Following the 2022 release of The Lost Tapes, BLACK ‘N BLUE frontman Jaime St. James has once again teamed up with longtime friend and former bandmate — and current KISS guitarist — Tommy Thayer. Their new six‑song EP, “Bombshell”, marks the first time since the late ’80s that the two musicians have created brand‑new material together. The EP is available exclusively through the duo’s official website.
According to St. James and Thayer, this reunion wasn’t driven by a grand concept or a calculated comeback. Instead, they simply wanted to reconnect creatively and see where the chemistry led them.
“The joy for us is in the process,” Jaime explains. “These six songs are just two best friends doing what we love most — writing and recording music together.”
“Bombshell” delivers a punchy set of all‑new tracks steeped in classic ’80s hard rock spirit. St. James sounds revitalized, delivering some of his strongest and most controlled vocal performances in years, while Thayer’s guitar work is sharp, confident, and full of swagger.
When asked why the project wasn’t released under the Black ‘N Blue name, St. James was very clear:
“Because it’s not Black ‘N Blue — it’s THAYER‑ST. JAMES.”
He explained that The Lost Tapes — recorded in 1989 and released in 2022 — also came out under the THAYER/ST. JAMES banner because it featured only the two of them, without the rest of the band.
St. James recalls suggesting the idea of a sequel:
“I called Tommy and said, ‘How about THAYER‑ST. JAMES 2?’ And he said, ‘Let’s do it.’”
He added that working as a duo brings a refreshing simplicity compared to a full band dynamic:
“With a band, there are always too many opinions. With just the two of us, the creativity flows.”
Thayer, for his part, has no plans to rejoin Black ‘N Blue, making this collaboration its own distinct entity.
“At least the music’s alive,” Jaime says — and Bombshell proves exactly that.
A tight, energetic EP crafted by two musicians who still share undeniable chemistry, “Bombshell” is a must‑hear for fans of Black ‘N Blue, KISS, and ’80s‑inspired hard rock.