John Patterson is a Whiskey Network family member in excellent standing. He loves whiskey and has even earned the nickname of the Bourbon Emperor of Memphis! In 2024, the band Tora Tora (he’s the drummer) is celebrating the 35th anniversary of their debut record ‘Surprise Attack.’ There is a strong connection between music and whiskey and we are proud to celebrate this milestone with the band.
Tora Tora is the story of four friends who found triumph from humble beginnings. Infused with the heart of Memphis blues, their high-energy brand of rock and roll found success at the intersection of talent and opportunity. Anthony Corder is the unmistakable voice of the band, Keith Douglas delivers his own brand of magic on the guitar, Patrick Francis draws a bluesy groove on bass, and John Patterson bashes and crashes on the drums. After nearly 40 years, they are still friends in a band doing what they love; making music.
Their whirlwind journey had just begun after winning a local Battle of the Bands contest where the prize was precious studio time at Ardent Studios in their hometown. In May of 1989, Tora Tora took flight out of Memphis, TN launching their debut effort ‘Surprise Attack.’ Paying dues and learning their craft garnered them crucial experience. Their attack peaked in July of 1989 when ‘Walkin’ Shoes’ was released as a single with a music video in heavy rotation on something called MTV. The rest is history, as they say.
Following that, ‘Guilty’ and ‘Phantom Rider’ continued their rise with new singles. Both enjoyed growing success, with the latter becoming a signature tune and long-standing fan favorite. The band was well on their way to cementing their reputation as an influential band in the bedrock of their era of music.
They lovingly call their widespread network of fans the Tora Tribe. They are devout supporters, with many from the early days. Their music has also proven to be influential to acts that have followed them. Tora Tora put Memphis Blues rock on the map and a lot of other bands followed suit.
In 2024, ‘Surprise Attack’ is celebrating its 35-year anniversary. Reflecting on the record now, the album stands tall and endures the test of time. Some critics dismissed this album for various reasons that had more to do with gatekeeping than taking a deeper look at it. The band wasn’t the prototype of the Sunset Strip clones at the time and in the long run, that proved to be instrumental to an untarnished reputation. While a few of those bands from that era remain, hardly any have avoided the trappings of excess and endless line-up changes.
As the Tora Tora legacy endures, their longevity is firmly rooted in the timeless nature of their music. The character of the band members is also a critical ingredient in the formula. Recently, their social media posted short videos of each member reflecting on different aspects of ‘Surprise Attack.’
First up is Anthony Corder (vocals), who reflects on how they grew into their own while recording these songs and more.
Next is Keith Douglas (guitar), who looks back at how it felt to be in the studio for the first time, among other memories.
Continuing, Patrick Francis (bass) is appreciative of the local Memphis venues where they earned their stripes on stage, along with other memories.
Finally, John Patterson (drums) shares his memories about choosing the iconic artwork for the album cover.
This celebration came full circle on Saturday, April 6th at Minglewood Hall in Memphis, TN. Tora Tora absorbed the love and adoration for this record and turned it into rocket fuel for a unique and enchanting evening for the Tora Tribe to remember. The 19-song set featured every song from ‘Surprise Attack’ and held a few surprises for those lucky enough to be in the room. On the heels of this performance, it’s hard to deny the significance of Tora Tora and ‘Surprise Attack’ on the landscape of rock and roll.
Whiskey Network spoke to John Patterson (in all of his Bourbon Emperor glory), and he gave us an exclusive look at the show. With gratitude in his voice he said, “It was a treat to celebrate 35 years for ‘Surprise Attack.’ Our hometown crowd always gives us big love, but this time was over the top. They always sing the loudest for ‘Walkin Shoes’ and ‘Phantom Rider’ and made that night truly special. Also, the songs ‘Prodigal Son’ and ‘Nowhere to Go But Down’ got them really riled up!”
Of course, whiskey was involved! The band celebrated before the show with a shot of Bulleit. It doesn’t sound like that bottle lasted long for the celebration with friends and family!
By all accounts, it was a fitting moment to celebrate a seminal album in the world of rock and roll. For the friends, family, and fans lucky enough to be in the room, this will be a great story to tell. We know that the band made it one to remember.
Be sure to check the official Facebook and Instagram accounts of the band for more memories and information. Also, be sure to check their website for official merch.
Enjoy these shots from the historic show!
Photo Credits: Jase Harshman
Long overdue credit needs to be given for the depth of the band and the stature of the music. Tora Tora stands in the upper echelon in the elite club of bands who have been able to enjoy 35 years together without a single line-up change. The unmistakable sound and tone of ‘Surprise Attack’ made it significant in its own time, but it has persisted well in the face of many changes in the music industry. It is easy to play “Walkin’ Shoes” loud and proud in 2024 and know that it casts a long shadow on the rock and roll bands who are up and coming today.
These four friends (Anthony, Keith, Patrick, and John) crafted a legendary moment in time with ‘Surprise Attack.’ Happy 35th anniversary to the band and the record! Do yourself a favor and give this a spin. Turn it up loud, just like it was meant to be played.
And be sure to enjoy it with your favorite whiskey!
