Alex Scotti, Henny Wolter, Ted Bullet, Ole Hempelmann
 The story of Thunderhead begins in the spring of 1988, when the American singer Ted Bullet was looking for a new band after an unsuccessful audition for the Hanover band Victory. Shortly afterwards, Thunderhead was founded by Ted Bullet (vocals, guitar), Henny Wolter (guitar), Ole Hempelmann (bass) and Alex Scotti (drums). The quartet consisting of the American and the three German musicians got a record deal with the Stuttgart record company Intercord in the autumn of 1988. The debut album “Behind the eight-ball” was released in February 1989 and was the second most successful album in Thunderhead’s history. |
 Thunderhead’s debut album “Behind the eight-ball” is produced by Thin Lizzy and Saxon producer Will Reid Dick. “Behind the eight-ball” contains some Thunderhead classics such as “(You don’t keep me) satisfied” and “Take it to the Highway.” |
 In 1989, Thunderhead toured with Uriah Heep, Victory and as the opening act for Motörhead in Germany and England. The single “The fire’s burning” was played on the German TV chart show Formel Eins. |
 In the summer of 1990, the follow-up, “Busted at the border”, was recorded. Thunderhead were touring Europe as headliners for the first time and cemented their reputation as a strong live band. |
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 The Japanese fans greet Thunderhead enthusiastically and the venues are sold out. Within a year, the Japanese Thunderhead fan base is so large that the local record company JVC is already planning another tour with Thunderhead. |
 Back in Germany, Thunderhead plays a few festivals. After that, they start working on their fourth album, “Killing with style”. But there are problems with the German record company. |
 After the first three records, the band cannot agree with Intercord on the terms for a next album. A dispute ensues and the band splits up. This is followed by a one-year break due to legal disputes with Intercord. Finally, the band is free and signs a new contract with GUN Records. |
 The band managed to concentrate on its qualities again and in 1993 the most successful album in the band’s history, “Killing with Style”, was released.
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 The album is Thunderhead’s first chart success in Germany, Japan and several other European countries. The band goes on extensive tours worldwide, including with Saxon. |
 Finally, in 1994, Thunderhead’s live album “Classic Killers Live” was released. |
 The band has been having problems for a long time. Drugs and physical fights have repeatedly put a strain on the relationship between the band members. In his book “All Excess”, the then Metal Hammer editor Andreas Schöwe describes, for example, the legendary flight from Paris to Tokyo, during which a fight broke out on board due to excessive alcohol consumption. This is just one of many cases of this kind, which has earned singer Ted Bullet a reputation as a difficult guy with a penchant for excess. But also as a charismatic frontman. In 1995, the fifth studio album “Were you told the truth about hell” is recorded. |
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