Tommy Thayer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tommy Thayer
Thayer in 2015
Background information
Born	(1960-11-07) November 7, 1960 (age 64) Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Genres	Hard rock heavy metal glam metal
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter
Instruments	Guitar vocals
Years active	1978–present

Thomas Cunningham Thayer, born on November 7, 1960, is an American musician. He is best known as the lead guitarist and singer for the famous hard rock band Kiss. He played with Kiss from 2002 until their final shows in 2023. Before joining Kiss, he was also the lead guitarist for the band Black 'n Blue.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Tommy Thayer was born on November 7, 1960, in Portland, Oregon. He grew up in Beaverton, Oregon, a town nearby. His mother, Patricia Thayer, was a talented violinist and singer. His father, James Thayer, was a businessman and a retired US Army Brigadier General.

Tommy grew up in a musical family with three brothers and a sister. They listened to all kinds of music, from classical to the Beatles. When he was 13, Tommy started playing electric guitar because he loved hard rock bands from the 1970s. After finishing Sunset High School in 1978, he played in local bands. Eventually, he formed his own group with singer Jaime St. James, which became known as Black 'n Blue.

Black 'n Blue Band

The band Black 'n Blue started in November 1981. They played many shows in the Portland area for over a year. In early 1983, they moved to Southern California. Within six months, they signed a record deal with Geffen Records.

In 1984, the band went to Germany to work with Scorpions producer Dieter Dierks. They released their first album, Black 'n Blue, in August 1984. This album included popular songs like "Hold on to 18" and "School of Hard Knocks," which Tommy helped write. Their next album, Without Love, came out in 1985. Tommy also helped write the song "Miss Mystery" on this album.

After touring with Kiss in 1985, Black 'n Blue worked with Kiss bassist Gene Simmons to produce their next albums, Nasty Nasty (1986) and In Heat (1988). The band broke up in late 1988. Even though he is no longer a full-time member, Tommy has played with Black 'n Blue for special reunion shows. In 2010, the band was honored and added to the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.

Before Joining Kiss

In 1989, Tommy Thayer worked with Gene Simmons from Kiss. He helped write songs and played guitar on demo recordings for Kiss's 1989 album, Hot in the Shade. He co-wrote "Betrayed" and "The Street Giveth, The Street Taketh Away" for that album.

Tommy also helped produce and played guitar on Doro Pesch's album Doro in 1991. In 1992, he joined a band called Shake the Faith. They recorded an album called America the Violent, released in Japan in 1994. Tommy even convinced writer Hunter S. Thompson to create the artwork for the album cover.

Tommy Thayer and Kiss

Thayer performing live with Kiss in 2019

In 1994, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley from Kiss hired Tommy Thayer to help with their book, Kisstory. This led to more projects and eventually a full-time job with Kiss. Tommy helped with many tasks, including managing the 1995 Worldwide Kiss Convention tour and the Kiss MTV Unplugged concert.

Before the 1996 Kiss Alive/Worldwide Tour, Tommy helped original Kiss members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss remember their guitar and drum parts from the 1970s. Tommy also worked as a producer and editor for Kiss videos and films. These included Kiss, The Second Coming (1998), the movie Detroit Rock City (1998), and the TV special The Last Kiss (2000).

By 2002, there was some uncertainty about whether Ace Frehley would continue with Kiss. Tommy was ready to step in as lead guitarist if needed. He first performed with Kiss in their famous "Spaceman" makeup at a private concert in Jamaica in 2002. After that, he appeared with Kiss on TV shows like ABC's Dick Clark's American Bandstand 50th Anniversary Show.

Becoming The Spaceman

After the 2003 concert in Jamaica, Tommy Thayer officially became the lead guitarist for Kiss. In 2003, Tommy and Kiss performed with the 70-piece Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in Australia. All the orchestra members even wore Kiss makeup! This concert was recorded and released as Kiss Symphony: Alive IV. In 2004, Tommy produced the DVD set, Rock the Nation Live!.

Sonic Boom, the first Kiss studio album in 11 years, came out in 2009. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard album chart. Tommy helped write three songs on this album and sang lead vocals on "When Lightning Strikes." A new Kiss album, Monster, was released in 2012. Tommy co-wrote 10 songs and sang lead vocals on "Outta This World."

In 2020, Tommy was asked about his time with Kiss. He said, "My legacy will be a guy who came in, worked hard, and was the glue that kept the band together for a long period of time." He felt he was a team player who helped bring people together.

After Kiss's final shows in December 2023, Tommy reflected on his role. He mentioned that all Kiss guitar players had important parts in the band's history. He felt he joined when the band needed someone to help start a new chapter. He said he grew and improved over the years, and it worked out well for everyone. Tommy also shared that he is not ready to retire and has new plans for the future, though he doesn't plan to join another band.

Signature Epiphone Guitars

Tommy Thayer has his own special Epiphone Les Paul guitars. His first signature model, the "Spaceman" guitar, was released on January 1, 2013. It sold out quickly! He uses Seymour Duncan pickups, and each guitar has a unique look with one pickup covered and one uncovered.

On January 1, 2015, his second signature model, the "White Lightning" Les Paul, was released. Tommy said, "My new White Lightning signature model is the pinnacle of looks, style and flash." This limited edition guitar also sold out by December 2016. Epiphone released his third signature guitar, the "White Lightning" Explorer, in Fall 2017. Tommy says he never leaves home without his Epiphone signature guitars!

Public Service and Helping Others

Tommy Thayer cares about giving back to the community. In 2005, he was elected to the board of trustees at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, and still serves there.

In 2006 and 2007, Tommy helped school band programs in Oregon by arranging for new musical instruments to be donated. In 2010, Tommy and Kiss appeared on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. They helped a family who ran a non-profit music school from their home by providing new instruments.

Kiss also performed at Rockin' the Corps in 2005, a concert for US Marines and military personnel. In 2007, Tommy and Gene Simmons visited the Marines again at Camp Pendleton. This visit was filmed for a TV special on A&E.

Tommy donates all the money he earns from his special Hughes & Kettner guitar amplifier to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. This helps sick and injured children get the medical care they need. In 2012, Tommy helped organize a fundraising event called "All-Star Salute to the Oregon Military." This event raised money for a new Oregon Military Museum, which will be named after his father, Brigadier General James B. Thayer Sr..

Another "All-Star Salute to the Oregon Military" event organized by Tommy in 2014 raised $1.2 million in one night! Kiss even made an appearance and played an acoustic set. Tommy organized a similar event in 2017 to raise more funds for the museum.

In 2016, Tommy, his brother Jim Thayer Jr., and Amy Maxwell started the Oregon Military Museum Project (OMMP). This group helps raise money for the museum. Tommy is currently the President of the OMMP. The museum is now called "The Brigadier General James B. Thayer Oregon Military Museum." In May 2018, Pacific University honored Tommy with a special doctorate degree for his amazing career and his efforts to help others.

Discography

With Black 'n Blue

• Black 'N Blue (1984)
• Without Love (1985)
• Nasty Nasty (1986)
• In Heat (1988)

With Kiss

• Hot in the Shade (1989) (co-wrote songs)
• Revenge (1992) (backing vocals)
• Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions (1997) (co-wrote "Childhood's End")
• Psycho Circus (1998) (played most lead guitar parts)
• Jigoku-Retsuden (2008)
• Sonic Boom (2009)
• Monster (2012)

Guest Appearances

• Loverboy – Lovin' Every Minute of It (1985) (extra backing vocals)
• Doro – Doro (1990) (played guitars and co-wrote "Rock On")

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Tommy Thayer para niños