July 16, 2021, the album Alliance was released, Thor's 39th studio album.[10]Alliance features 17 tracks, as well as guests, including W.A.S.P.’s Chris Holmes, Raven vocalist John Gallagher, Soilwork singer Björn Strid, Danko Jones, Anthrax’s Neil Turbin, Ross “The Boss” Friedman, and numerous others.[10]
Tracklisting:
“We Need Musclerock” feat. John Gallagher (Raven) “Niflhel (Realm Of The Dead)” feat. Björn Strid (Soilwork) “The Ultimate Alliance” feat. Chris Holmes (W.A.S.P.), Ross “The Boss” Friedman (Manowar), Nina Osegueda (A Sound Of Thunder) & Fang VonWrathenstein (Lords Of The Trident) “Ode To Odin” feat. Dan Cleary (Striker) “We Will Fight Forever” feat. Neil Turbin (Anthrax) “Because We Are Strong” “Rock Around The World” feat. Danko Jones “Queen Of The Spiders” feat. Frank Soda (The Imps) “Power Hungry” “Bounty Hunter” feat. Frank Meyer (The Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs) & Dennis Post (Warrior Soul) “Battlements” feat. Trevor William Church (Haunt) “Thor vs. The Juggernaut (War Of The Gods)” feat. Sean Peck (Death Dealer) “Generation Now” feat. Joey Killingsworth (Joecephus & The George Jonestown Massacre) “After The Laughter” feat. Martin Gummesson (Thundermaker) “Good Stuff” feat. Al Harlow (Prism) “Congregate” feat. Joey Roads & Sheldon Byer (Roadrash) “We Will Fight Forever” (Reprise) [11]
The album's first single, "The Ultimate Alliance", written by John Leibel and Jon Mikl Thor, includes a video that released on June 9, 2021. The song features guitar solos from Chris Holmes, Ross the Boss, and John Leibel as well as the vocals by A Sound of Thunder[12] singer Nina Osegueda and Lords of the Trident frontman Fang VonWrathstein.[13]Thor: The Ultimate Alliance
In 2018 Thor teamed up with producer, songwriter, musician, and performer Kevin Stuart Swain to make the album Christmas in Valhalla, and later on Hammer of Justice (2019), Rising (2020) and their latest release Alliance (2021) for the Los Angeles based Cleopatra/Deadline Records.
In October 2021, Thor released a 2D animation video for the single "Queen of the Spiders", which is featured on Alliance.
Triumph were a Canadian hard rock band formed in 1975 that was popular in the late 1970s and the 1980s, building on its reputation and success as a live band. Between its 16 albums and DVDs, the band has received 18 gold and nine platinum awards in Canada and the United States. They were nominated for multiple Juno Awards, including the 'Group of the Year Award' in 1979, 1985, 1986, and 1987. They were inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame in 2007, into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2008, and into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2019.
Warlock was a German heavy metal band founded in 1982 in Düsseldorf by members of the underground bands Snakebite and Beast. The band gained popularity and some commercial success in Europe in the mid-1980s, due to the personality and stage presence of lead vocalist Doro Pesch. Warlock supported successful heavy metal bands on tour, such as W.A.S.P., Judas Priest, Dio and Megadeth.
Labyrinth is an Italian power metal band formed in 1994 in Massa, Tuscany. The band underwent a change in style and themes after the departure of Olaf Thorsen in 2002.
Nonpoint is an American rock band from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The band currently consists of vocalist Elias Soriano, drummer Robb Rivera, rhythm guitarist Rasheed Thomas, bassist Adam Woloszyn, and lead guitarist Jaysin Zeilstra.
Amon Amarth is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Tumba, formed in 1992. The band takes its name from the Sindarin name of Mount Doom, a volcano in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. Their lyrics mostly deal with Viking mythology and history, and so they have been sometimes erroneously labeled "Viking metal", although the band insists they play melodic death metal.
Roy Z Ramirez is an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with Bruce Dickinson, Halford, and Judas Priest. He also is the founder of Tribe of Gypsies, a Latin-influenced hard rock band. Roy also helped write and produce the band Life After Death in 1996.
Thunder are an English hard rock band from London. Formed in 1989, the group was founded by former Terraplane members Danny Bowes, Luke Morley and Gary "Harry" James (drums), along with second guitarist and keyboardist Ben Matthews and bassist Mark "Snake" Luckhurst. Originally signed to EMI Records in the UK, the band released their debut album Backstreet Symphony in 1990, which reached number 21 on the UK Albums Chart and number 114 on the US Billboard 200. The 1992 follow-up Laughing on Judgement Day reached number 2, while both albums were certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). All nine singles released from the two albums reached the UK Singles Chart top 40.
Jon Mikl Thor, better known as simply Thor, is a Canadian bodybuilding champion, actor, songwriter, screenwriter, historian, vocalist and musician.
Volbeat are a Danish rock band formed in Copenhagen in 2001. They play a fusion of rock and roll and heavy metal. Their current line-up consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Michael Poulsen, drummer Jon Larsen, and bassist Kaspar Boye Larsen. The band is signed to Dutch label Mascot Records and has released eight studio albums and one DVD. Their second album Rock the Rebel/Metal the Devil received platinum status, and their 2010 release Beyond Hell/Above Heaven was subject to widespread international critical acclaim, receiving triple platinum in Denmark and Austria, double platinum in Sweden, platinum in Canada, 5x Gold in Germany, and gold in Finland and the United States. Volbeat's most recent studio album, Servant of the Mind, was released in 2021.
Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare is a 1987 Canadian direct-to-video horror film directed by John Fasano, and stars heavy metal musician Jon Mikl Thor, Jillian Peri and Teresa Simpson.
Behind Closed Doors is the third studio album by English hard rock band Thunder. Recorded between May and August 1994 at various studios, primarily Southern Tracks in Atlanta, Georgia, it was produced the band's lead guitarist Luke Morley and Mike Fraser, the latter of whom also mixed the album at the Record Plant in Los Angeles, California. The album was released on 23 January 1995 by EMI Records in Europe and Japan, and was not released in the United States.
Keep the Dogs Away is the first studio album by the heavy metal band Thor, released in 1977. The album went gold shortly after it was released, selling 50,000 copies in Canada. In 2009 it was reissued on CD for the first time in a special 30th Anniversary Edition; It included a 16-page booklet and a few unreleased bonus tracks. In 2016 it was reissued once again with even more bonus content under Deadline Music in a deluxe 6-panel digipak CD with alternate cover art, liner notes from a longtime fan, author/producer Brian Kehew, 22 rare and unreleased bonus cuts on a separate disc, and a vintage 1984 London concert, that previously was limited to VHS, now on DVD. The first CD is the original album and all bonus content is put on the second disk. A faithful reissue of the original vinyl that had meticulously recreated the original pressing with the original cover art, foldout poster, and printed inner sleeve.
Only the Strong is the second album by the Canadian/American heavy metal band Thor, released in 1985. The singles "Let the Blood Run Red", "Knock 'Em Down", and "Thunder on the Tundra" helped the album reach platinum status in Canada and the United Kingdom. "Let the Blood Run Red" and "Thunder on the Tundra" peaked, respectively, at Nos. 91 and 89 on the UK Singles Chart.
Unchained is an EP by Canadian heavy metal band Thor. The album's title is taken from the Italian-French epic fantasy feature film Hercules Unchained (1959). Tracks "Rock the City" and "When Gods Collide" were later re-recorded for the album Only the Strong (1985). The EP was reissued on both CD and vinyl with bonus material in 2015. The CD comes with 12 rare bonus tracks, including the ultra-rare 1982 Unchained master recordings, and a bonus DVD containing two full hours of metal mayhem, featuring the “Anger” concept video with behind-the-scenes footage as well as vintage concert performances from 1982-85. A special limited edition vinyl release comes in either blue or orange colored vinyl, includes the 1982 masters, and also contains a 20-page comic book reproducing the original Unchained comic, plus additional unpublished art.
Devastation of Musculation is the eighth album by Canadian heavy metal band Thor, released in 2006 on Smog Veil Records. It features new guitarist, Mike Kischnick, who also co-wrote and co-produced the record with singer Jon Mikl Thor. Three music videos were produced to help promote the album, for the tracks "Release The Beast", "Devastation Of Musculation", and "Lords of Steel" The video for the first being included as a bonus on the CD.
Ronald Jay Blumenthal, better known by his stage name Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal or simply Bumblefoot, is an American guitarist, songwriter, and producer. He adopted his nickname from the bacterial infection of the same name, which he learned about while helping his wife study for her veterinary exams. The name went from being just the name of an album, to the name of a record label, to a band name, to eventually his name as a solo artist. He was one of two lead guitarists in Guns N' Roses from 2006 until 2014 and performed on their sixth studio album Chinese Democracy. He was the guitarist for the supergroup Sons of Apollo and currently with supergroup Whom Gods Destroy; and served as the guitarist and vocalist for the band Asia from 2019 to 2022.
Up Close and Personal Tour was a 2012 North American and European concert tour by hard rock band Guns N' Roses.
I Am Thor is a documentary about the life of bodybuilder and rock musician Jon Mikl Thor of the band Thor. The film was directed by Ryan Wise and produced by Ryan Wise and Alan Higbee and had its world premiere at the 2015 Slamdance Film Festival.
Martin Motnik is a German bassist and studio musician, best known as the bassist for the heavy metal band Accept. He has also played in Darkseed, Eisbrecher.
Alliance is the 39th full-length studio album by heavy metal, power metal band Thor, released through Deadline Music in 2020. It features several guest performers, such as John Gallagher (Raven), Björn Strid (Soilwork), Chris Holmes, Ross "the Boss "Friedman, Nina Osegueda, Fang VonWrathenstein, Dan Cleary (Striker), Neil Turbin (Anthrax), and Danko Jones.
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