Classic British rockers Thunder have dismayed fans be announcing that they are to split. But Midland fans can bid them farewell at Wolverhampton Civic Hall in July.

After 20 years of recording and touring, Thunder’s split comes as all five members have been spending more time on activities outside the band.

Thunder will play at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Friday July 10, the last but one date on their farewell British tour. Tickets, which went on sale this morning, cost £22.

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In a statement the band; Danny Bowes, Luke Morley, Ben Matthews, Chris Childs and Harry James – said: “We’ve played loads of fantastic shows over the last 20 years, but we want all the shows between now and when we go to be the best we’ve ever done.

“We really hope you’ll want to be there to help us to do that.”

It is the second time that Thunder have split, after bowing out between 2000 and 2002 before being tempted back into action by a slot on the touring Monsters of Rock UK arena shows in late 2002.

The band formed in 1989, releasing their debut album Backstreet Symphony in 1990, which went gold, as did their follow-up Laughing on Judgement Day, which peaked at number two in the UK album charts.

Their legendary appearance in 1990 at Monsters of Rock at Castle Donington cemented their place in the hearts of British rock fans. Twenty years later, after twenty top-50 singles, nine studio albums and a two-year hiatus, this really is the end of the trail for Thunder.

Click here for our review and photo gallery from Thunder’s Wolverhampton gig in November 2008