INTERVIEW TO THOR (Vancouver, Canada,1973) by METAL MUSIC CLAN (Spain)-English version

Today at Metal Music Clan we have the great honor of interviewing a legend of Heavy Metal music.
From Vancouver, Canada, THOR answers us.
The THOR concept began in 1973 at the hands of Jon Mikl, better known as THOR.
Jon Mikl is a bodybuilding champion, with more than 40 titles around the world. He is also an actor, composer, scriptwriter, historian, vocalist and musician.
THOR, throughout its representations, merges its feats of strengths, accessories, costumes and spectacularity with the best Heavy Metal music:
his projections include bending steel bars and making solid concrete blocks break in his chest with a hammer.
Without more, we leave you with the words of this warrior and the story of the mythical THOR.


1.Be welcome John Mikl THOR to METAL MUSIC CLAN . Could you give us a history of the legendary band THOR from it begginings (1976) until now?.

Hail to the Metal Music Clan! THOR actually started in 1973. I previously started out playing as a bass player in numerous bands such as "Metal Falcon", "Centaur", "Man" and more in and around the Vancouver BC area. We were getting into heavier bands of the time like Iron Butterfly, Led Zeppelin. As well as a teenager, I was body building champion winning major titles like Mr. Canada, Mr. USA, Mr World, Mr Universe. I competed against the likes of Lou Ferrigno (The Hulk) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (Conan). I decided to become more theatrical.I wanted to combine Muscles and Metal. I would become a Herculean Superhuman character on stage singing a searing brand of Rock while displaying phenomenal feats of strength. Bending and twisting steel bars into pretzels, smashing concrete blocks with my fists and blowing up and exploding lifetime guaranteed hot water bottles with my lung power. All this while I sang, performing like a nuclear pile driver while the band played incredible Heavy Metal Music!
We went on a world tour and astounded audiences and then signed a major record deal. Since 1973, we have been recording, releasing records and touring. Right now in 2019 with the upcoming release of the " Hammer of Justice" album on Deadline/Cleopatra Records,  and forthcoming tour, THOR is more powerful than ever.

2.Which is the current situation of the band? Many changes in the line-up  since you started until now?

We have a very solid line up. John Leibel on lead guitar, Ted Jedlicki on bass, Matt McNallie on rythym guitar, Tom Croxton on drums. Kevin Stuart Swain will be coming in on eight shows for the tour. He also produced "Hammer of Justice". Legendary Canadian guitarist Frank Soda will be making appearances on the Canadian leg of the North American tour. Strength is in the music and we plan to perform all our hits such as "Thunder on The Tundra", "Let the Blood Run Red" along with new ones from the current record. Such as "Warp 5000" "Its Our Right". As well there will be a new feature length movie that will be sreened on the tour. "Return of the Thunderhawk". There will be a bonus DVD to accompany the CD.

3.Which records do you have released ? Discography.

There has been so many records....off the cuff, here's what comes to mind....

THOR-Body Rock
THOR and the Imps-Muscle Rock
Keep The Dogs Away
Striking Viking
Unchained
Only The Strong
Live in Detroit
Wild in the Streets (Recruits)
Zombie Nightmare
Edge of Hell
Thunderstruck: Tales from the Equinox
Dogz II
Triumphant
Call of the Triumphant
Are U Ready
Mutant
Beastwomen from the Center of the Earth
Odin Speaks
Thor Against The World
Devastation of Musculation
Into The Noise
Steam Clock
Aristocrat of Victory
Rock n Roll Nightmare
Sign of the "V"
The Guardian
THOR-The Rock Opera
Thor's Teeth
Thunderstryke I
Thunderstryke II
Live in England
THOR Demos and Lost Treasures
Only The Strong Deluxe Edition
Metal Avenger
I am THOR-Soundtrack
Electric Eyes
Beyond the Pain Barrier
Christmas in Valhalla
Hammer of Justice

4.Tell us a bit about your gigs. Any good, bad, or funny remembers from any of your gigs?

Yes, many tremendous moments. Performing for the first time in London, England in 1984 to a sold out show at the Marquee. Jimmy  Page was in the audience. We got 5 encores. Kerrang reported "He Came, He Thor, He Conquered". Also we were the first Heavy Metal band to play Las Vegas at the Aladdin Hotel in 1976. In the audience were Sammy David Jr., Robert Goulet, Rip Torn....they all were rockin out to the Metal music....

5.Are you working actually in new stuff , gigs and recordings?

We have constantly been recording new material and releasing new albums through Deadline/Cleopatra Records. Recently "Metal Avenger", "Beyond the Pain Barrier", "Christmas in Valhalla" has had huge success along with the re-issues of "Only The Strong, Unchained, Live in Detroit and Keep The Dogs Away. We have been touring North America and Europe to huge crowds in 2017 and 2018. This is documented in the new movie "Return of the Thunderhawk"

6.Could you tell us about your career like bodybuilder and your work with sports and musculation?

Yes I am still involved with producing, manufacturing hockey jerseys. I have sold quite a few of our logos and products to the NHL.

7.Talk a little about the movies you´ve worked on, the great "Rock ´n´Roll Nightmare" (1987), Zombie Nightmare (1986) and others.

On all those films I have been involved with producing the movie and soundtrack as well as starring in these motion pictures. I am still enjoying producing movies.

8.Have you any website for info, merchandising,etc?? Where can we get your stuff?

http://www.cleorecs.com   
www.thorcentral.com
amazon.com
https://www.deepdiscount.com/thor-hammer-of-justice/889466129629

9.Please, give us a opinnion about the next Words:

-Mithology: THOR
-Conan the Barbarian: Arnold
-Nature: Thunder
-Tatoos: Symbol
-Metal Music: Power

10.Future plans for THOR?

To continue writing songs, recording, releasing records and touring.


11-Something to add to the readers or editors of METAL MUSIC CLAN??

To the editors....I want to thank you for your support and to the fans.... I would like to reach out to your subscribers and thank them for tuning in and believing in THOR!
Hail! Lightning Strikes! Behold the Hammer!