It’s been over twenty years since Black ‘N Blue first formed in Portland, Oregon and well over a decade since the band split, but interest in the quintet has possibly never been higher.

The biggest reason for this is clearly because former guitarist Tommy Thayer has moved from being merely Kiss' road manager to succeeding Ace Frehley in the lead guitarist role in the group.

However, in recent months, the four albums Black ‘N Blue recorded for Geffen Records throughout the 80s have been re-issued by UK label Majestic Rock. It was about time, as the original, Japanese only released CD reissues had started to attract crazy prices on auction site  e-bay.

Heck, according to reports from the US, ‘Hold On To 18’ (the band’s first ever single) is even being given massive airtime on VH1’s ‘Metal Mania’ show!

And now, ladies and gentlemen, vocalist Jaime St. James is reviving the group, who are presently recording a brand new album for release by UK independent label Z Records.

The debut Black ‘N Blue album was released in the summer of 1984. ‘Without Love’ (1985), ‘Nasty Nasty’ (86) and ‘In Heat’ (88) followed, before the band went their separate ways at the turn of the ‘90s.

Tommy Thayer and St. James maintained the highest profiles post break-up. The former recorded with Harlow and Shake The Faith, while the latter released albums with solo projects Freight Train Jane and St. James.

Bizarrely, the duo are often considered to have been a catalyst for the original line-up of Kiss to reunite in 1996, after becoming a popular draw in L.A. clubs in the tribute band Cold Gin. In a vision of things to come, Thayer spookily adopted the persona of Ace Frehley …

As for the remaining trio, bassist Patrick Young returned to Portland and joined Ten Pound Rain; drummer Pete Holmes recorded with Monster and second guitarist Jeff ‘Woop’ Warner built his own recording studio.

Remaining firm friends, the band spectacularly reunited in the autumn of 1997 with a one-off club show in Portland, captured for posterity on the ‘One Night Only: Live’ album, released through Thayer’s Eon label.

But with Thayer’s work with Kiss taking him out of the equation, the band went their separate ways once more. But when word came through that Z had signed Black ‘N Blue, ‘Classic Rock’ was keen to find out more…

So, who is in the band these days?

"Everybody you’re all familiar with except, obviously, Tommy", reveals Jaime. "He would love to be involved, but, he’s a bit busy right now!

Who is the lucky guy filling his boots?

"Shawn Sonnenschein. He’s a bit of an unknown hotshot from the West Coast".

Sonnenschein made his live debut with B’NB at a show at Club Vodka in Hollywood back in August.

When a full-scale reunion was decided upon then Jaime, who made the call? Who made that decision to record again?

"I’m the one responsible! I’d originally signed to Z Records as a solo artist, but then this became an opportunity to do a Black ‘N Blue record."

Had the move been made on the back of Thayer’s success with Kiss though?

"Tommy was the first I called. After all, he and I put the band together. It’s a real negative that he can’t be involved. He would love to be involved, but is obviously rather busy at the moment!

"But, as far as the other guys were concerned, there was no real persuading to do. They were all really eager to do it. The thing is, when we play together it’s so fun, so natural.

"We recently did another reunion show in Portland – with Tommy – in June 2003 to play a charity gig in aid of Patrick Young’s brother Jeff, who has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Gene Simmons was compere for the evening."

That, it would appear, was the precursor to the full-blown reunion.

"We’re currently recording in Portland. I came up from California for a few weeks and I’m still here! We’re recording at Jeff’s studio, taking our time and getting all the basic tracks done. It’s very Black ‘N Blue. Nice and heavy.

"It’s exciting. The time is right. We’re really sticking to the classic Black ‘N Blue sound, like a cross between our first and second records.

While the album is being self-produced, with Jeff Warner dealing with engineering duties, Jaime is handling songwriting, with significant input from Jeff. Tracks include ‘Hell Yeah!’ (the title track and recently featured in demo form on a Z Records sampler CD), ‘Hail, Hail Rock ‘n Roll’, ‘You’re My Monkey’, ‘World Goes Round’ and a Led Zeppelin-ish ballad titled ‘True Love Lies’.

But for hardcore Black ‘N Blue fans, the news that the classic ‘Violent Kid’ is finally set to appear on a B’NB studio album will surely whet a few appetites!

"We did record it for the live album, of course, but because Geffen were never keen on the song, it never appeared on our previous records".

‘Hell Yeah!’ is set for release later this year. And the possibility exists of another album full of unreleased demos (B’NB’s second such release) appearing in the future with Tommy Thayer involved in putting that project together. Jaime also reveals a desire to re-record some of those early songs as well.

In the meantime, the new-look Black ‘N Blue have been hitting the road, with shows in California. They also have their sights set on making it over to Europe as well; the first time B’NB will have played here since a one-off show opening for Whitesnake and Headpins at Hammersmith Odeon way back in 1984.

As the man says, these are "exciting times".