Following the extremely positive reception for Something Wicked This Way Comes – the first new Thunderstick album in over thirty years – Barry Graham Purkis (aka Thunderstick) has announced a return to live gigging for Thunderstick the band in 2018. It follows the news that Thunderstick will be one of the acts on the bill for Hard Rock Hell 2018, after being selected by fans of the infamous hard rock weekender in an online poll.

Thunderstick creator Barry Graham Purkis comments: “I am delighted to announce that Thunderstick will be touring in 2018. The inclusion of the new, reformed Thunderstick on the HRH bill for 2018 has given me both a feeling of pride and a real sense of achievement. It has been over thirty years since a Thunderstick band have toured. The genuine love that we have received from fans, from other musicians and from the music press in support of the Something Wicked This Way Comes album has given us the impetus to once more crusade and fly the flag for NWoBHM / Classic Rock live.”

Hard Rock Hell XII takes place 8-11th November 2018 in North Wales. Other live dates will be announced next year.

Commenting on what fans can expect, Barry added: “The new shows will not only feature Thunderstick material, but also some Samson tracks. We want to pay respect to the Samson legacy by reliving the intensity of those songs.

Something Wicked This Way Comes, released in July 2017, has been picking up rave reviews from around the world, not least from Sentinel Daily Editor Scott Adams, who gave the album a glowing recommendation back in July.