Regina Band Interview Series: Black Thunder
Let’s get to know Black Thunder a little more shall we?
Black Thunder is a three-man strong, booming, Regina band. Tony Frank, vocals and guitar; Neil Luntz, drums; and Dustin Wiebe, bass, play some wicked and rocking tunes around the city on a regular basis and hope they will soon be touring to bigger and better places.
I got in touch with the trio this week and gained some insight on what makes their rockin’ world go ’round.
What first got you interested in music?
Tony Frank: I can’t quite recall, I’ve loved music since I can remember
How did your band get into the music industry?
Band Consensus: I wouldn’t say we’re in the music industry per say. How did we get into playing music? Digging tunes with friends and wanting to make our own.
What are your future goals as a band?
BC: We have a full-length album written that we’re currently getting ready to record with Orin Paquette (he’s one of the great minds behind The Slim City Pickers/top notch session guitar player/emerging audio engineer in the city). We recorded our recent 7” record, Coffee and Bronuts, with him and we’re really happy with how that turned out. Once we have the full-length released, the goal is to tour throughout Canada and eventually make our way into other countries.
What is the meaning of life?
BC: That one riff in “Into The Void.”
What is your definition of true love?
BC: Have you seen Dead Ranch live? Something like that.
Do you prefer reading fiction or non-fiction books?
Dustin Wiebe: I prefer fiction, especially satirical or dystopian stuff, like Kurt Vonnegut or Phillip K. Dick.
Which superhero do you look up to the most?
TF: Tony Iommi
DW: Mutoid Man
Neil Lutz: The Great Keith Moon
If you could eliminate one of the 10 commandments out of the Bible, which one would you eliminate?
DW: I’d be lying if I said I could name the 10 commandments.
What are your greatest failures?
DW: Not going to Russian Circles in Calgary on their recent tour.
What are your greatest successes?
BC: Seeing The Jump Off play their song “Success,” as often as we have.
Who are your favourite sports teams?
BC: Don’t care.
What musicians inspire you the most?
TF: Mikey Heppner, Steve Howe, Mikael Akerfeldt, Steven Wilson.
DW: Joshua Homme, Geezer Butler, Miles Davis, Rob and John Wright.
NL: Keith Moon, Bill Ward, c’mon, Priestess.
Would you like your life to end with a fairy tale ending or tragic ending?
BC: With deadly riffs.
Do you like cats?
DW: Cat Power’s album The Greatest is pretty awesome.
NL: I love kitties.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
BC: Laziness.
What are your favourite ice cream flavours?
BC: Can I just have slices instead?
Why is the sky blue?
BC: That’s a question for Library Voices…or Wilco.
What physical aspects of yourself are you most proud of?
BC: My left ear lobe.
Which historical event do you wish never happened?
BC: Technical Ecstasy
Black Thunder will be playing a basement show on Oct. 5 with Hoopsnake from BC. Check out the details on their Facebook page!
*UPDATED Sept. 27, 2014 2:12 p.m: In an earlier version of this article, we goofed good. We spelt Neil Lutz’s name as Neil Luntz. Sorry dude. The changes have been made!