I have no nickname, although I think it is curious that musicians and people that have met me through my music
endeavors tend to call me Tommy and everyone else usually calls me Tom.
Top 5 favorite CD's.
I have so many favorite CDs I could not choose five top ones-but I am a really big fan of Peter Gabriel
1st job you ever had.
First job I ever had was at a drive in called "Dog & Suds" in Riverside, Missouri-I was 15.
Do you have any favorite "celtic artists" you listen to?
I actually have very little knowledge of "celtic" artists-the other members of the band have been turning me onto really
great things. My tastes in music are very diverse, and there is very good and very bad in all forms. The coolest "celtic"
thing that I have heard thus far would probably have to be this song by Richard Thomson that Ian had on a compilation
CD. You would have to ask him what the name of it was-he is going to make a copy for me. It was a beautiful ballad
and had these great chord changes in it. I love that stuff-great heeart in the music. Even slow delicate songs can have
tremendous power. I like ballads a lot, if they have that heart-Some faves: "Since I've Been Lovin' You" (Led Zeppelin
III), "forever" or "Conviction of the Heart" (Kenny Loggins), "I Ain't That Lonely Yet" (Dwight Yokum), "I Am" (Train),
The Difference (Kings X).
Who was your inspiration to play from the beginning?
I was inspired to be a drummer when I first saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan. It is interesting that several really well
known drummers were similarly inspired. Later on, I got into a lot of rock drummers, but I also loved jazz players,
especially Buddy Rich, who was quite simply the greatest drummer who ever lived and ultimately my greatest influence
(there are many others).
Other recordings you can be found on ?
I have played on a lot of stuff-I did a couple albums with a band called "Orphann" and I played all the drums on an
album called "Window Shopping in Fools Paradise" by a band called YLD-it was marketed worldwide and does not list
me in the credits, but I played all the drums on it nevertheless. I quiet the band right after the recording was finished and
that pissed off the producer-heehee. I used to do session work for several studios and, as such, played on a lot of things
I never got to hear.
Favorite Cartoon
I love the original Warner Bros. cartoons-Bugs, Daffy, Porky, Foghorn Leghorn, Marvin the Martian, the Fur Monster
with the tennis shoes, Road Runner, etc. I love that cartoon about the big bulldog and the little kitten. He hates the
kitten at first and then grows to love it so much he lets it sleep on his back.
Favorite book
Many great ones-I don't know-I really liked one about The Beatles called "The Love You Make." I don't get enough
time to read anymore-Imange that.
Favorite sitcom
I don't usually watch sitcoms, but I like the police shows (car chases and that junk - haha) also World's Worst
Drivers...hahaha....what a hoot!!! People do some stupid stuff...just like me I guess, except at least I know hot to back
up.
Favorite British Sitcom
Monty Python?
Guinness or Harp?
I like Harp myself but the people in Ireland I talked to think it tastes like shit. They like Guinness and US domestic beers
like Bud and Coors.
Dewer's or Glenfiddich?
I don't drink enough Scotch to give an opinion-curious coming from a Scotsman, eh?
If you could play anywhere, where would that be? Somewhere you've never played before.
I'd like to play Red Rocks someday. Or maybe in front of the Sphinx, like Pink Floyd did in their early movie.
Anything special you do to prepare for a show?
I try to warm up my wrists for about 10 minutes before a show but sometimes I don't have time or I just forget.
Favorite vacation spot?
Favorite vacation spots would be Colorado Rocky Mountains, Oregon (Cascade Lakes region) and (new) Clifden,
County Galway on the Western Irish coast. It is REALLY gorgeous.
Where you born with that nice husky voice?
Thank you for the compliment-I must have cried a lot as a baby and wrecked my throat haha-I actually think it
developed from years of smoking (I quit in February of 2000.)
Law and order, Law and order-Special Victim's Unit, or Law and Order-Criminal Intent?
I don't watch this regularly but Law and Order is Mary Ann's favorite show-so I have ended up watching it a number of
times. I take it there are two versions, but I haven't noticed. I like what I have seen though. It is very interesting-I like
CSI, also.
