Thunderstick
Sign in to saveBarry Graham Purkis, more commonly known by his stage name Thunderstick (born 7 December 1954), is an English drummer who wore various masks and used to perform on-stage closed in a cage. He was in the cult-band Samson, with whom his name is most associated.
Music · MusicBrainz
- Type
- Person
- Gender
- Male
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Active from
- 1954
Discography
Member of
- Iron Maiden1977–1977
- Samsonsince 1979
- Thunderstick
via MusicBrainz · CC0
Listeners · Last.fm
- Listeners
- 857
- Total plays
- 9,408
Tags
Thunderstick was a New Wave of British Heavy Metal band from London, England, formed in 1981 by former Iron Maiden (Not featured on any album) and Samson drummer Barry Graham Purkis, a.k.a Thunderstick. They had two releases, the EP Feel like Rock 'n' Roll? (1983) and a full feature LP Beauty and the Beasts (1984) via Magnum/Thunderbolt Records. These were both re-released in 2011 as Echoes From The Analogue Asylum. They split up in 1986, while writing their album Don't Touch <a href="https:/
Key facts
- Musical artist.background
- non_vocal_instrumentalist
- Musical artist.name
- Thunderstick
- Musical artist.birth_name
- Barry Graham Purkis
- Musical artist.alias
- Barry GrahamThunderstick
- Musical artist.image
- Thunderstick.png
- Musical artist.landscape
- yes
- Musical artist.caption
- Purkis in 2023
- Musical artist.birth_place
- England
- Musical artist.genre
- Heavy metal, hard rock
- Musical artist.occupation
- Musician, songwriter
- Musical artist.instrument
- Drums
- Musical artist.years_active
- 1974–present
- Musical artist.label
- Heaven and Hell Records
- Musical artist.associated_acts
- Iron MaidenSamsonThe PrimitivesThunderstick (band)
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Official website
- www.thunderstick.co.uk
- Image
- Thunderstick.png
Show 2 more facts
- date of birth
- 1954-12-07
- start of work period
- 1974-00-00
Sources (3)
via Wikidata · CC0
~9 min read
Article
7 sectionsContents
- Early days and Iron Maiden
- Self-named band and beyond
- Thunderstick band line-ups
- Discography
- See also
- References
- External links
Barry Graham Purkis, more commonly known by his stage name Thunderstick (born 7 December 1954), is an English drummer who wore various masks and used to perform on-stage closed in a cage. He was in the cult-band Samson, with whom his name is most associated.
In 1979, he developed his persona modelled on horror icons such as The Rocky Horror Show, Dr. Phibes and the old Hammer horror films, alternatively wearing black and white make-up, an old man/schoolteacher mask, a black cotton mask and his trademarked rhinestone covered mirrorball mask. He played inside a cage, including during a brief Samson reunion in 2000. With Samson he enjoyed a certain degree of success, especially when their album Head On was released in 1980 and reached No. 34 in the UK Albums Chart. The following single Riding With The Angels, from the album Shock Tactics, charted in the UK Singles Chart at No. 54.