TNT Guitarist RONNI LE TEKRØ: 'Rock Was Just Better Before 1980'

July 30, 2014

Finland's Radio Rock recently conducted an interview with guitarist Ronni Le Tekrø of Norwegian/American hard rockers TNT. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked what rock bands he listens to in his spare time, Ronni said: "It's pretty much CITY BOY, a British band from late '70s that I listen to when I listen to rock. [I don't listen to] many other bands, actually. [laughs] I have a big BEATLES collection. I think something happened with hard rock in… I don't know… '79 [or] '80, including my own shit. Rock was just better before 1980."

Fan-filmed video footage of TNT's July 17 performance at On The Rocks in Helsinki, Finland can be seen below.

TNT played its first official reunion show with singer Tony Harnell on January 17 at Gregers Live in Hamar, Norway.

Harnell confirmed his reunion with TNT in October 2013, explaining in a statement: "After much discussion and lots of soul searching, I'm happy to officially announce that I'll be back behind the microphone with TNT.

"I'm very proud of all we accomplished over the years and proud to have written and recorded all those great songs with my brother from another mother, Ronni Le Tekrø.

"Sometimes it's just time to give the fans what they're asking for.

"2014 is the 25th anniversary of the successful 'Intuition' album and we thought it would be a good time to get out and relaunch this little machine for you guys!"

In August 2013, TNT parted ways with its frontman of the seven years, British vocalist Tony Mills (ex-SHY). He explained in a statement: "Maybe we did 500 shows or something like that, but not many out of Norway.

"It has been the most prolific live period in my career, and when I felt the stagnancy and the lack of desire to grow and develop any further, I knew my time was done with the band.

"I don't think it's sensible to expect new art from the band after thirty years, just a lot of re-living the past and reconstructions of old albums and performances.

"None of us are getting any younger, but I have a great desire to not stop creativity in my life. I hate wasting days and singing songs from the past to satisfy old fans.

"Nostalgia wasn't doing it for me.

"We were never close as friends or anything like that, so there is no great loss, and I have no doubt they will reform the original lineup and just do the whole thing all over again. I wish them good luck on that. I have other releases to come that excite me much more than that."

Harnell rejoined TNT on stage for their 30th-anniversary concert on June 2, 2012 at the Clarion Hotel in Trondheim, Norway. The group performed a special setlist while accompanied by the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra (Trondheim Symfoniorkester). Also making a special appearance with the band was TNT's original singer, Dag Ingebrigtsen.

After leaving TNT in 2006, Harnell was replaced by Mills, who has since appeared on three studio albums from the band: 2007's "The New Territory", 2008's"Atlantis" and 2010's "A Farewell To Arms".

Harnell's last release as a member of TNT was the "Live in Madrid" DVD, which came out in September 2006 via MTM Music. The set, which was filmed on April 1, 2006 in Madrid, Spain, was accompanied by an 82-minute audio CD plus booklet liner notes from Harnell about his work with the group as well as an additional tour documentary by Darren Paltrowitz.

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