TANK

Tank are:
Mick Tucker – guitars
Cliff Evans – guitars
Marcus von Boisman – vocals
Gav Gray – bass
Mark Cross – drums

For many years they have been the living example, that metal music still exists.
No special introduction is needed, their legend has been living for years since 1980.
After many successes, fame, glory and after a break, they returned to us in order to fascinate us again with their songs and their ‘magical’ stage presence.
Now they are here again with us!
After 40 years, they will perform live on 24th of March in Houston, Texas, USA and as always, they will be cheer on by fans.
Mick Tucker talked to Radio Highway Pirates, about the band, their cooperation with Metallica, their break up and their come back and their new plans.
Take deep breaths and greet them!
What is it that sets Τank apart, from the moment of their creation until now?
“We have always been different to everyone else with our own style and attitude ,always trying to be original now we have put together the ultimate TANK line up with everyone giving it 100%. We now have a new album already down and ready to record that is in my opinion the best we have ever recorded.”
What do you remember from the explosive album ‘Filth Hounds of Hades’?
“I wasn´t part of the band till after ‘Power Of The Hunter’ but I remember seeing lots of posters all over London at the time and reading great reviews of the album. Some of the numbers off this album are still in the live set today.”
What was it that contributed to the band breaking up the first time?
“We had recorded the ‘TANK V’ album at Beethoven studios in London and where just about ready to mix when I found out that I had not been receiving my fair share of money form Algy so I put a injunction on the album stopping the release until they sorted out the situation. As usual on all the Tank albums I had contributed to the song writing and recorded all the guitars rhythm, harmony, clean, and lead guitar tracks over the entire album so they would have to re record the entire album again if I pulled my guitars off the album, this went on for a few months then TANKS manager Doug Smith paid me off then the band fired me. Being the driving force in Tank they split up after one disastrous gig.”
What kind of taste did 1984 leave for Ταnk?
“Algy and myself where listening to a lot of Deep Purple, free, Mountain at this time and ended up at my London flat writing the entire ‘Honour & Blood’ album in two intense weeks. We then headed off to Tunbridge Wells every weekend to record the demos for the album for a couple of months. We then got new drummer Crash Crallan in and rehearsed the album up and went in and recorded the album.”
What it’s like to cooperate with beasts like Metallica?
“They where real great with us, gave us full use of the PA and lights and we had a fantastic time with them. James used to watch every show from the side of the stage and Cliff Burton used to play lots of Tank songs through the PA during pre gig football matches, we also sound checked for them a few times when they where late for the show, always play a few Thin Lizzy songs and even learnt ‘Kill em all’ for much to the amusement of the crew.”
Tell us a few words about your album ‘Still At War’?
“We recorded the album at Barnyard studios in Tunbridge Wells. I paid for all the recordings on this album but didn’t get involved with any song writing as usual I recorded all the guitars on the album.”
How did two bands with the same trunk, but with different branches come about?
“Algy retired in 2004 due to health issues and in 2009 Cliff and myself played a n.w.o.b.h.m festival in Germany doing two tracks in a tribute set with Tom Angelripper on bass and Schottkowski on drums the reaction was so good we decided to carry on with the band.”
How would you characterize the album ‘Re-ignition’ and why?
“It was a filler album in my opinion I already had enough ideas for a new album but no one showed any interest. So this was recorded to fill a gap.”
What was the composition of the band that made it stand out in the 80s’ and what was the element that changed it?
“The addition of myself on ‘this means war’ made a big difference. I was brought in to get the band a much wider audience and heavy up the guitar department. Then drummer Crash Crallan was brought in form my old band White Spirt on drums he made a massive difference, then Cliff Evans was brought in for the Metallica tour. This was the best line up until now.”
Who are the tanks today and what are you preparing for us?
“The new line up is, the amazing Marcus von Boisman on lead vocals a truly outstanding singer and songwriter Gav Gray on bass mr rock´n roll thunderous bass playing with a attitude, Mark Cross, our old mate on drums who’s track record speaks for itself And Cliff and myself on guitars. We have a thundering new album on the way, its heavy as fuck with top notch songs with the ultimate tank line up. The first appearance with this formidable line up will be at Hells´n Heroes Festival on March 24 2024, in Houston, TX USA. This will be Tank´s first live appearance after almost 40 years!! Later in 2024 we plan a massive tour and festivals of course!”
Maria Stella Tsatsi