Thor Wants Canadian Fame

12/11/08 2:58pm

by Keith Carman (CHARTattack)

Try as some might, you can't keep this dog away. Or down, for that matter.

Thor is renowned for his muscular heavy music and stature, and the carnival-esque rocker recently celebrated 30 years of tight spandex, feats of strength and blasting rock by re-releasing hia Keep The Dogs Away debut on CD for the first time. He recently put down the dumbbells — musicians or weights, we don't know which — for a few moments to happily regale us with all things Thor.

Why is Keep The Dogs Away, your debut album, only coming out on CD now?
Like a fine wine, Keep The Dogs Away gets better with time. Over the years, I have been putting out new albums that have done very well. A new generation of fans are getting into this album 30 years later because Keep The Dogs Away transcends time. Many have asked for Dogs to be released on CD. It was the one that launched my incredible career. Many call it one of the greatest albums to ever come out of Canada, so here it is.

How do you feel having that piece of metallic history finally released?
I feel very proud. I am an inventor, an innovator if you will. Keep The Dogs Away was a new sound at the time.

I've been copied, but never equalled. As well as playing in bands throughout my childhood, I was a Mr. Canada, Mr. USA and Mr. Universe winner. Keep The Dogs Away also was a new sound at the time. Before MTV and MuchMusic existed, we shot the 35-millimetre concept videos for the album.

This follows up relatively quickly on the heels of a live album. Do you have plans for new material?
Yes. Ektro Records in Europe just released Live In Detroit this summer. We just put out Into The Noise last year, Devastation Of Musculation and Thor Against The World before that. So I'm releasing a new album each year.

I've put out over 20 albums. Scratch Records will be putting out our new digital album, Steam Clock. I've just produced a new young band called The Green ELOS and their new CD, Back In The U.K.

How do you feel Keep The Dogs Away transfers after 30 years?
We had to bake the master tapes and then ship them to Stepco Studios in Florida, where Steve Price remastered it. The tapes were found almost destroyed in a damp basement of one of my houses in Washington State. This was a very good restoration. The sound is excellent. You can hear parts that were previously inaudible.

When you put out that album, did you have any idea of how long your legacy would last?
No. Like the song "Superhero" on the album, I ask, "What becomes of me?" But 20 albums and 10 movies later, my life is absolutely incredible.

When I was a child, I would dream about being a bodybuilding champion, superhero, a rock star and involved in pro sports. Now, here I am. I've done or am doing them all. I am in sports and entertainment and having the best time of my life.

Can you reflect on your career and comment on the future?
I guess I was in the right place at the right time. When I won my titles of Mr. Canada and Mr. Universe, the world was looking for a Herculean rock star.

I then started my band Body Rock, which became Thor And The Imps, and then Thor. I appeared on The Merv Griffin Show, where millions saw me on national television, then signed with a major movie and record production company. My movies Rock N Roll Nightmare and Zombie Nightmare were '80s smash successes.

How do you feel the Thor of today differs from the Thor back then?
I think I've become a better showman and actor. I signed to star in the upcoming Thor The Legend movie that will start filming next year. We will be doing a cartoon series of the Jon Mikl Thor character called Triton The Intercessor, and there are more new albums on the way.

But my proudest achievement is bringing the Vancouver Millionaires back to life. Everyone forgot about this team that won the Stanley Cup in 1915. I secured the trademark rights to the name and their symbolic V. Now there's a huge Vancouver Millionaires movement caused by Thor.

Any other comments?
Yes. I have an issue that I would like to comment on. That is the Canadian Rock Hall Of Fame.

I still tour with my band to packed venues. I have done so much in my career for Canada. I have had number one hits in England and Europe, toured all over the world, started trends in the music industry that no other Canadian has done.

In 2005, I was the only Canadian voted as one of the top performers of all time, yet I have never gotten my name in the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame. I should at least get a lifetime achievement award.