Tommy Aldridge

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Tommy Aldridge : biography

August 15, 1950 –

Soon after, Aldridge, along with bassist and former Ozzy Osbourne-bandmate Rudy Sarzo, joined forces with guitar/keyboard virtuoso Tony MacAlpine to form a short-lived project called M.A.R.S.. Close friends, Aldridge and Sarzo then both joined Whitesnake, a band who were then touring in support of the highly successful Whitesnake album. Aldridge and Sarzo then performed on the band’s follow-up album, Slip Of The Tongue, released in 1989. Announcing he was going to take a break from the music industry, Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale put the band on indefinite hiatus after the tour.

Following his stint in Whitesnake, Aldridge played in the band Manic Eden, with his former Whitesnake bandmates Adrian Vandenberg and Sarzo. The line-up also included former Little Caesar vocalist Ron Young.

During the 1990s Aldridge worked with numerous acts ranging from Motörhead to Ted Nugent.

From 2002 Aldridge toured with Whitesnake alongside David Coverdale (vocals), Doug Aldrich (guitar), Reb Beach (guitar), Marco Mendoza/Uriah Duffy (bass) and Timothy Drury (keyboards). Aldridge left Whitesnake in 2007 to pursue alternate musical endeavours. – New drummer Chris Frazier interviewed on Whitesnake.com

From 2007 to 2009, Aldridge was touring with Thin Lizzy alongside Scott Gorham, John Sykes and Marco Mendoza. The latter part of his drum solo in this Thin Lizzy tour includes a "hands-only" percussion piece where he plays snare, tomtoms, and cymbals without sticks as he also did while touring with Black Oak Arkansas, Pat Travers, Ozzy Osbourne and Whitesnake.

Tommy has been an in demand drum clinician since the early 1980s, and no matter who he works with, much of his work involves drum clinics and festivals each year. Aldridge plays Yamaha drums, a company he has been with since 1982. Yamaha has made Tommy a custom "soon to be released" Signature Snare drum that is a 7×14 Stainless Steel model with die cast hoops and black chrome hardware. He also endorses Paiste cymbals. His cymbal selection can vary, but he strongly prefers the brighter sounds of the 2002, Signature and RUDE cymbals that they offer. Tommy’s official website

It had been announced that Thin Lizzy, along with The Answer, were to support AC/DC at stadium shows in England, Ireland and Scotland at the end of June 2009, but these appearances were cancelled after Aldridge broke his collarbone in an accident. On 30 June, the band’s website announced that John Sykes had left Thin Lizzy and all shows for the rest of 2009 were cancelled or postponed. Gorham has stated that he will announce Thin Lizzy’s future plans shortly. In May 2010 Thin Lizzy did not include Aldridge in the new line up, due to original drummer Brian Downey returning.

On January 25th, 2013, it was announced that Tommy will be rejoining his former band Whitesnake.

Notes

Equipment

Yamaha Drums:

  • 7×14 Stainless Steel Signature Snare Drum
  • 22 x 18 Kick Drum
  • 22 x 18 Kick Drum
  • 12 x 9 Rack Tom
  • 13 x 10 Rack Tom
  • 16 x 16 Floor Tom
  • 18 x 16 Floor Tom

Cymbals: Paiste (left to right):

  • 17" Signature Full Crash
  • 19" RUDE Thin Crash
  • 20" 2002 Medium Crash
  • 13" 2002 Medium Sound-Edge Hi-Hats
  • 14" 2002 Wild Hi-Hats
  • 16" Signature Thin China
  • 18" 2002 Medium Crash
  • 12" Signature Splash
  • 18" RUDE Thin Crash
  • 16" Signature Thin China
  • 15" Signature Fast Crash
  • 22" 2002 Power Ride
  • 18" 2002 Medium Crash
  • 19" Signature Power Crash
  • 20" 2002 Medium Crash

Drum Heads : Remo:

  • Snare Batter Head: Controlled Sound X
  • Snare Resonant Head: Hazy Ambassador
  • Tom Batter Heads: Clear Emporers
  • Tom Resonant Heads: Clear Ambassaors
  • Kick Drum Batter Heads: Powerstroke 3 Clear
  • Kick Drum Resonant Heads: Stock Yamaha Logo Heads

Drum Sticks: Pro-Mark:

  • Tommy Aldridge Signature Series Oak 2B