Happy birthday, Tommy Aldridge

Posted on August 15 2015 by Candy Rock

Categories: #Hard Rock, #Heavy Metal, #Glam Metal, #Blues Rock, #Southern Rock, #Instrumental Rock, #1950, #August

Tommy Aldridge

Happy birthday, Tommy Aldridge...
Born on August 15 1950 in Jackson, Mississippi, U.S., Tommy Aldrige is a drummer who has worked with several artists and bands like Black Oak Arkansas, Ozzy Osbourne, Gary Moore, Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy...
It is bands and musicians like Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Cream, and Jimi Hendrix which inspired Tommy and made him want to learn to play music.
He is a self-taught drummer and his style was influenced by drummers like Ginger Bake, Joe Morelly and John Bonham.
He began his career in the early 70s and was one of the first hard rock drummers using a double-bass setup, making him become a pioneer of that style of drumming.
In 1972, he joined the band Black Oak Arkansas. In June of the same year, the band released its first album featuring Tommy, If an Angel Came to See You, Would You Make Her Feel at Home? (lineup: Jim "Dandy" Mangrum (lead vocals, washboard), Rickie "Ricochet" Reynolds (rhythm guitar, vocals), Pat "Dirty" Daugherty (bass guitar, vocals), Harvey "Burley" Jett (lead guitar, banjo, piano, vocals), Stanley "Goober" Knight (lead guitar, steel guitar, organ, vocals), Tommy Aldridge (drums)).
Tommy stayed in the band from 1972 to 1976 and featured on ten of the band's releases including High on the Hog (1973), the band's most commercially successful album.
When he decided to leave the band, he had difficulties trying to convince the band's management to let him go and it took one year and half of lawsuits for him to be free to record again.
In 1978, Tommy joined Pat Travers' band (lineup in 1978: Pat Travers (guitar, keyboard, vocals), Pat Thrall (guitar, synthesizer, backing vocals), Peter 'Mars' Cowling (bass guitar), Tommy Aldridge (drums)).
He recorded five albums with Pat Travers before moving to the United Kingdom and beginning to work with Gary Moore. Alongside vocalist Charlie Huhn, bassist Jimmy Bain, and keyboardist Don Airey, they recorded the album Dirty Fingers, recorded in 1981 but released in 1983.
Gary Moore made him meet Randy Rhoads, and Tommy replaced Lee Kerslake in Ozzy Osbourne's band once he had finished working with Gary Moore.
With Ozzy Osbourne, Tommy worked on three releases: the studio album Bark at the Moon (1983), and two live albums, Speak of the Devil (1982) and Tribute (recorded through 1980 and 1981 but released in 1987).
In 1986, he formed the supergroup M.A.R.S. with Tony MacAlpine and Rudy Sarzo. The band released only one album, Project: Driver (lineup: Rob Rock (lead vocals), Tony MacAlpine (guitar, keyboard), Rudy Sarzo (bass guitar), Tommy Aldridge (drums)).
The following year, Rudy Sarzo and Tommy joined Whitesnake while the band was touring to promote its self-titled album released earlier that year (lineup in 1987: David Coverdale (lead vocals), Vivian Campbell (guitar), Adrian Vandenberg (guitar), Rudy Sarzo (bass guitar), Tommy Aldridge (drums, percussion)).
Tommy performed on the band's eighth studio album, Slip of the Tongue, released in 1989.
Shortly after the tour promoting the album, David Coverdale put the band on indefinite hiatus.
In 1993, with his former bandmates from Whitesnake Adrian Vandenberg and Rudy Sarzo, Tommy formed the band Manic Eden. With singer Ron Young, the band released a self-titled in March 1994.
Through the 90s, Tommy worked with several artists and bands such as Motörhead (March ör Die, 1992), House of Lords (Demons Down, 1992), Pata (Pata, 1993), and Patrick Rondat (Amphibia, 1996, and On the Edge, 1999). Tommy also performed with vocalist James LaBrie, guitarist Marty Friedman and bassist Tony Franklin on the track Another One Bites the Dust on the album Dragon Attack: A Tribute to Queen.
In 1998, he joined Thin Lizzy. He stayed in the band three years and played on their live album One Night Only, released in 2000 (lineup: John Sykes (lead vocals, guitar), Scott Gorham (guitar, backing vocals), Marco Mendoza (bass guitar), Tommy Aldridge (drums), Darren Wharton (keyboards)).
Tommy joined Whitesnake again in 2002 when the band reformed for its 25th anniversary (lineup: David Coverdale (lead vocals), Doug Aldrich (guitar), Reb Beach (guitar), Marco Mendoza (bass guitar), Tommy Aldridge (drums, percussion), Timothy Drury (keyboards)).
In 2006, the band released the live concert DVD Live... In the Still of the Night, filmed on October 20 2004 at the Hammersmith Apollo in London.
One year later, Tommy left Whitesnake to join Thin Lizzy again.
The band cancelled all its shows for the second half of 2009 after that John Sykes had left the band. When the band started to work again in 2010, Tommy was not included in the new lineup because he was still healing from a fracture of the collarbone which had occured in late June 2009.
In January 2013, Tommy joined Whitesnake for the third time.
In May 2015, the band released The Purple Album, an album consisting of covers of Deep Purple songs from the period David Coverdale was the lead singer of that band (current lineup of Whitesnake: David Coverdale (lead vocals), Reb Beach (guitar, backing vocals), Joel Hoekstra (guitar, backing vocals), Michael Devin (bass guitar, harmonica, backing vocals), Tommy Aldridge (drums, percussion)).
Through his career, Tommy has become a very influential drummer and is known for performing "hands-only" percussion (he plays snare, tomtoms, and cymbals without sticks) during his drum solo.
To conclude, we wish a happy birthday and years of rock to Tommy Aldridge!

Tommy Aldridge

[french version :
Joyeux anniversaire, Tommy Aldridge ...
Né le 15 août 1950 à Jackson, Mississippi, U.S., Tommy Aldrige est un batteur qui a travaillé avec de nombreux artistes et groupes tels que Black Oak Arkansas, Ozzy Osbourne, Gary Moore, Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy...
Ce sont des groupes et musiciens comme Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Cream, et Jimi Hendrix qui ont inspiré Tommy et lui ont fait vouloir apprendre à jouer de la musique.
Il est autodidacte et son tyle a été influencé par des batteurs comme Ginger Bake, Joe Morelly et John Bonham.
Il commence sa carrière au début des années 70 et est l'un des premiers batteurs de hard rock à utiliser une batterie à double grosse caisse, faisant de lui un pionier de ce style à la batterie.
En 1972, il rejoint le groupe Black Oak Arkansas. En juin de la même année, le groupe sort son premier album où Tommy joue, If an Angel Came to See You, Would You Make Her Feel at Home? (lineup : Jim "Dandy" Mangrum (chant, planche à laver), Rickie "Ricochet" Reynolds (guitare rythmique, chant), Pat "Dirty" Daugherty (basse, chant), Stanley "Goober" Knight (lead guitare, steel guitar, orgue, chant), Tommy Aldridge (batterie)).
Tommy reste dans le groupe de 1972 à 1976 t joue sur dix disques du groupe dont High on the Hog (1973), l'album du groupe ayant connut le plus de succès.
Quand il décide de quitter le groupe, il est difficile pour lui de convaincre le management du groupe de le laisser partir et il a fallut un an et demi de procès avant qu'il ne soit libre d'enregistrer à nouveau.
En 1978, Tommy rejoint le groupe de Pat Travers (lineup en 1978 : Pat Travers (guitare, clavier, chant), Pat Thrall (guitare, synthétiseur, choeur), Peter 'Mars' Cowling (basse), Tommy Aldridge (batterie)).
Il enregistre cinq albums avec Pat Travers avant de déménager au Royaume-Uni et de commencer à travailler avec Gary Moore. Aux côtés du chanteur Charlie Huhn, du bassiste Jimmy Bain, et du claviériste Don Airey, ils enregistrent l'album Dirty Fingers, enregistré en 1981 mais sorti en 1983.
Gary Moore lui permet de rencontrer Randy Rhoads, et Tommy part remplacer Lee Kerslake dans le groupe d'Ozzy Osbourne une fois son travail auprès de Gary Moore terminé.
Avec Ozzy Osbourne, Tommy joue sur trois albums : l'album studio Bark at the Moon (1983), et deux live albums, Speak of the Devil (1982) et Tribute (enregistré durant 1980 et 1981 mais sorti en 1987).
En 1986, il forme le supergroup M.A.R.S. avec Tony MacAlpine et Rudy Sarzo. Le groupe ne sort qu'un album, Project: Driver (lineup : Rob Rock (chant), Tony MacAlpine (guitare, clavier), Rudy Sarzo (basse), Tommy Aldridge (batterie)).
L'année suivante, Rudy Sarzo et Tommy rejoignent Whitesnake alors en tournée pour promouvoir leur album éponyme sorti plus tôt cette année là (lineup en 1987 : David Coverdale (chant), Vivian Campbell (guitare), Adrian Vandenberg (guitare), Rudy Sarzo (basse), Tommy Aldridge (batterie, percussions)).
Tommy joue sur le huitième album studio du groupe, Slip of the Tongue, sorti en 1989.
Peu après la tournée promouvant cet album, Dave Coverdale met le groupe en hiatus pour une durée indéfinie.
En 1993, avec ses anciens camarades de Whitesnake Adrian Vandenberg et Rudy Sarzo, Tommy forme le groupe Manic Eden. Avec le chanteur Ron Young, le groupe sort un album éponyme en mars 1994.
Durant les années 90, Tommy travaille avec de nombreux artistes tel que Motörhead (March ör Die, 1992), House of Lords (Demons Down, 1992), Pata (Pata, 1993), et Patrick Rondat (Amphibia, 1996, et On the Edge, 1999). Tommy a aussi joué Another One Bites the Dust avec le chanteur James Labrie, le guitariste Marty Friedman et le bassiste Tony Franklin sur l'album Dragon Attack: A Tribute to Queen.
En 1998, il rejoint Thin Lizzy. Il reste trois ans dans le groupe et joue sur leur live album One Night Only, sorti en 2000 (lineup : John Sykes (chant, guitare), Scott Gorham (guitare, choeur), Marco Mendoza (basse), Tommy Aldridge (batterie), Darren Wharton (clavier)).
Tommy retourne dans Whitesnake en 2002 quand le groupe se reforme pour son 25ème anniversaire (lineup : David Coverdale (chant), Doug Aldrich (guitare), Reb Beach (guitare), Marco Mendoza (basse), Tommy Aldridge (batterie, percussions), Timothy Drury (clavier)).
En 2006, le groupe sort le DVD de concert Live... In the Still of the Night, filmé le 20 octobre 2004 au Hammersmith Apollo à Londres.
Un an plus tard, Tommy quitte Whitesnake pour retourner jouer avec Thin Lizzy.
Le groupe annule tous ses concerts de la seconde moitié de 2009 après que John Sykes ait quitté le groupe. Quand le groupe recommence à ravailler en 2010, Tommy n'est pas inclut dans le lineup car, s'étant fracturé la clavicule fin juin 2009, il est toujours en convalescence.
En janvier 2013, Tommy retourne dans Whitesnake pour la troisième fois.
En mai 2015, le groupe sort The Purple Album, un albulm consistant de covers de chansons de Deep Purple datant de la période où David Coverdale chantait pour ce groupe (lineup actuel de Whitesnake : David Coverdale (chant), Reb Beach (guitare, choeur), Joel Hoekstra (guitar, choeur), Michael Devin (basse, harmonica, choeur), Tommy Aldridge (batterie, percussions)).
Durant sa carrière, Tommy est devenu un batteur influent et est connu pour faire des percussions uniquement avec les mains (il joue de la caisse claire, du tambour et frappe les cymbale sans baguettes) pendant ses solos de batterie.
Pour conclure, nous souhaitons un heureux anniversaire et des années de rock à Tommy Aldridge !]