It’s been a monumental year for Thursday, the New Jersey post-hardcore legends. After breaking a decade-long silence with Application For Release From the Dream in April, they’ve returned with their second single of 2024, White Bikes. Dropped on the 25th anniversary of their first-ever release, the track carries layers of nostalgia, innovation, and heartfelt dedication.
Recorded at Berlin’s iconic Hansa Studios—where the likes of David Bowie, Nick Cave, Iggy Pop, and Depeche Mode have etched their legacies—White Bikes was born from a session that vocalist Geoff Rickly calls magical. “There are still magical places left in this world, and Hansa is one of them,” Rickly shared. The band’s visit to the legendary space not only resulted in this track but also a video that captures the spirit of their time in Berlin.
Rickly described the deeply personal nature of the song: “The lyrics deal with the loss of a dear friend—one of the first people I ever played music with—who disappeared one day on his bike. This one means a lot to us for a lot of different reasons.” Crafted from an idea by guitarist Norman Brannon, the track exudes his signature style. Touring bassist Stu Richardson also played a key role, envisioning the song as “a nostalgic, upbeat, summertime version of War All the Time.”
In their official statement, Thursday expressed gratitude to their fans for unwavering support over the years:
“SURPRISE! We’ve been blown away by your support this year: you’ve bought our merch, come to our shows, streamed our music. In April we dropped our first song in over a decade. Then in June we had the opportunity to spend some time at Hansa studios in Berlin, where David Bowie wrote and recorded Heroes, where Nick Cave, Iggy Pop, Depeche Mode and REM all made history. There are still magical places left in this world and Hansa is one of them. The result of this session — a song called “White Bikes” and a video documenting our time in Berlin — will start to appear online as the clock strikes midnight around the world tonight / tomorrow morning. Twenty five years to the day that we unveiled our first ever song, we are sharing our newest one.”
With White Bikes now out, Thursday is celebrating their history in style. This weekend, they’ll perform their debut album, Waiting, in full during three intimate shows in New Jersey. Following this, they’re set to join Silverstein’s 25th-anniversary tour and will also appear at My Chemical Romance’s massive NJ date at MetLife Stadium in August.
“WHITE BIKES” lyrics:
White bikes on the side of the road
Last night I heard a crash on 22
And you were never the same
Did you forget your name as the pedals turned and the road unspooled ahead?
Some days I still see your name on the side of the crosstown bus
It’s like something’s looking after us
You asked me to look for you on the overpass near 22
I’m waiting, I’m waiting for you to come around again (turn the radio up or how will I ever know?)
Why am I still waiting for you to come around again? (The radio’s on, how can you turn it down?)
White bikes on the side of the road
Last night I had a dream about your house.
It was never the same
Since they threw out your bed
And changed the locks
And told everyone you were dead.
You asked me to look for you
On the overpass near 22
I’m waiting, I’m waiting for you to come around again (turn the radio up or how will I ever know?)
Why am I still waiting for you to come around again? (The radio’s on, how can you turn it down?)
How can you turn it down
How can you turn it down
When the flowers turn in a purple shock
How can you turn it down
How can you turn it down
How can you turn it down
When the neon lights make you feel like god
How can you turn it down
How can you turn it down
How can you turn it down
When your friends are here and the music’s loud
How can you turn it down
When your song comes on
How can you turn it down?
I’m waiting, I’m waiting for you to come around again (turn the radio up or how will I ever know?)
Why am I still waiting for you to come around again? (Turn it up, turn it up, turn the radio up or how will I ever know?)
Am I still waiting?
