About Me
Listen to the entire "EXPOSURE" Album!
[Choose a Track in the Flashplayer (Pop Up Menu) & click PLAY to listen:]
- This Clip @ youtube.com...here
THUMB - "Sell Myself" Videoclip
[Click the play-button to start the clip]
- This Clip @ youtube.com...here
THUMB - "Seize The Day" Videoclip
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- This Clip @ youtube.com...here
Bio
In May 1993 Axel H., Steffen, Claus & Jany formed THUMB in Guetersloh Germany. They soon started to write songs and rehearse intensively; the first home-made tapes were recorded and copied. DJ Lupe was the last to join the band, in October, scratching his way into a whole new view of things. Record companies began to show interest. Then things went into overdrive. EMI signed a deal in March 1995 and only six months later, on September 14, the THUMB debut was in the shops. A new star had entered the crossover firmament. Genre-related bands Bad Religion, Dog Eat Dog, Henry Rollins and Foo Fighters kept the band company in the next two years at live gigs in Germany, then it was time for the five to set to work in January 1997 and write the songs of their second album EXPOSURE.
The album duly appeared on May 5 that year and proved to be a great surprise, because THUMB had changed direction: no unnecessary jumping about, no hackneyed mottos, no boredom. THUMB's new sound is sharp-edged and at the same time so earthy that the critics are not the only ones to stand there open-mouthed. They have effortlessly succeeded in escaping the crossover stereotypes. The fans appreciate this move, and the ensuing live shows lift THUMB above routine into a success story. Their path even leads them to America, where they play in front of nearly 180,000 during the 1998 Vans Warped Tour, alongside the Deftones, Bad Religion, NoFX and many more... Needing to recharge their batteries, they take a long break - and very nearly don't return from it.
Preparations for the third album slowly get under way at the start of 2000, but are abruptly interrupted when guitarist Axel Hilgenstoehler leaves the band in the middle of the year. This shock is compounded by the band's creative crisis. THUMB is on the point of disintegrating. Only the new Axel and his six strings, along with the new blood coursing through the band's veins, takes things upwards again.
The 3rd album shows progress, and not only in its energy level. THUMB are coming in through the front door, and they haven't bothered to unlock it either. Beefy, powerful, with plenty of groove, intelligent arrangements and blazing anger in their belly, they are forcing their way into the limelight. The sound is very dense; there are many ways to approach it and many small discoveries to be made about it.
THUMB releases "3" in June 2001. After touring Germany and the UK they again take a long break...
