THONK
RIO/Avant-Prog • Switzerland
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Thonk biography
THONK are an RIO/ Avant Prog band from Switzerland that released one album in 2001 "Earth Vision Impact". The band were formed initially as a DEEP PURPLE cover band in 1998, then formed into the Avant Prog band THONK. The style was in the beginning a progressive rock and jazz fusion style, then it changed into art rock, though with strong jazz influences remaining. In May 2000 the founder bassplayer of THONK, Theo Gamper left the band, so Fredy Schnyder joined the band as a replacement.
Over the years the band members have consisted of the following: Marc Grassi (Piano Keys), currently with RAK, and who has collaborated with many bands on the live stage such as SELDOM and DOUBLE HEART. He is influenced by keyboard musicians such as EDDIE JOBSON, JON LORD and HERBIE HANCOCK.
Flavio Mezzodi (Drums, percussion) has played with his previous bands CRITICAL and TRAVEL MIND. His inspiration comes from drummers such as TERRY BOZZIO, DAVE WECKL, SIMON PHILLIPS.
Theo Gamper (bass, guitars) Is a huge FRANK ZAPPA fan and has even tried to emulate his style. Fredy Schyder, the new bass player joined to tour and played on the sole album "Earth Vision Impact".
Zoz (Dave Thwaites), also with RAK, is a vocalist, writer, for the band and has performed in SOUL SPIN and SONIC SMILE, and THE LOVE FREQUENCY. His influences range from early GENESIS, YES & KATE BUSH, and the likes of U2, RADIOHEAD, SUPER FURRY ANIMALS & THE WATERBOYS.
The band are now a trio and come from higher education schools; Marc studies piano at the jazz school and industrial design, Flavio is a student in a drum school, and Fredy is a university student.
THONK released a live official bootleg in January 2003 called "circle by THONK", recorded live at the progsol 02 festival on October 26 2002. The piano'-driven music will appeal to fans of the band's influences and Avant Prog fans.
---AtomicCrimsonRush (Scott Tuffnell)---
THONK are an RIO/ Avant Prog band from Switzerland that released one album in 2001 "Earth Vision Impact". The band were formed initially as a DEEP PURPLE cover band in 1998, then formed into the Avant Prog band THONK. The style was in the beginning a progressive rock and jazz fusion style, then it changed into art rock, though with strong jazz influences remaining. In May 2000 the founder bassplayer of THONK, Theo Gamper left the band, so Fredy Schnyder joined the band as a replacement.
Over the years the band members have consisted of the following: Marc Grassi (Piano Keys), currently with RAK, and who has collaborated with many bands on the live stage such as SELDOM and DOUBLE HEART. He is influenced by keyboard musicians such as EDDIE JOBSON, JON LORD and HERBIE HANCOCK.
Flavio Mezzodi (Drums, percussion) has played with his previous bands CRITICAL and TRAVEL MIND. His inspiration comes from drummers such as TERRY BOZZIO, DAVE WECKL, SIMON PHILLIPS.
Theo Gamper (bass, guitars) Is a huge FRANK ZAPPA fan and has even tried to emulate his style. Fredy Schyder, the new bass player joined to tour and played on the sole album "Earth Vision Impact".
Zoz (Dave Thwaites), also with RAK, is a vocalist, writer, for the band and has performed in SOUL SPIN and SONIC SMILE, and THE LOVE FREQUENCY. His influences range from early GENESIS, YES & KATE BUSH, and the likes of U2, RADIOHEAD, SUPER FURRY ANIMALS & THE WATERBOYS.
The band are now a trio and come from higher education schools; Marc studies piano at the jazz school and industrial design, Flavio is a student in a drum school, and Fredy is a university student.
THONK released a live official bootleg in January 2003 called "circle by THONK", recorded live at the progsol 02 festival on October 26 2002. The piano'-driven music will appeal to fans of the band's influences and Avant Prog fans.
---AtomicCrimsonRush (Scott Tuffnell)---
THONK forum topics / tours, shows & news
THONK Videos (YouTube and more)
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Thonk Garden
(9 min 34 sec )Added by Bj-1
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THONK discography
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THONK top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
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THONK Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
THONK Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)
THONK Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
THONK Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)
THONK Reviews
Showing last 10 reviews only
Earth Vision Impact
Thonk RIO/Avant-Prog
Unlike what their name might be leading you to believe , they are not Norwegian but Swiss.
Their first album is impressive in dexterity and virtuosity but I find the music rather cold
and technical even though , there is plenty of power in the arrangements . i personally
think that this sounds like a crazy ELP with no vocals but is there any point to that
anymore?
If you want to go a little more ahead in the direction , please see their countrymen
Steamboat Switzerland that does music in the same mould also imitating ELP but those guys
are really CRAZY .
Thonk RIO/Avant-Prog
Review by
Sean Trane
Special Collaborator Prog Folk

Earth Vision Impact
Thonk RIO/Avant-Prog
THØNK's debut CD "Earth Vision Impact" shows a band with a bright future. The album, which is produced by Pär Lindh at Crimsonic Studio in Sweden, also has a lot of reminiscences to Pär's own albums with PÄR LINDH PROJECT. - The music is instrumental, pompous and very keyboard based with lots of Mellotron, Hammond and piano. Bands and artists such as BELA BARTOK, DREAM THEATER, EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER, PREMIATA FORNERIA MARCONI and YES have influenced the band members. Especially the classical influences from BELA BARTOK can be heard in the music, as well as EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER, PREMIATA FORNERIA and YES. There are also some reminiscences to ANEKDOTEN, GENESIS, KING CRIMSON, U-TOTEM and ÄNGLAGARD. THØNK's music is very diverse and it ranges between heavy bombastically musical eruptions and beautiful quieter moments. If I should give them one complaint it would be that the music is too much
dominated by keyboards. I would've preferred to hear more from the other musicians in the mix. It's not an album that is easily accessible. You might need to listen to it repeatedly before you will appreciate it. A really interesting album from a band that I think will develop even further in the future.
Thonk RIO/Avant-Prog
Review by
Greger
Prog Reviewer

Thanks to ProgLucky for the artist addition.
and to AtomicCrimsonRush for the last updates