JIMMY WALDO (BLACKTHORN, ALCATRAZZ): “The Grunge Thing Obviously Killed [BLACKTHORN]”

ALCATRAZZ (at Trillians, Newcastle, U.K., November 28, 2021)
Photo: Mick Burgess

Life After Afterlife

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, MSG), Bob Kulick (W.A.S.P., Kiss), Jimmy Waldo (Alcatrazz, New England), Chuck Wright (Quiet Riot), and Frankie Banali (Quiet Riot, W.A.S.P.). On paper, Blackthone appeared to be the next big Hard Rock supergroup in the vein of Damn Yankees, The Firm, or Badlands. Their only obstacle was, it was 1994 and labels weren’t really supporting their kind of music. Even though Blackthone’s debut album Afterlife did get a regional release, together with their unreleased follow-up album Don’t Kill The Thrill, Blackthorne’s music simple just faded away.

Until now. The Store For Music recently released a double album of Afterlife and Don’t Kill The Thrill, complete with bonus material that has never been heard before. I had the chance to speak with then Blackthorne keyboardist Jimmy Waldo shortly after the album’s reissue. While we spoke mainly of Blackthorne, we did talk about the current state of Alcatrazz.

Highlights Include

  • The origins of his 1994 supergroup Blackthorne
  • The fate of their debut 1994 album Afterlife
  • Why their second album Don’t Kill The Thrill took so long to release
  • How Blackthorn morphed into Murder’s Row
  • The story behind how Afterlife & Don’t Kill The Thrill got a second life
  • How Bob Kulick and Jimmy Waldo clashed on the mixing of the songs
  • Is the latest Alcatrazz album completed?
  • Why Graham Bonnet left Alcatrazz after the release of 2020’s Born Innocent
  • Jimmy’s current music projects outside of Alcatrazz

Blackthorne (1994) was

Graham Bonnet – Vocals
Bob Kulick – Guitar
Chuck Wright – Bass
Jimmy Waldo – Keyboards
Frankie Banali – Drums

About George Dionne 288 Articles
George was a contributor here at Metal Express Radio, reviewing albums and conducting interviews, out of Massachusetts, USA. George has contributed to numerous music related websites and blogs, and even managed his own from 2004-2009. George's first assignment was covering a live show by the mighty GWAR. By contrast his later assignments featured Judas Priest, Van Halen, and Bon Jovi. George was also the front man for the South Eastern Massachusetts cover band Sound Tower from 2009-2015.  Sound Tower played 300+ shows across MA and had two original songs on the Cape Cod radio station PIXY 103. George enjoys a good whiskey, scotch, and/or bourbon and fights crime in his spare time.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*


This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.