Chris Thompson on Earth Band, ‘The Final Round,’ and the New Album in the Works
Chris Thompson has been around the block more than once. From playing covers in Hamilton nightclubs with Dynasty to fronting Manfred Mann’s Earth Band and singing ‘Blinded by the Light,’ his voice has carried across decades, continents and changes in the industry.
His latest release ‘The Final Round’ feels like a celebration of the long road, recorded with his Norwegian band of over twenty years. There’s no grand farewell here, just a heartfelt document of a live show done right. And he’s not slowing down. Thompson’s deep in the process of making a new solo album and has just wrapped a full musical with his wife, complete with 24 original songs. He talks about missing the magic of buying records and about chasing songs that still mean something. Nothing slick or calculated, just someone who’s still got the itch to create.
“Collaborations always come about by just being in the right place at the right time.”
Let’s kick things off with your early days. You started out in New Zealand with The Paragons and later Dynasty. What was that scene like back then?
Chris Thompson: The scene was divided up basically between the bigger, more successful bands from Auckland, Wellington, and the South Island—who played their own material—and the bands I was in, playing in the local Hamilton scene where we lived. We played nightclubs and dances, doing mostly covers of overseas hits that people would know. Eventually, the Dynasty group moved to Auckland and then eventually broke up.
After New Zealand, you went to Australia and then back to England. Those were some pretty big moves. How did those changes influence you back then?
I actually never went to Australia, as I felt it was just more of the same as in NZ, with limited opportunities for real success. So I went to England to look for something more than what was available to me in NZ. The changes were huge—and not immediately in the right direction—so I had to look around for normal work to make money to live, as well as pursuing my “dream.”
Getting into Manfred Mann’s Earth Band in ’76 must’ve been huge. How did that happen for you, and what was it like stepping into that role with a band already known for its sound?
I answered an advertisement in the music magazine Melody Maker (I answered many), and one turned out to be for Manfred Mann’s Earth Band. I think it was easier for me to join an established band with a clear idea of direction and someone like Manfred who knew what he was doing. I had no real experience with recording, but with my ability to sing almost anything—as I had to do with my NZ bands—I was able to fit in easily.
You’ve got some iconic tracks with the Earth Band, like “Blinded by the Light.” What was it like recording that song, and what’s your memory of how it came together in the studio?
As I said, I had no recording experience, so it was very difficult for me to get used to spending lots and lots of time recording those songs—especially ‘Blinded.’ Sometimes it was tedious!
Manfred was not easily satisfied, so I found it quite difficult to realise that making a record was a lot like a job… in every day from 11 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and not like the fun music had always been to me.
I got used to it though—and made my own fun!
You were with the band for a long time, through a lot of albums and tours. Are there any moments that stand out for you, either on stage or behind the scenes?
Getting to number one in America with the first record I had ever made was a standout moment.
I have to say, playing concerts all over the world was fantastic, and I loved every minute of it.
Just walking out on stage was such a huge buzz, and getting a chance to sing to people who loved the music was great.
When you left the band in ’79 and formed Night, you went in a completely different direction. How did that shift feel, and what did it teach you about yourself as an artist?
It was another big shift and a huge learning experience, and it made me realise that at that moment, I was not a good enough songwriter.
You’ve also got a pretty solid solo career. What was the push for you to go solo, and what made your solo music different from what you were doing with the Earth Band?
I needed to go solo to be more in charge of what I was doing musically.
The music was very different from the Earth Band in that it was more song-based and more American-influenced, I guess.
‘You’re The Voice’ is probably one of the songs people most associate with you. How did that song come about, and what was it like seeing it explode when John Farnham took it to the top?
That song came out of my failure to get up early enough to join a CND march in London in 1985. Watching a million or so people in London marching on TV, I realised how important each of our voices and opinions is in the world we live in. So true today.
I got together with a couple of friends, and over two writing sessions, that song magically appeared—and the rest is history.
We all really believed in that song, and so it was with great pleasure that we watched it become an iconic anthem with John singing. Very gratifying.
You’ve worked with so many amazing artists over the years—from Jeff Wayne to Brian May. How did those collaborations come about, and what did you take away from those experiences?
Collaborations always come about by just being in the right place at the right time. Jeff needed someone to sing ‘Thunderchild,’ and I had been working with Gary Osborn, who wrote all the lyrics for ‘War of the Worlds,’ and he suggested me to Jeff—and it worked out well. I was so happy to be involved in that album.
Through that connection, I worked with Elton. Then my voice became known, and people like Alan Parsons, Brian May, etc., would call me up to work on various projects.
I was a very lucky man to work with all these wonderful artists.
I guess I learned how much fun music could be.
‘The Final Round’ is your last live album, which is a huge deal. What made that final tour so special for you, and what’s the vibe you wanted to capture with this album?
I wanted to capture the wonderful music and vibes that I had enjoyed with my Norwegian band of 21 years. To me, they were the best, and I wanted a record of our show—two hours of great songs and great playing—and to go out with a bang!
Looking back on everything, how do you feel about the journey? Are there any moments that you look back on and think, “That was a game-changer”?
‘Blinded by the Light’ at number one was, I think.
Then John doing ‘You’re the Voice’ just like the demo we made (he added the bagpipes—a masterstroke) was another.
Lastly, me buying my 1968 Blue Flower Fender Telecaster on a plane crossing the Atlantic in the late ’70s, which gave me the guitar I would play pretty much for the rest of my gigging life! It’s hanging up behind me as I write.
You’ve played so many legendary venues and festivals over the years. Are there any shows that really stick with you, where the energy or the crowd just made it unforgettable?
I think the last of three concerts Manfred Mann’s Earth Band played in Budapest, Hungary, was pretty amazing.
One of my last concerts in Germany, in 2022, in a church in Bochum—people came because it was the last time they would see me. I walked out with Gunnar, my keyboard player, and people started to clap and would not stop. I stood there for about five minutes, very emotional, and just had to start singing to make them stop. That was possibly the most memorable.
The music industry has changed a lot since you first started out. From your perspective, what’s the biggest difference between the way things were back then and what it’s like now?
People went out and bought records—they were our prized possessions. We shared our musical moments, listening over and over again.
Now it’s Spotify—you can dial up anything you want to listen to. In some ways that’s great, but the magic has gone for me.
Also, the artists can’t earn enough money to make a real living unless they are very successful—and we all know that number gets smaller all the time.
After all this time, what’s next for you? Are you still thinking about new music or other projects once the dust settles from The Final Round?
I’m writing new music all the time for a new album I’m working on.
My wife and I have just finished a musical. We wrote the script from our original story and 24 new songs. Always thinking about new music.
What are some of the latest albums you enjoy listening to?
I find myself going back to my favourite albums, like The Band, Bob Dylan, and Baby Huey.
But I went to a Niall Horan concert with my daughters and really enjoyed his music—and the way he put his show together just like the old days. And nothing on tape!
Thank you for taking your time. Last word is yours.
I don’t think people realise ‘You’re the Voice’ was not a hit in America. So that is something I’m dreaming about… someone out there must need an anthem to remind people how important each individual voice is—and that using it to be tolerant, but stand up for what is right and just, and not being intimidated by bullies, is the way to a better world.
Thank you—it was my pleasure.
Headline photo: Chris Thompson and Manfred Mann (1980) | Thompson Archive
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