Thundermug - Africa

Issued in Canada August 1972 on Axe 4.

Thundermug is from London, Ontario. They began in 1970 as Pink Orange, with high-school friends Joe DeAngelis (guitar, lead vocals) and Bill Durst (guitar, keyboards) joined by James Corbet (bass) and Ed Pranksus (drums). After working their way into the Toronto bar circuit, they changed their name, and acquired Wyn Anderson as manager, who got them signed to Greg Hambleton's Axe label.

Their first album, "Strikes," was made in the spring of 1972 at Toronto Sound, with Terry Brown engineering - one of the first significant projects of his career. He was a whiz at the controls even then. The first single from the LP was a cover of The Kinks' "You Really Got Me." In the summer of 1972, radio stations began to play "Africa" from the album, and it was released as a single. It went Top 30, and elevated Thundermug from an opening act to headliners in small- and medium-sized venues across Canada. How many other heavy-duty rock songs have a kazoo solo?

Contrary to information published on other websites, this record was not released in October. The correct chart information is that it entered the RPM 100 on August 12, 1972 at #79 with a bullet, and reached #38 on September 23rd. So thanks to somebody else's shoddy research, the date listed in the video credits is wrong. Sorry!

To hear this record in stereo, type the following code - &fmt=18 - on the end of the URL and hit Enter to reload the page.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Thundermug
• Africa
• 1972
• Canadian
• rock

[goesfastandfar]

I remember this great band, but the lead singer doesn't sound the same as the one I remember hearing. The guy I heard was a lot "rougher" than this guy. Did they change singers at some point? Also, they had another great song called "She Said"(?).

[mojofilter02]

He's the same singer they always had, and as far as I can tell by looking up their LP discography, there is no song with that title. It may be a lyric in another of their songs, though.

[mojofilter02]

These guys were 'way too good to be considered a garage band. Bill Durst is revered now as a kind of guitar god; he's just bloody amazing. You folks need to check out the live version of this song posted elsewhere on YT, from the 2006 Jack Richardson Music Awards. Thousands of bands wish they could replicate their 35+ year-old records as well as Thundermug! Just type their name in Search for Videos, and marvel at their excellence.

[OldManMikey]

Always wondered where they came up with the name Thundermug. They were a great band and your pictorial was a nice accompaniment.

[mojofilter02]

According to the first page of hits on Google, it refers to a chamber pot (bedpan). Thanks for the compliment!

[RonRaddio]

Billy Durst recorded a single in 1984 called "On the Eiffel Tower". It fulfilled the Cancon requirement for AC stations back then. Very nice song.

[ValsHere]

Another quintessential Mojo presentation!

That was right up there with all the rest.

[GuitarGare]

@RonRaddio This comment made me think of something. I asked Bill years ago which song had he received the most royalties for? The reply was "You won't believe this, but it was 'Eiffel Tower'."

[gr8cutter]

wow i used to listen to this at coffee house on dufferin in 70

[pckpat]

i asked bill durst about the name,maybe fifteen or more years ago at a gig at the old courtright hotel(now long gone,sadly)-he said he didn't know it was a nickname for a chamberpot until he told he told his mom what the band's new name was.i missed b.d band in bayfield last long weekend,other people that went said they were great.billy has a new cd out,check it on his website.jim corbett is playing with cheryl lescom now.joe deangelis helped bill with the last cd.as for eddie pranskus,not sure.

[HINCHCLIFFE69]

@mojofilter02 Incorrect. This version sung by Joe de Angelis. Re-recorded years later for the best of CD, with Durst singing; much better, and no fucking kazoo! And goesfastandfar is right; "She Said" on the best of CD...."she said....if love is the answer.... what is the question....." terrific song. Yet, no sign of that CD ANYWHERE here on youtube.... mine's gone....I had bought it at a Thundermug show here in London in the 80's.....

[Mindermaniac]

I always loved this song, saw them at a high school dance in Sarnia. I really think the kazoo solo is superb.

[STRATCAT101]

TA. DA .WHAT A GREAT BAND They do "You really got me" way better than van halen.

[goesfastandfar]

Thanks sharp1972. Good stuff to know. They are such a unique band!

[sharp1972]

hey goesfaster...i posted some info to the host about thundermug ,,check it out on the reply's

[sharp1972]

actually that was the first and last time since they played together in the last few years that deangeles sang with them was at that awards show,,,,i have more stories if you ever want to message me..seen them many,many times,,talk to jimmy corbett often,i have video of him playing bass with local blues giant tim woodcock ..jim is a big part of local blues scene here in london ontario

[sharp1972]

actually diangelas was the singer then,but When they reunited lately bill durst (GUITAR)sang lead(no diangeles,they broke up again but you can see jim,eddy and bill doing their own thing here in london ontario......my middle names corbett like the bass players last name,my dad grew up with these guys..i have original lp's hanging in frames on my wall.

..LOVE AFRICA..AH AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!