I was born the youngest of 13 brothers in a poor black neighborhood. I was originally named Maven but then switched to Tom years later. Born and raised to play sports in Long Island N.Y.(birthplace of Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, John Petrucci) The sports obsession continued through high school, but at age 13 something else came along, The rock-n-roll bug hit me like a ton of bricks. My memory is vivid, although normally it isn't. My family was on vacation in Florida and my older brother wanted to see the Led Zepplin movie,"The Song Remains the Same. I went along with him, although I didn't really care for them at the time. When I left the theater, I knew that rock music would be part of the rest of my life. My world was changed forever. I'd never seen anything like Jimmy Page's guitar before. I was devastated in the best of ways. I did not attempt to play guitar till I was 18. I eventually began playing in bands after 2 years and did the local circuit. By some sort of Karma I met up with the rest of the nutjobs in this band. For some reason we hit it off. I think it's because they may be more wacked out then I am. I care only about one thing. "Original Music" and these guys were on the same page. Although our musical tastes differ dramatically, I think it's a good blend.
TOM'S TIDBITS:
MUST WATCH MOVIES NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU'VE SEEN THEM:
Predator,Roadhouse, Aliens,Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Blazing Saddles, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and early X-Files
SONGS THAT MADE ME SAY WOW WHAT WAS THAT: Dazed and Confused Live-Led Zepplin, Eruption-Van Halen, Jeff Beck-Cause we ended as lovers, Welcome to the Jungle- Guns&Roses, Steve Vai-Blue Powder, Queen of the Ryche-Queensryche, This Love-Pantera, Pat Metheny Still Life Talking CD Shawn Lane-Powers of ten CD, and Al Dimeola- Race with the Devil on a Spanish Highway. BEST ROCK GUITAR SOLOS: Rock Bottom-UFO(Micheal Schenker) Train kept a rollin-Aerosmith(although studio guitarist Dick Wagner did the solos Hiroshima Mon Amore-Alcatraz(Yngwie Malmsteen)Lies-Dream Theatre. Everything by Steve Vai and Shawn Lane.
HOTTEST MOVIE STARS EVER: Raquel Welch in 10,000,000 years B.C. Bridgette Bardot- God Created Women Ursula Andress-The 10th Victim, Pam Anderson-first playboy video, Raquel Darrian
BEST SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE SKITS: Sinatra Group,. Fred Garvin Male prostitute, Massive Headwoun Harry, Pizza Boys Sweeney Sisters Lounge Singer Nick Winters(Bill Murray Julia Child, Spartan Cheerleaders
QUOTE: My mind is aglow with whirling nodes of thought, careening through a waterfall of creative alternatives.
By the way.....I'm the guitar player. |
