Thundermug (band)
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1970 in London, Ontario, Canada |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Headquarters | London, Ontario , Canada |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Thundermug was a rock group originating from London, Ontario, Canada, established in 1970. Their active periods spanned from 1970 to 1976 and later from 1991 until 2001, during which they achieved three Canadian singles within the top 50 and launched five studio albums.
1970-1976
Thundermug, founded in London, Ontario, initially operated between 1970 and 1976 before reuniting in 1991 and ultimately disbanding in 2001. Managed by Wyn Anderson, they secured a contract with Axe Records, an independent Canadian label distributed domestically by London Records and internationally through various partners. In the United States, their releases were first handled by Big Tree Records and Epic Records, with the 1975 album Ta-Daa!! issued via Mercury Records.
The founding members included Joe de Angelis on guitar and vocals, Bill Durst handling keyboards and guitar, James Corbett on bass, and Ed Pranskus playing drums. Their first album, Thundermug Strikes (1972), produced by Greg Hambleton and engineered by Terry Brown, featured the Canadian Top 40 track "Africa," which gained popularity despite not being officially released as a single. This debut also contained a rendition of The Kinks' "You Really Got Me" and was recognized for its robust early 1970s hard rock sound enriched with memorable melodies and harmonized vocals.
In 1973, the band recorded Orbit at Toronto's Manta Sound studio. The album's title track reached the Top 50 in Canada. Critics praised this release as an excellent showcase of their powerful yet tuneful hard rock style complemented by creative vocal arrangements.
Epic Records compiled selections from these initial two albums for the U.S. market under the title Thundermug Strikes, effectively capturing the band's essence with hits such as "Africa" and "Orbit."
Their third studio effort, Ta-Daa (1974), recorded once more at Toronto Sound Studios, featured a cover of The Beatles' "Drive My Car" as its lead single and was distributed in the U.S. by Mercury Records. Despite this, it did not replicate the commercial success of prior albums. Following this release, Joe de Angelis departed from the group, which continued as a trio throughout 1975. That year saw the release of "Clap Your Hands and Stomp Your Feet," another single that reached Canada's Top 50.
While Thundermug never officially dissolved, they became inactive after 1976 as members embarked on individual pursuits. Bill Durst joined Tres Hombres, a ZZ Top tribute act, before forming The Brains, who released one album via Falcon Records in 1980. Joe de Angelis transitioned into production roles, including engineering Meat Loaf's 1981 album Dead Ringer. Durst also pursued a solo career with albums Call Billy (1983) on Passport Records and Father Earth (1989) released independently through Cottage Records, featuring collaborations with de Angelis.
1991-2001
Encouraged by former manager Wyn Anderson, Thundermug reformed in 1991 with original members Durst and Corbett along with new drummer Cory Thompson. Subsequent albums were issued on Raven Records, owned by Anderson and operated from a farmhouse near London, Ontario. Anderson personally funded their comeback, resulting in the 1995 release Who's Running My World followed by Bang The Love Drum in 1997. The former album enjoyed forty-two weeks of continuous airplay across Canada and produced three singles that charted nationally. For Bang The Love Drum, Justin Burgess replaced Thompson on drums while original drummer Ed Pranskus returned for live performances. After Anderson's passing in 1999, the band ceased recording activities.
In 2000 Corbett left due to health concerns and was succeeded on bass by Burgess. Between 2000 and 2001, several drummers cycled through the lineup. The Thundermug name was retired in 2000 as the group continued under the name Big On Venus—comprising Durst, Pranskus, Justin Burgess, and his then-wife Sarah Burgess—before officially disbanding in 2001.
Post-Breakup
Thundermug was honored with an induction into the London Music Hall of Fame in 2006.
Following the band's dissolution, Bill Durst embarked on a thriving solo journey as a distinguished blues musician, launching The Great Willy Mammoth in 2009. This project featured reunion appearances alongside former bandmate Joe de Angelis. Meanwhile, Ed Pranskus maintained his career as a drummer under the name Izzy Bartok. Justin Burgess also advanced his solo endeavors, showcasing his talents as a multi-instrumentalist known as "Just B".
Discography
- Thundermug Strikes (1972), Axe Records
- Orbit (1973), Axe Records
- Thundermug Strikes (1973), Epic Records (U.S. edition with alternate tracklist)
- Ta-Daa (1974), Axe Records; single "I Feel Lonely" / "Banga Banga" (1975)
- Ta-Daa (1975), Mercury Records (U.S. edition featuring a different tracklist)
- Who's Running My World (1995), Raven Records
- Bang The Love Drum (1997), Raven Records
- Re-releases: Thundermug Strikes (2013), Orbit (2015), and Ta-Daa!! (2015), Axe Records