Happy birthday, Tico Torres

Posted on October 7 2015 by Candy Rock

Categories: #Rock, #Hard Rock, #Heavy Metal, #Jazz Fusion, #Blues, #Glam Metal, #1953, #October

Tico Torres drummer and percussionist for rock band Bon Jovi

Happy birthday, Tico Torres...
Born Héctor Juan Samuel Torres on October 7 1953 in New York, U.S., Tico Torres, also known as The Hitman, is a drummer and percussionist mostly known as the drummer of Bon Jovi.
When he was young, Tico was a jazz fan.
In 1969, he played in a psychedelic rock band called Six Feet Under.
He worked as a studio musician with various artists like Alice Cooper, Cher, Chuck Berry, Pat Benatar... He recorded a total of 26 albums as a studio musician.
He was the original drummer of T. Roth and Another Pretty Face. He played on their debut album, Face Facts (1980).
Later, he met Alec John Such while playing with Phantom's Opera. It's due to him that he met Jon Bon Jovi who proposed him to join Bon Jovi.
Even if Jon Bon Jovi was 9 years younger than him, Tico decided to join the band because he saw Jon Bon Jovi performing and he thought he was very charismatic.
Bon Jovi released its debut album, Bon Jovi, in 1984 (lineup in 1984: Jon Bon Jovi (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar), Richie Sambora (lead guitar, talkbox, backing vocals), Alec John Such (bass, backing vocals), Tico Torres (drums, percussion), David Bryan (keyboards, piano, backing vocals)).
Soon after the release of its first album, the band toured with Scorpions in the US and with Kiss in Europe.
In 1986, the band moved to Vancouver, Canada, to record their third album, Slippery When Wet. The album went number one in the U.S. and stayed 8 weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 album charts.
Bon Jovi headlined Monsters of Rock festival in August 1987. During their performance, they were joined by Dee Snider, Bruce Dickinson and Paul Stanley to play We're an American Band.
Tico plays the drums on Richie Sambora's solo album, Stranger In This Town, released in 1991.
Tico is not only a musician but also a painter. He started exhibiting his art in 1994.
In 1994, Alec John Such left the band and was unofficially replaced by Hugh McDonald.
In 1999, after an almost four year hiatus, the band reunited and started working on the album Crush, which was released in 2000.
Bon Jovi released its thirteenth studio album, What About Now, on March 8 2013.
On April 2 2013, Richie Sambora left the band for "personal reasons" and was replaced by Phil X for the remainer of the tour.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band's first album (Bon Jovi - 1984), the album New Jersey was reissued.
To conclude, we wish a happy birthday and years of rock to Tico Torres!

Tico Torres, Bon Jovi - Stadio San Siro, Milano (2013) - credit: Francesco Castaldo

Tico Torres, Bon Jovi

[french version :
Joyeux anniversaire, Tico Torres ...
Né Héctor Juan Samuel Torres le 7 octobre 1953 à New York, U.S., Tico Torres, aussi connu sous le surnom The Hitman, est un batteur et percussioniste mieux connu en tant que batteur de Bon Jovi.
Jeune, Tico est fan de jazz.
En 1969, il joue dans un groupe de rock psychédélique appelé Six Feet Under.
Il travaille en tant que musicien de studio avec différents artistes comme Alice Cooper, Cher, Chuck Berry, Pat Benatar... Il enregistre un total de 26 albums en tant que musicien de studio.
Il est le batteur original du groupe T. Roth and Another Pretty Face. Il joue sur le premier album, Face Facts (1980).
Plus tard, il rencontre Alec John Such avec un groupe appelé Phantom's Opera. C'est grace à lui qu'il rencontre Jon Bon Jovi qui lui propose de rejoindre Bon Jovi. Bien que Jon Bon Jovi soit 9 ans plus jeune que lui, Tico décide de rejoindre le groupe car il a vu Jon Bon Jovi sur scène et pense qu'il est très charismatique.
Bon Jovi sort son premier album, Bon Jovi, en 1984 (lineup en 1984 : Jon Bon Jovi (chants, guitare rythmique, guitare acoustique), Richie Sambora (lead guitare, talkbox, choeurs), Alec John Such (basse, choeur), Tico Torres (batterie, percussions), David Bryan (claviers, piano, choeurs)).
Peu après la sortie du premier album, le groupe tourne avec Scorpions aux Etats-Unis et avec Kiss en Europe.
En 1986, le groupe part à Vancouver, Canada, pour enregistrer son troisième album, Slippery When Wet. L'album est numéro 1 aux Etats-Unis et reste numéro 1 dans les charts du Billboard 200 pendant 8 semaines.
Bon Jovi est la tête d'affiche du festival Monsters of Rock en Août 1987. Pendant leur performance, ils sont rejoints par Dee Snider, Bruce Dickinson et Paul Stanley pour jouer We're an American Band.
Tico joue de la batterie sur l'album solo de Richie Sambora, Stranger In This Town, sorti en 1991.
Tico n'est pas seulement un musicien mais aussi un peintre. Il commence à exposer ses peintures en 1994.
En 1994, Alec John Such quitte le groupe et est officieusement remplacé par Hugh McDonald.
En 1999, après un hiatus de presque 4 ans, le groupe se réunit et commence à travailler sur l'album Crush, qui est sorti en 2000.
Bon Jovi sort son treizième, What About Now, le 8 mars 2013.
Le 2 avril 2013, Richie Sambora quitte le groupe pour "raisons personnelles" et est remplacé par Phil X pour le restant de la tournée.
Pour célèbrer le 30ème anniversaire du premier album du groupe (Bon Jovi - 1984), l'album New Jersey est réédité.
Pour conclure, nous souhaitons un heureux anniversaire et des années de rock à Tico Torres !]