There’s a specific kind of exhaustion that only touring musicians truly understand. It’s not just physical, it’s mental, temporal, almost existential. When Thomas “Bones” Hewson, bassist of ‘Tailgunner‘, joins the call, he’s caught right in that limbo.
“I got back from the European tour like four days ago and I leave again tomorrow for the UK leg, my sleep pattern doesn’t exist. I’m just kind of existing in this strange world in between tours.”
That restless momentum perfectly mirrors where ‘Tailgunner’ find themselves right now: a band in constant motion, barely stopping long enough to process how fast things are happening. Fresh off dates across Spain, Switzerland, Italy, and Portugal with ‘HammerFall’, a ‘Planet Rock’ festival appearance back home, and now gearing up for a full UK run followed by another long stretch across Europe, ‘Tailgunner’ are not easing into their rise, they’re charging straight through it.
From an EP to KK Downing’s Radar
One of the defining moments in ‘Tailgunner’s story so far is their connection with KK Downing, a name that carries almost mythological weight in heavy metal history. It’s also a story that still feels slightly surreal to Bones.
After releasing their debut EP ‘Crashdive’ in December 2022, someone, still anonymous, placed the record in KK Downing’s hands. What followed changed everything.
“KK loved what he heard, his manager, who is now our manager, contacted us and said KK wants you to open the first show at KK’s Steel Mill, alongside Paul Di’Anno.“
For a young UK band barely a year into their existence, opening a show connected to ‘Judas Priest‘ lineage felt unreal. But the moment that truly hit home came face to face.
“The first time I met KK, he told me he’d been waiting for a band like us to come along from the UK since the early days of Def Leppard.”
That sentence alone could crush a band under its weight, or validate everything they’ve been fighting for. ‘Tailgunner’ chose the latter.
From that show came a full UK tour with ‘KK’s Priest’ in 2024, genuine friendships, and eventually the unthinkable: KK Downing co-producing their second album, ‘Midnight Blitz‘.
“We were in this very fortunate scenario where we were friends with KK,” Bones says. “So I just called him. We went back and forth on the phone for a couple of days, and he was into it.”
No strategy. No industry chess. Just a phone call, and trust.
Why British Heavy Metal Needed a Band Like ‘Tailgunner’
When asked what ‘Tailgunner’ bring back to British heavy metal, Bones doesn’t hesitate, and his answer cuts straight to the core of the scene.
“In the UK, because we’ve been responsible for innovating so many styles of music, sometimes more credibility is given to innovation than quality, I don’t really care if something’s new. I care if it’s good.”
That philosophy defines ‘Tailgunner’. They are unapologetically old school, not retro as a gimmick, not nostalgia cosplay, but conviction-driven heavy metal rooted in substance.
“We don’t care if it’s cool or popular. We just play the style of music that we love, with no apologies.”
That mindset places them naturally alongside bands like ‘Wings of Steel‘, a parallel Bones himself points out.
“They’re kind of the American version. We’re the European one. Between us, there’s something really special.”
It’s not about reviving the past. It’s about proving it never actually left.
‘Midnight Blitz’ and the Confidence to Breathe
Released on February 6th, ‘Midnight Blitz‘ arrives at a moment when ‘Tailgunner’ are already playing major festivals like ‘Download‘ and ‘Sweden Rock‘, stages most bands only dream of reaching.
Yet the album itself isn’t rushed or desperate to prove anything. Instead, it breathes.
From high-energy speed metal assaults to expansive, emotional tracks like “War in Heaven,” the record shows a band unafraid to slow down when the song demands it.
“The moment you start creating for expectations instead of yourself, that’s when you’re fucked,” Bones says bluntly. “You have to do it for yourself.”
That confidence comes from understanding heavy metal history properly, not as a fixed formula, but as a space of constant evolution.
“People forget that the ’80s were all about innovation,” he says. “Judas Priest didn’t make the same album over and over. That’s what heavy metal really is.”
Working With Legends, Staying Human
Despite their rapid ascent, ‘Tailgunner’s grounding influence seems to come from the very legends they now stand beside.
“Touring with KK, you realize he’s just a bloke from Birmingham,” Bones laughs. “If he can stay humble after everything he’s achieved, we have no excuse.”
That humility isn’t performative. It shows in small details, like watching other bands from the crowd after playing, rather than disappearing backstage.
“We’re fans first,” he insists. “Of course we stayed to watch. Why wouldn’t we?”
It’s an attitude that reinforces metal as a community rather than a hierarchy, a value Bones clearly holds close.
“Heavy metal has saved people,” he acknowledges. “It brings people together. That’s why being humble matters.”
Synths, Atmosphere, and Adam Wakeman
One of ‘Midnight Blitz‘s standout moments comes with “War in Heaven,” featuring Adam Wakeman, a collaboration that adds cinematic depth to the record.
Introduced through KK Downing, Wakeman’s contribution was shaped by discussions around iconic synth intros like “Mr. Crowley,” John Carpenter soundtracks, and even ‘Stranger Things‘.
“It elevates not just the song, but the whole album,” Bones says. “It gives the record breathing room.”
It’s another example of ‘Tailgunner’ respecting tradition without being trapped by it.
Old School, No Apologies
As festival season approaches, Bones reflects on what ‘Tailgunner’ want to prove, both to skeptics who believe heavy metal died decades ago, and to new fans discovering it for the first time.
“We’re not old school with a twist,” he says. “There is no twist. We’re just old school.”
No breakdowns. No genre-hopping. No apologies.
For the old guard, ‘Tailgunner’ represent continuity, proof that the flame still burns. For new listeners, they offer a direct line to what heavy metal was, is, and can still be.
“We’re not trying to worship at the altar,” Bones says. “We’re trying to stand on it.”
And judging by the road ahead, ‘Tailgunner’ aren’t standing still for long.
Watch full interview!
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