Bride: Bombs Away!

posted in: April 2010, Articles | 0

A brief history of Bride:

In 1983 Dale and Troy Thompson started a band named Matrix in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1986 they signed to the Pure Metal label and changed their name to Bride. The three albums recorded for Pure Metal were Show No Mercy, Live To Die, and Silence Is Madness. In late 1990, Star Song Communications purchased Pure Metal Records. Star Song went on to sign Bride to a multi-album contract and recorded 3 albums: Kinetic Faith, Snakes In The Playground, and Scarecrow Messiah. During the four years that Bride worked with Star Song, they were awarded 4 Dove awards, 11 #1 radio singles, and numerous awards from SESAC, their performing rights organization. Once Bride’s contract with Star Song was over, they decided to sign a one album deal with a new independent label called Rugged Records.  In 1995 Bride recorded their 7th release entitled Drop.  Bride left Rugged and signed with Organic records. They recorded The Jesus Experience. This marked their eighth full length recording.  Two years of extensive touring followed. Bride then released the second CD on Organic called Oddities that brought further evolution of Bride’s sound and lyrical direction. As Organic shifted gears, Bride asked for a release from their contract and it was granted. The band was then picked up by Absolute records. Fist Full Of Bees was released in 2001 yet again reinventing the bands sound. Bride then went on to record This Is It, which most fans believed was a farewell CD. Two years passed and Bride was back with their most intense release to date. Skin for Skin took the band forward with a writing maturity not yet heard on previous CD’s – and  yet returning to the raw power of METAL again! Bride is back again with a new album entitled Tsar Bomba (meaning The King of Bombs or The Father of Bombs), an album that will close the door on the career of Bride. “If it wasn’t for Jesus Christ, we wouldn’t be playing music. He is the music. He is why we play” – Dale.

I have been a fan of Bride since 1989. I feel they are the greatest and most consistent Hard Rock act in the history of Christian music. They never strayed from the powerful message of the Gospel, no two albums sound alike, yet they always sound like Bride. This band is hard to beat live (as many of you know). There is so much info you can find online about this band, it was sort of tough to come up with questions to fill in the cracks. Dale Thompson was kind enough to spend some time to answer a few questions I had.

You and Troy started back in 1983, how old were the two of you?

I suppose I was 20 and Troy was going on 18. We got a late start.

What artist inspired you to want to play Rock N’ Roll?

We were always inspired by sounds coming from everyone from Zeppelin to U2. I was captured by Dio’s vocal power for sure.

What was the first album you ever bought?

Probably Don Francisco or the Imperials.

I’ve been rediscovering Bride over the last year and am finding that I love the band more than ever (I admit to being stuck on Snakes In The Playground as your best work, but have recently changed my ways). I consumed the 4 albums following 1995’s Drop which was the last release I heard until 2008 and have been blown away! Not sure why the interest was lost, my musical tastes are constantly changing. Since the beginning of Bride the message gets stronger and stronger and the music always reinvents itself without straying from who you guys are. Is it a challenge to stay fresh after all these years?

As long as I stay true to my convictions the band interests me. Right now we have called it quits but that is only the Bride part. Troy and I are song writing partners til’ the end.

What got me back into Bride was stumbling across you guys on one of my iTunes insomnia shopping sprees and downloading This Is It and Skin For Skin. Do you find the digital music age harmful or helpful for getting your tunes out to the masses?

I like the idea of iTunes. I am against the stealing and piracy. People do not understand that they are robbing the band and putting them out of business when they ILLEGALLY download.

Tsar Bomba was a fan financed album, did you find that easier than working with a label?

Have a root canal, it is easier than working with a label even though some of our fondest memories were when we were signed to Star Song.

How was it working with Jerry McBroom again?

Jerry is the easiest person in the world to work with. It was great to see him again and to be reminded what a talent he is.

Steve Osbourne did quite a few solo acoustic numbers on the album, how did that come about? (The Queen cover is amazing!)

Steve had worked on the arrangement for a long time and wanted an avenue to showcase it. I had no problem with it because it is one of my favorite Queen numbers. I thought his performance throughout the CD was superb.

Very cool that some of your guys kids were on this album.

Troy and I both have talented children. I think they will all be involved in music down the road.

I really like the raw, open sound of the new album, had you worked with Tim Bushong before this?

We worked with Tim on The Jesus Experience CD and he had run sound for us live before. He is another instrument in himself. He is a brutal musician.

The proceeds of Tsar Bomba will benefit the victims of Breast Cancer. Would you care to elaborate on what got you guys involved in spreading awareness and educating people on this important issue?

My wife is a survivor of breast cancer and we are tireless in the message to women to get mammograms and screenings annually.

I read and study most of the bulletins you post on MySpace (I have a file full of them on my computer). Could you give our readers a brief definition of Christian Universalism?

Christian Universalism or Ultimate Reconciliation is a truth which is supported by Biblical evidence that states that God will reconcile all people back to Himself. There will be judgment and correction but it is not everlasting in that it goes on without end. God is love, love never fails.

What are your thoughts on the Christian music scene of today?

I do not have a grip at all on today’s Christian music scene. Matter of fact I am embarrassed to say I do not know who the big artists are. All I know is that we have been better off in the last several years without a record label.

Tsar Bomba is the last Bride album, any future plans for the Brothers Thompson? Any styles of music you never tried but always wanted to?

Troy and I are in transition and until God reveals to us which direction we should go we will pursue nothing. We are waiting for the mighty rushing wind.

What bands have you been listening to lately?

I listen to a lot of Independent Bride releases like Lost Reels III and I really have indulged in Muse over the last year. I am still a student of the musical game and I keep my ears fresh for new sounds, songs and talent.

Any final thoughts?

I have learned that the most important things in life are right there in front of us. God (the pursuit of absolute truth), family, and living peacefully with all people.

Amen to that!

Important information:

Bride has always been on the cutting edge of popular and unpopular issues throughout the years. Their new goal is to educate the public and bring awareness to the subject of Breast Cancer, including risk, prevention, screening, symptoms, research, treatment, and support. Collections of cells that are growing abnormally or without control are called tumors. Tumors that do not have the ability to spread throughout the body may be referred to as “benign” and are not thought of as cancerous. Tumors that have the ability to grow into other tissues or spread to distant parts of the body are referred to as “malignant.” Malignant tumors within the breast are called “breast cancer”. Theoretically, any of the types of tissue in the breast can form a cancer, cancer cells are most likely to develop from either the ducts or the glands. These tumors may be referred to as “invasive ductal carcinoma” (cancer cells developing from ducts), or “invasive lobular carcinoma” (cancer cells developing from lobes). Sometimes, precancerous cells may be found within breast tissue, and are referred to as ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) or lobular carcinoma in-situ (LCIS). DCIS and LCIS are diseases in which cancerous cells are present within breast tissue, but are not able to spread or invade other tissues. DCIS represents about 20% of all breast cancers. Because DCIS cells may become capable of invading breast tissue, treatment for DCIS is usually recommended. In contrast, treatment is usually not needed for LCIS. After traveling the world on many tours to such places like Europe and Brazil, writing and recording hundreds of songs Dale and Troy Thompson may have come to their most defining moment.

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