Thundermug - 1970-1976

Formed in London, Ontario, Canada, Thundermug existed from 1970 to 1976, and again from 1991 to 2001. The band was initially composed of Jo De Angelis (guitar and vocals), Bill Durst (keys and guitar), James Crorbitt (bass), and Ed Pranskus (drums). Their first Album: Thundermug Strikes (1972) resulted in a Canadian top 30 hit "Africa", which was based on radio interest in what was originally a non-single album song. The first single from the album had been a version of The Kinks "You Really Got Me." The was described by reviewer Ritchie Unterburger, as "...above average early 70's hard rock. It's a minor entry in the style, but a decent minor entry, moving along with real guts and convincing riffs, but not at the expense of fair melodies and well done vocal harmonies, and unusual progressions."
In 1973, the band recorded it's second album: Orbit , the title track was a Top 40 Canadian single. The album, was described (again, by Unterburger): "probably the best reflection of their straight-ahead, respectable-but-not-so-brilliant brand of early 70's hard rock, muscular but reasonably melodic, with inventive interplay between lead and backing vocals, ending with a rather inpressive facsimile of Hedrix's noisiest guitar wiggles."
Selections from the first two albums were released in 1973 in the U.S. by Epic, using the title of the first album Thundermug Strikes.
In 1974, the band recorded their third album: Ta-Daa releasing a cover if the Beatles "Drive My Car" as the first single. The album wasn't as successful as the previous two, and Joe De Angleis quit the band leaving it a trio. The band released one final single in 1975: "Clap Your Hands and Stomp Your Feet" which ended up a top 50 single in Canada.
The band din't formally break up, but became inactive in 1976.