Burning Windsor
Burning Windsor | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Vicksburg, MS |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2009-2011, 2026 |
| Website | https://www.facebook.com/people/Burning-Windsor/61590505587938/ |
| Members | Meredith Spencer Dustin Thomas Nathan "Nate" Wright Zac Case |
| Past members | Ted "Ben" Williams |
Burning Windsor is an American heavy metal band from Vicksburg, MS. They gained national attention after being hit by and surviving an EF4 tornado while on their way to play a show in 2010.
Timeline
Formation (2009)
Burning Windsor was formed in the fall of 2009 in Vicksburg, MS after the breakup of Thomas and Spencer's band, One False Move. They decided on naming the new band after the Windsor Ruins in nearby Port Gibson, MS. Spencer and Thomas began recruiting other musicians and added Nathan "Nate" Wright on drums and Ted "Ben" Williams on guitar and vocals.They began writing and performing at local venues across the MidSouth. Their first show was at The Truck Stop in Wesson, MS. In 2009, they released an EP titled “…From the Ashes”.[1]and featured the song "You'll Crowd in the Darkness" which was also the band's debut music video in in 2010[2]. After only a few months, Williams departed from the band and Burning Windsor continued as a 3-piece.
According to ReverbNation, the band had " an explosive on stage show that sets them apart from other acts by promising not only to entertain the audience, but treat them to an experience unlike any other"[3]. The band also opened for various acts, including Fuel.
Tornado (2010)
On April 24, 2010, Thomas and Wright, accompanied by roadie and friend Devin Cessna, were traveling northbound on Interstate 55 approximately five miles south of Durant, MS to play a show at the New Daisy Theatre in Memphis, TN when they encountered the EF-4 tornado that devastated Yazoo City and surrounding communities. The National Weather Service reported winds up to 170 MPH with the tornado measuring at 1.7 miles in width making it one of the largest tornados in Mississippi history. The tornado's path stretched 149 miles in length, devastating many communities along the way and causing 10 fatalities[4].
Spencer had gone to stay with family near Oxford, MS the day before. The next day, the band left Vicksburg for Memphis, TN. When the skies grew dark and were met with heavy rainfall. They pulled over as they were unable to see the road and witnessed a tree falling on top of a trailer in front of them. Within seconds, the band was picked up and tossed by the tornado destroying all their equipment, Jeep, and trailer[5].
All three occupants in the vehicle survived the storm with Wright and Cessna treated at local hospitals for their injuries[6]. Meanwhile, Spencer left his family and traveled south to pick up Thomas from the site. As Wright was getting stitches in his head, he received a phone call from Spencer asking if he would be able to play that evening if they could get equipment. All three agreed to perform if possible. After Wright was discharged from the emergency room in Winona, MS, he was the first to arrive at the venue and met with another band that was scheduled to play that night. That band played their set and then let Burning Windsor borrow their equipment[7]. Ironically, the name of the band was called After the Storm.
Immediately after the performance, the story was featured by numerous news organizations, including appearances associated with international media outlets[8] [9][10]
Aftermath (2010)
Following the tornado, Burning Windsor became the focus of widespread public support.
The band was invited to Atlanta, GA to make an appearance on The Weather Channel and the Wake Up With Al show. While in Atlanta, they were asked to play a live performance at Guitar Center featuring an acoustic song written right after the tornado. After the performance, Guitar Center generously donated the equipment they played on to replace what they had lost in the tornado. Early the next morning, they were featured on a live interview with Al Roker[11]. News of the incident was picked up by international media outlets including an article in The New Zealand Herald[12].They also organized and played a charity event to provide aid to other tornado victims[13]
Soon after recording their music video and during the band's growing national exposure, guitarist Zac Case joined Burning Windsor. Initially brought in to strengthen the band's live performances, Case quickly became a full-time member. His addition expanded the band's live sound and provided additional flexibility during songwriting and recording.
The group entered the recording studio and began work on what was intended to be their breakthrough album.
Breakup (2011)
In July of 2011, while recording the album, internal conflict within the band led to Dustin Thomas's departure.
Following his exit, Spencer, Wright, and Case attempted to continue Burning Windsor by bringing former member Ted "Ben" Williams back into the lineup in hopes of completing the album and continuing the band.
The effort proved short-lived, and Burning Windsor officially disbanded before the album was completed.
Reunion (2026)
Fifteen years after the band's breakup, Thomas, Spencer, and Wright reunited for a podcast interview[14], marking the first time the three founding members had been together since Burning Windsor dissolved
The members happened to stumble across a video on the YouTube channel, @ItsJustArin. The video was a detailed biography of the band by a local metal fan in Jackson, MS[15]. Spencer reached out to the video creator not knowing that Thomas had also reached out to her. Shortly after, Spencer and Wright learned that Thomas had recently moved to Louisiana after living in Chicago and California since the break up. With the close proximity to each other, they agreed to do a follow-up interview with Arin and give her the full story of Burning Windsor.
Following the interview, the three musicians agreed to meet for an informal jam session to see whether the chemistry of the band remained.
The session proved successful, leading the founding members to officially reunite Burning Windsor. The band committed to completing the unfinished album abandoned during its original run and began to write new material. Guitarist Zac Case subsequently rejoined the band, restoring the lineup for the band's renewed chapter. They confirmed on their Facebook page on May 27, 2026 that they were back together shortly before appearing on a podcast on May 31, 2026.
Discography
Studio albums
…From the Ashes (EP)- 2009
Music videos
"You'll Crowd in the Darkness"- 2010
References
- ↑ Burning Windsor (2009), Burning Windsor - ...From the Ashes, retrieved 2026-07-23
- ↑ Burning Windsor (2026-05-27). You'll Crowd in the Darkness. Retrieved 2026-07-23 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Ltd, BandLab Singapore Pte. "Burning Windsor | Other from Vicksburg, MS". ReverbNation. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
- ↑ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "NWS Jackson, MS - April 24, 2010 Violent Long Track Tornado". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
- ↑ "Video of a Band Caught In the Mississippi Tornado!". John Huntington. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
- ↑ Reports, Staff (2010-04-25). "2 from city injured on I-55". Vicksburg Post. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
- ↑ "Vicksburg band caught in tornado, captures frightening moments on cell phone". https://www.wlbt.com. 2010-04-26. Retrieved 2026-07-23. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help); External link in|website=(help) - ↑ Press, The Associated (2010-04-25). "Update: Tornado death toll rises to 10 in Mississippi". syracuse. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
- ↑ "South / Tornadoes | Vanderbilt Television News Archive". tvnews.library.vanderbilt.edu. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
- ↑ Gray, Chris (2010-04-27). "When Animals (And Tornados) Attack: Touring Edition". Houston Press. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
- ↑ dustynitsud (2010-11-02). Burning Windsor on Al Roker. Retrieved 2026-07-23 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Tornado hits Mississippi, USA - Photos News". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
- ↑ Reports, Staff (2010-05-11). "Band preps for national TV gig before concert to help others". Vicksburg Post. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
- ↑ "After 3 Years, I Found Burning Windsor". JXN UNDERGROUND. 2026-07-15. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
- ↑ It's Just Arin (2023-10-02). a metal band, a tornado, and me. Retrieved 2026-07-23 – via YouTube.
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