Red Thunder
FORMED:
1990
Formed in 1990 by musician and Native American activist Robbie Romero
as a vehicle by which to promote a dignified image of Native Americans
to the world at large, Red Thunder incorporate both Native
American elements and elements drawn from rock, folk, reggae, blues and
other genres of contemporary music. This approach has led to the release
of Makoce Wakan, which combines many elements yet manages
to retain a Native American identity.
Romero
left his New Mexico home in his teens, moving to Los
Angeles to live and work with actor Dennis Hopper. His subsequent
involvement in the music business saw him associating with Rick Danko
and Bob Dylan, amongst others, though none of the connections or
work meant enough, in the finish, to stop him from moving back to the
reservation in the 1980s. He worked for several years with Dennis
Banks of the American Indian Movement, developing his own approach
to performance and looking for a way to put across his message.
He found that way in 1990, when Red Thunder came together for
a Washington, D.C. performance on Earth Day. This was followed by the
international broadcast of a video for their song "Is It Too
Late," co-directed by Julien Temple, and a number of key MTV
and VH-1 appearances that helped to keep the band in the public eye (Romero
also appeared on a segment of PBS' The Puzzle Place). Romero
turned down an offer to provide music for Ted Turner's Geronimo
because he considered the production demeaning of a spiritual leader.
The band's first release was an EP, Red Thunder, in
1994. The five tracks from the EP were included in the full-length Makoce
Wakan a year later. Both were released on the band's own label,
Eagle Thunder Records, with Red Thunder selling more than
fifty thousand copies in Indian country alone. ~ Steven McDonald, All
Music Guide
Red Thunder is a Native American rock band deeply committed to Native
causes. The group's first full length recording, Makoce Wakan,
reflects their desire to protect Native sacred sites and the
environment. Overshadowing the message is a hastily put together album
which doesn't appear to have been proofread. Eleven tracks are listed,
yet my CD player registers 14. A misspelled song title and other errors
give the album an amateurish appearance. All of this makes for a
confusing listen, albeit a brief one lasting only 35 minutes.
Charismatic frontman Robby Romero's songwriting is the foundation of
Red Thunder. Makoce Wakan alternates between Top 40-style rock
anthems and earthy instrumentals. Outstanding are the traditional
drumming of Benito Concha and flute playing of Mazatl Galindo. Bassist
Paul Martinez rounds out the band.
-- Annette C. Eshleman (Lancaster, PA)
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Red
Earth Records