All Contemporary Photos: Alan Mercer
Jon Mikl THOR is an enduring icon of glam rock/metal, and one of the true originators of rock theatre. THOR’s enviable career got off the ground with his appearance on the Merv Griffin Show in 1973 and he has maintained a steady pace ever since, selling hundreds of thousands of records. Over the last three decades, THOR has explored the tongue-in-cheek Sweet/Mott the Hoople/Bowie stylings, hard hitting metal moves of the 80’s, and flirting briefly with Nu-Rock/Metal in the late 90’s. The press dubbed them "Kings of Muscle Rock" or "Warriors of Gladiator Rock".
Starting out in Vancouver, THOR first made waves in the bodybuilding world, becoming Mr. Canada and Mr. USA, always using heavy music as an intensive training tool. He blended his powerful physique with powerful rock, and thus began this amazing cult legend’s long reign in the hazy area between superstardom and the dark underground.
In 1976 Jon Mikl met guitarist Frank Soda while touring Canada. Frank Soda joined "Thor" who also became known as "Thor and The Imps". The band toured constantly in the Eastern USA and Canada region building a large following. The first album was recorded in Toronto, Ontario, Canada under the name Thor and was called Muscle Rock. Released by the independent label God Of Thunder Records, the record became a success, and gained the attention of various managers and producers who wanted to sign the act.
Jon Mikl Thor was offered a large deal to star in a production at the Aladdin Resort & Casino in Las Vegas called 'Red Hot and Blue'. Frank Soda wanted to keep touring with the band, so Frank Soda and The Imps were formed. Jon Mikl Thor went on to star in Las Vegas and was discovered by Merv Griffin, who had Thor perform live on the Merv Griffin Show from Caesars Palace on national television. Thor's performance was a hit, and offers came in from various major labels. Thor decided to sign with RCA Records in late 1976. They released 'Keep The Dogs Away' that spawned hits like the title cut, 'Sleeping Giant' and 'Catch A Tiger.'
The success of the singles soon led to 1985's album Only the Strong. Thor's stage performances involved antics such as Jon Mikl Thor breathing into hot water bottles until they burst, breaking bricks over his chest and head and bending steel bars and microphone stands. In 1986, Thor released Recruits – Wild in the Streets on GWR Records. The band would break up in 1987 and Jon Mikl entered the world of acting.
Along the way he has become a movie actor and producer, turning out collectible classics like “Rock & Roll Nightmare”, “Zombie Nightmare”, “Graveyard”, and others. Most recently, THOR appeared in the USA Network movie “Murder At The Presidio”, the recent Lifetime Network TV movie “A Family Lost”, and starred in “The Intercessor”.
THOR is still an immensely powerful man in incredible shape and a dedicated performer. Blowing up hot water bottles, bending steel, and having cinder blocks broken over his chest are all in a night’s work. THOR has successfully managed to re-invent himself once again. The legions of fans are still there and new generations are finding out for themselves that THOR is just as cool now as he ever was in 1978, 1985, or 1999.
Jon and Mick joined forces in 2001, and have produced several THOR comic books including “Thor: The Rock Warrior #1” and “Thor vs. Beastwomen From the Center of the Earth.” The hot-lava finale of “Beastwomen” leaves ample room for a sequel, and the highly-prolific artist Hoffman guarantees that the third stanza of a “Thor Trilogy” is indeed on its way. Not your typical Rock album, “Beastwomen” is a total-experience multimedia product as a concept album, an illustrated comic book, and with a movie and videogame in the works.
THOR was voted one of the Greatest 100 Frontmen of All Time in the July, 2004 edition of the UK’s Classic Rock Magazine – a list compiled by polling professional Rock journalists.
Two more albums, “THOR Against The World” and “Devastation of Musculation” followed in the interim between “Beastwomen” and “Into The Noise”. This is Metal the way Metal SHOULD be – tapping into and channeling the very heart & soul of the genre! Both albums feature extremely catchy and addictive, with a timeless quality that will make the songs just as fresh decades from now as they were when first released.
On April 30, 2011 Thor headlined the Shock Stock Festival in London, Ontario, Canada. The band consisted of original guitar player Frank Soda as well as new additions Joel "Savage" Watts on drums and Sean "Killer" Kilby on bass. Then Thor embarked on a tour of Scandinavia from May 31 to June 7 playing at DOM (The Dome) in Helsinki, Finland on June 1, performing their live rock opera and showcasing film Thor - The Rock Opera; then revisiting the Muskelrock Festival in Alvesta, Sweden from June 2 to June 4.
The new documentary film, ‘I Am Thor’ directed by Ryan Wise and produced by Ryan Wise and Al Higbee had a world premiere in 2015 and featured Thor. In 2015, the movie ‘I Am Thor’ toured film festivals throughout the world winning audience and critical acclaim. The movie got picked up for distribution in the USA through Dark Sky Films / MPI Media Group. The film won Best Documentary at the Fantasia International Film Festival 2015 in Montreal. Thor led by Jon Mikl Thor embarked on a sold out major city tour throughout the USA in November, 2015 screening the movie ‘I Am Thor’ followed by a live Thor concert. In March 2016 Jon Mikl Thor took Thor on a North American tour presenting both the screening of the film and a live concert.
On August 4, 2017 the full-length album Beyond the Pain Barrier was released. The album was co-written by Jon Mikl, John Leibel and Ted Jedlicki. Prior to the album's release the single and video for The Calling was released.
Cover illustration by Marvel UK comic illustrator, Simon Williams
Later this week, on October 26, Thor will release their first Holiday Christmas album. The ultimate metalhead stocking stuffer, the very first holiday album from legendary Metal Viking, Thor! The album features 9 original Christmas songs that are sure to become headbanging classics, recorded with the same band from Thor's excellent recent album Beyond The Pain Barrier!
I had an opportunity to photograph and speak with the band before their performance at Club Dada in Dallas recently.
I had an opportunity to photograph and speak with the band before their performance at Club Dada in Dallas recently.
Alan Mercer: How did you end up being a member of Thor, John?
John Leibel: In the past Thor would play different towns and he would use a local backing band. He’d rehearse with them once and do the show. When he came to Minneapolis, which is where I’m from, I was in charge of putting together the backing band. The gig went really well so he invited me down to Chicago two weeks later. When that went well he said let’s put together a full band. He was ready for that again.
AM: When was this?
John Leibel: Two years ago, October of 2016.
John Leibel
AM: Has this given the band more of a forward momentum?
John Leibel: Yes, it helps when you get used to playing with each other. Thor can relax more. He doesn’t have to worry if the band will be able to pull it off.
AM: Have you been touring a lot?
John Leibel: We hit a few shows then take a few weeks off. We’ve already been to Europe this year with Sweden and Finland. We already did California and now we’re doing Texas.
AM: So, have you found a home with this band?
John Leibel: Absolutely, before this gig with Thor, Ted and I had an original band called Dawn of Valor. Once Ted moved to Colorado it was hard to keep up with that so when this opportunity came up, I called him, and we started writing for the ‘Beyond The Pain Barrier’ album.
Jon Mikl Thor
AM: Are you in the process of writing for the next Tor album?
John Leibel: Yes, we are planning on releasing another full-length album next year so we are writing now.
Ted Andre Jedicki: I have three songs mostly written.
AM: Are you two guys the main songwriters for ‘Beyond The Pain Barrier?’
Ted and John: Yes.
AM: Wow, I’m talking to the right guys! I LOVE that album. Your songs are so SOLID with a strong melody!
Ted Andre Jedicki
John Leibel: I think that’s the most important part of any song. It has to have a catchy hook.
AM: Agreed, in that sense only, your songs have a pop music sensibility. Is that your intention?
Ted Andre Jedicki: Personally, I like elements of pop music like the stops and the catchy hooks and the memorable sign along choruses, but I like them in a heavy metal style. Think of the early Judas Priest songs. They were pop songs in a heavy sense.
AM: Are you staying with this fantastic sound for the next album?
Ted Andre Jedicki: We hope to continue the trajectory of the sound from ‘Beyond The Pain Barrier’ and keep it going that way. The core fans love Thor for songs like ‘Only The Strong’ and ‘Unchained.’ I think it’s safe to say the next album will be a little heavier because our drummer, Tom is a metal drummer with so much power behind the way he plays. We get him on the next album. I think he’s the best drummer Thor has ever had.
AM: I think it’s amazing that your most recent album is the best one. With some bands it’s the first album that’s the best.
Ted Andre Jedicki: People form certain memories from a song they loved growing up and then they have high expectations from listening to ‘Thunder On The Tundra’ and you have to try and capture that magic.
John Leibel: Thor has such a big catalog and we have to compete with classics like ‘Only The Strong Survive.’ Ted and I made a conscious effort to push Thor a little bit to get something that you wouldn’t normally hear out of him.
AM: It’s just amazing that you are really such a new group and sound so great on tour.
John Leibel: Ted didn’t meet Thor until the day before we went on stage at a major European Music Festival.
AM: Every musician I talk to loves Europe.
John Leibel: It’s amazing. The European fans are so diehard.
AM: I fit in better over there then.
AM: Jon Mikl, you are the star of the show. How does your current band lineup differ from past versions?
Jon Mikl Thor: Well, it’s been really well received. Although I still feel 20 years younger than I am, I am still aging, and these guys are in their 20’s and 30’s. They know the Metal scene. They can let me know what’s going on. They are hip to the “NOW” Metal scene. Most of our fans are very young. The ones in their teens and 20’s are buying the records. The fact that I am still rocking out and these guys are rocking out with me goes to show the benefit of a younger influence in the band.
AM: That’s a smart way to see it. John, were you at all intimidated to join this band?
John Leibel: It’s funny because I was a fan first. I always thought Thor was awesome. Ted and I used to cover ‘Thunder On The Tundra’ in our old power metal band. I saw it as an opportunity to step up to something bigger than what I was doing. I was actually pretty disillusioned with the whole music business before I hooked up with Thor. I was getting close to calling it a day, then I got this opportunity to do something more professional. Was I intimidated? A little bit, but I was just so damn happy to have this dream come true. How many people get to join a band that they are a big fan of?
Tom Croxton
AM: Tom, as the drummer for the band, you have to keep up the pace and I don’t know how you do it.
Tom Croxton: It’s in my blood. I’ve done it for years. I’m a thrash drummer at heart. I’ve been in the trenches for decades. I played in the Shock Metal Band, Impaler for almost 20 years. I’ve done a lot of touring. It’s what I do.
AM: Do you also write music?
Tom Croxton: I do write but I haven’t written anything yet for Thor. I did come up with my own drum parts for a new song we did, but no writing yet. I’m looking forward to doing that.
AM: Are all of you writing for the next album?
Matt McNallie
Matt McNallie: We want to give everyone a shot to make their mark on the album.
AM: Thor, you are famous for being accessible to your fans.
Jon Mikl Thor: I love my fans. I see us all as warriors of the Universe. The goal is to help each other and keep each other positive. Without the fans, you are nothing. Who would come to your shows? Who’s going to buy the records?
AM: Not everyone understands this.
Jon Mikl Thor: I know some bands that don’t give a shit about their fans. There are some guys like that. They just want the money and then to get out of there. It’s not like that with us. We love our fans. They mean everything to us. They are a part of us.
AM: Tell me how the recent documentary changed your life.
Jon Mikl Thor: It did change my life, especially when it was on Netflix around the world. Suddenly everybody knew about me. It hit the mainstream. It was almost like having a hit record. It helped us. We went to Europe and played before 20,000 people in Finland and Sweden.
AM: You all are the best version of Thor right now, not only musically but you all have great personalities too.
Jon Mikl Thor: Absolutely, I agree.
AM: So you all are preparing a new album for 2019 release.
Jon Mikl Thor: Yes, we rented a house in Sweden and started writing the songs. We were more in seclusion, so we started writing. We have some beginnings and some endings, the brain work. We will keep working on them until they are finished
AM: I am so impressed that you have managed to keep going and producing good quality music in the familiar themes of super heroes, aliens and fantasy realms for decades now.
Jon Mikl Thor: Yes, the super hero theme is really big right now.
AM: Do you think the popularity of the Thor movies has had any effect on your career?
Jon Mikl Thor: I do think it’s helped as well. When I made ‘Rock and Roll Nightmare’ back in the eighties, it was considered by many to be the first Thor movie, before Chris Hemsworth. I actually had a few times I came close to being Thor in the movies. In 1979, Stan Lee with Marvel productions was going to produce a Thor movie. I was young and had the long hair, but they couldn’t do the special effects yet.
AM: You are also famous for putting on the best LIVE performances.
Jon Mikl Thor: Classic Rock magazine did a poll once and we were in the Top 100 best live acts. They had a bunch of music journalist come in and vote. That was an honor. We do our best to put on the greatest show every time we go on stage.
To learn more about THOR visit their website https://thorcentral.net/