Feature / One Question Interviews
Royal Thunder

Words: Loren • November 22, 2014

Royal Thunder
Royal Thunder

Josh Weaver (Royal Thunder)

SPB: Do you have a favorite type of van or bus?

Weaver: Dodge Ram vans are definitely our favorite vans. I bought a ‘95 full luxury Dodge Ram van from my friend Johnny Collins for $200 around 2007-2008. It had 200k original miles on it and Johhny's band, Thunderlip, had used it for years. Johnny bought it from one of the Squirrel Nut Zipper guys and apparently, the Squirrel Nut Zippers got it in '95 new as a sign-on bonus with their label. We used it and drove every day for at least 3-4 years. It had 350k miles on it when it was retired! The motor still ran great, but the rear end gave out. After the '95 Ram was so good to us we bought a 2002 Dodge Ram cargo van. The guy I bought it from said they used it to transport frozen goods and dead bodies coming into the country from Jamaica! It's already been a great van and got us across the US at least 3-4 times! 

A picture of our '95 Ram. RIP

Loren • November 22, 2014

Royal Thunder
Royal Thunder

Related features

Demos You Want To Check #4

Music / New Kids On The Block • July 7, 2026

The musical landscape is ever changing. New genres are popping up, new hypes burst out of nowhere and die out and new bands present themselves to the world. How on earth are you expected to keep up, right? Well, it never hurts to help! So here we are, your humble … Read more

The Bellrays

Interviews • July 6, 2026

A Conversation with Lisa Kekaula (Vocals) and Bob Vennum (Guitar) of The Bellrays For over three decades, The Bellrays -- Riverside, California’s powerhouse duo of Lisa Kekaula and Bob Vennum -- have blurred the lines between punk, soul, garage rock, and rock ’n’ roll fury. Their music has always been … Read more

Bitters and Distractions

One Question Interviews • July 1, 2026

Travis (Bitters and Distractions – guitar / backup vocals) SPB: It seems you’re mostly releasing singles, as compared to EP/LP. Is there a personal preference or deeper reason why? Travis: You’re correct that we’ve released a significant number of singles over the years. To be more specific, we’ve put out … Read more

Whiplass Records

One Question Interviews • June 30, 2026

Monet (Whiplass Records) SPB: I imagine you’d been thinking about starting this label for a while before it happened. What was the final push or aha! moment that turned it from idea into reality? Monet: Our origin was actually a series of events: The wheels started turning when I decided … Read more

De Kleine Opstand

One Question Interviews • June 29, 2026

Marco (De Kleine Opstand – bass) SPB: A lot of Dutch bands opt to sing in English, you go against the grain by choosing for the Dutch language. What are the pros and cons for this decision? Marco: It just occurred to me that we never actually decided to sing … Read more

Related news

New Royal Thunder this April

Posted in Records on January 20, 2015

Royal Thunder enter studio

Posted in Bands on February 9, 2014

Related reviews

Royal Thunder

CVI
Relapse (2012)

Like many albums, I picked up Royal Thunder's CVI because I heard someone somewhere describe it as progressive metal. Like many of those albums, it turned out to have little to do with the genre. Unlike the majority of those albums, however, I wound up being impressed by this one anyway, and here's why:Royal Thunder may just be the last … Read more

More from this section

Bitters and Distractions

One Question Interviews • July 1, 2026

Travis (Bitters and Distractions – guitar / backup vocals) SPB: It seems you’re mostly releasing singles, as compared to EP/LP. Is there a personal preference or deeper reason why? Travis: You’re correct that we’ve released a significant number of singles over the years. To be more specific, we’ve put out … Read more

Whiplass Records

One Question Interviews • June 30, 2026

Monet (Whiplass Records) SPB: I imagine you’d been thinking about starting this label for a while before it happened. What was the final push or aha! moment that turned it from idea into reality? Monet: Our origin was actually a series of events: The wheels started turning when I decided … Read more

De Kleine Opstand

One Question Interviews • June 29, 2026

Marco (De Kleine Opstand – bass) SPB: A lot of Dutch bands opt to sing in English, you go against the grain by choosing for the Dutch language. What are the pros and cons for this decision? Marco: It just occurred to me that we never actually decided to sing … Read more