Thunderlip

By Brian Tucker

Photo by Blake Baxendell

“Ilearned how important it is playing in a band. Not doing it for six months when I was away I was miserable,” says Thunderlip drummer Johnny Collins, standing outside a noisy bar in Austin, Texas. “I felt like I was trying to be somebody that I’m not. Without touring, I kind of lose my mind.”

Collins and band mates from Thunderlip were waiting to see Birds of Avalon play at South by Southwest. Thunderlip played the night before, celebrating heartily afterwards.

“We got totally wasted and tried to see Motorhead play,” Collins says laughing.
Collins’ brief departure with Thunderlip is indicative of band changes since 2004, with Thunderlip now on bassist number four and Michael McDowell having replaced guitarist John Manning who left last November.

“I’ve known McDowell at least 15 years,” Collins says. “He’s a virtuoso, can play any instrument.”

Even with member changes the band’s attitude towards recording and playing music doesn’t waver. Those who come and go are members of a family, doing time in something unique and intentionally designed to be fun. The common denominator is doing something they love, having a good time.

Collins, guitarist James Yopp and original bassist Brandon Autrey attended Hoggard High School in Wilmington, N.C. and began to jam together in 2004. Both Yopp and Collins played in pop punk bands but Yopp had an affinity for Iron Maiden and built up a lot of riffs. Soon after the trio met John Manning who joined in, but they never intended to form a band.

Future Thunderlip singer Chuck Krueger was practicing with his band in the same building and offered to sing if they wanted to play shows. The first practice was a success and culminated in three songs. Soon after, the band got its name from Rocky III and played to crowded shows entrenched in old school rock with metal and punk flavors coupled with Krueger’s memorable stage performance.

Autrey left the band for Washington, D.C. and the band wasted no time in finding second bassist Ben Brown who played with Collins in The Fire Parade. Autrey wanted to play the last show before leaving but the band was doing well and wanted to keep the momentum. The decision was bruising for Collins and Autrey but it didn’t last. Brown would leave the band to pursue work outside Wilmington and be replaced by Patrick Phillips who would depart for family commitments.

Collins, Yopp and Krueger are the band’s remaining founding members. Going out on the road and playing has been an issue for those who have left — it’s costly and a tough way to make money. But it’s a lifestyle that’s powerful enough to keep things in motion.

“Yopp gets cabin fever, this is all he wants to do,” Collins said. “It’s all any of us want to do.”

In the spring of 2007 Collins returned as drummer and Thunderlip found current bassist Kenny Ells through Valiant Thorr. Phillips still plays bass in Wilmington band White Tiger and The Bed of Roses in which Krueger plays guitar and shares vocals. Primarily, band members have left for family reasons but everyone remains friends.
“We understand why they leave,” Collins said. “We’re always going to be their bro, do anything for them. We gotta keep doing what we gotta do.”

But with band member changes Thunderlip has become more refined, the result of not only growth but getting to the heart of a singular rock sound that blends seventies rock and punk. Today, the band sounds more focused and more strident on 2007’s The Prophecy than its frenzied debut Get Your Life Together.

While any band dreams about playing music for a living, Thunderlip remains pragmatic. Success hasn’t changed them. If anything, it’s emboldened them to continue. The band remains grounded and plays music in which having fun is part of the equation.

“Everyone keeps doing it because it’s our passion. This is what we want to do more than anything in the world,” Collins said. “We’ve accepted the fact that we’ll probably never make money with it. But that’s not what it’s really about for us. This is what makes us feel complete.”

www.myspace.com/thunderlip