There was a buzz of excitement when it was announced that Thunder had reformed to take part in the forthcoming Monsters of Rock tour, playing with Alice Cooper, LA Guns and The Wildhearts. Paul Flanaghan sat down with Danny Bowes to get the details....

I understand that when you went to concert promoters Clearchannel with the concept of putting on a Monsters of Rock tour together, it was never your intention to actually be a part of the bill.

"That's absolutely true. I don't know if you are aware of it but last year and earlier this year there was an 80's revival like pop group thing called 'Here and Now' and I do a lot of behind the scenes work now, and somebody asked me to make some arrangements for one of the bands and being privy to a lot of the inside information on how the thing works, I looked at it and thought someone should really be doing something like this for rock music, especially classic rock music. So having been in a classic rock band and played at Donington and seen those kind of events and knowing that those kind of things are not going on anymore for the fans that like that kind of music, I thought someone should put together a short sharp Arena tour for Classic Rock, and if you can make it a really good package i.e. put on a really good bill and turn it into an event rather than just a series of bands playing live, hopefully people that would have gone to Donington if it was around still would come along to see it."

Was it your idea to approach Alice Cooper to headline the Shows?

"Initially Alice was on my list and I went to Clearchannel and said look, this is how I think we should do it and I think what we need to get a really good headliner and they said we need a catalyst, we need a story rather that just a load of bands playing, so I said well what do you mean and that was when they suggested Thunder playing. They said why don't you reform? So I said that it wasn't my intention to do that but I'm sure the band would love to do it, it's just a case of whether or not is feels like the right thing to do. We all talked about it and the rest of the band were desperate to play again, most of them having not played for the last two years. So it seemed like a good thing to do so clearchannel and I started to put a list together we went to all the agents and said this is what we are doing, and to be honest the reaction from them initially was a bit sceptical. Once the ball started rolling and people started to hear about it, more and more people started to express an interest in getting involved - sponsors, radio, magazines... that kind of stuff, and then you know you're onto a winner."

Is it just going to be just in the UK?

"No, the plan is if it goes well in the UK were going to take it to Europe and Japan. Clearchannel are very excited about the whole project as an ongoing thing like the Ozzfest."

Does this mean that Thunder are back for good or are your looking at this as a one off thing?

"Well I've always been keen to do something and make something big happen. I've always felt that I have always wanted to do something like that, so if the price for doing it is to reform Thunder then obviously I am willing to pay that price. As to whether or not Thunder see it as a spring board to reform and go on and make new records and tour and stuff, I don't know... it's a bit early to say. I think it depends on how well it goes. You will have to understand Thunder never fell out - we are all still very good mates, the only reason we stopped doing it was we felt that it was becoming more and more difficult. We ended up going round in circles, we never really wanted to end up like a lot of the bands we despised as kids, these bands that literally go out and do the same thing over and over again, playing to less and less people every time they play and their records don't sell. We didn't want to end up getting old and sad. You can't do anything about getting old but we didn't want to be sad."

You are putting a DVD out in August?

"Yes, Eagle Records are putting it out. It's basically a re-packaging of the videos that they put out a couple of years ago. When we first signed to Eagle Records we did a live LP, and we filmed two of the shows and they make a live video of it and this is a DVD version."

Do you think a new studio album is a possibility in the future?

"There's talk of it. You know, obviously if we are gonna be playing in front of what could be up to 50,000 people, over around 10 days, it would be nice if there is any interest there. We are talking about initially doing an EP, but I know Luke is never satisfied with four songs, he'd want to do a whole record, and were discussing the practicalities and the logistics of whether its possible to get it done if we are gonna do it I would like to have it on sale at the gigs, because if there is 50,000 people there and you play well then hopefully they will want to buy the records."

Tell us about your Bowes and Morley project.

"Luke and I have known each other since we were 11 years old and played together since we were 15. Thunder was only the last 10 years really and once that came to an end he made a solo record and I was thinking of making a solo record and I was talking to him about the songs that we had and he had mentioned that he had a couple of songs. And it turned out I like his songs more than the ones I had, so in the end I said 'I'll tell you what, why don't we do it together? We'll call it 'Bowes and Morley'. I'll take care of the arrangements and sing the records and you can write the tunes because it's very convenient. We've known each other for such a long time - we have got a brilliant working relationship.' So we have got our first record out now. That came out in May on Eagle Records and it's called 'Moving Swiftly Along'. We've just done two shows, one in London at the ULU and Rock City in Nottingham. We didn't really want to do too many shows and risk not selling the tickets because of the 'Monsters of Rock' thing we're doing with Thunder in November, and the idea is that once the MoR thing is out of the way we can come back again in February and do a proper tour here in the UK."

Where do you think you would be today if you hadn't be blessed with a musical talent?

"Well I've been asked this before but I think to be perfectly honest with you, given my background and where I grew up and what happened to all the other kids around me, the chances are I'd probably be a thief. I'd probably be inside. We were working class, you know on a council estate. My parents worked hard with high moral values and stuff but you can't stop what kids do outside the house. I believe I was very fortunate enough to be plucked away from junior school by a teacher who recognised some qualities in me and said this guy should go to grammar school, and I was the only kid out of the ninety kids in my year at school that did go to grammar school, everyone else went to the comprehensive.

You know it's a double edged sword because the last thing you want to do at eleven years old is lose all your friends. Eventually I made new friends but it was a wrench having been plucked away from all these kids, but as the years went by and you follow their fortunes and I think ninety percent of them are locked up."

I'll be come along to review the 'Monsters or Rock' show at the NEC so I hope it goes well and we'll see you there.

"That show's being recorded so you'll have to shout loud. Thanks for you time and I'll see you. Cheers."