Tommy Aldridge
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Tommy Aldridge is a journeyman drummer, pioneering heavy metal drumming, and noted for his work with Ozzy Osbourne, Black Oak Arkansas, Pat Travers, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Manic Eden.
Born on August 15, 1950, in Jackson, Mississippi, Aldridge taught himself how to play drums and was inspired by rock legends like Cream, the Beatles, and Jimi Hendrix.
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[edit] Career
In the 1970s, Aldridge joined up and coming rockers Black Oak Arkansas and recorded nine albums with them between 1972 and 1976. He also undertook long tours around the US with the band.
He spent 1978 to 1981 signed with Canadian blues-rock guitarist Pat Travers, and recorded five albums with him. Aldridge was then offered a place in Ozzy Osbourne's band, which he accepted. Playing alongside Ozzy and guitarist Randy Rhoads, the line up is preserved on 1987's Tribute. After Rhoads' death the band continued to record, producing a live album in 1982 called Speak of the Devil and a studio album, Bark at the Moon in 1983, after which Aldridge left the group.
Aldridge joined Gary Moore to record Dirty Fingers in 1984 before accepting an offer from David Coverdale of Whitesnake. However, before joining Whitesnake for the "Whitesnake 1987" tour he joined forces with longtime friend and bass player Rudy Sarzo to form "Project Driver" a Shrapnel Records band which not only failed commercially but was a project he personally financed and cost him his marriage. He was too late to appear on the successful Whitesnake 1987 album, but toured with the band extensively. He appears on Slip of the Tongue, released in 1989 which was less successful and resulted in the group breaking up a year later.
After Whitesnake, he played in the band Manic Eden, with his former Whitesnake bandmates, Adrian Vandenberg and Rudy Sarzo. The line-up also included former Little Caesar vocalist Ron Young.
Aldridge has continued as "journeyman" drummer, touring and recording live albums.
Throughout his career he has been regarded as a double bass drumming pioneer along with Louis Bellson and Carmine Appice.
As of January, 2006 he is touring with Whitesnake alongside with band members David Coverdale (vocals), Doug Aldrich (guitar), Reb Beach (guitar), Uriah Duffy (bass) and Timothy Drury (keyboards).
Tommy Aldridge uses Yamaha drums and Paiste cymbals.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Black Oak Arkansas
- If an Angel Came to See You ...
- Street Party
- Ain't Life Grand
- X-Rated
- Balls of Fire
- High on the Hog
- King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Black Oak Arkansas
- Raunch 'N' Roll Live
- Live! Mutha
- Ten Year Over Night Success
[edit] Ozzy Osbourne
- Speak of the Devil (1982)
- Bark at the Moon (1983)
- Tribute (1987)
[edit] Pat Travers
- Crash and Burn
- Live! Go for What You Know
- Live in Concert
- Radio Active
- Heat in the Street
- Go for What You Know
[edit] Others
- Steve Fister - Age of Great Dreams
- House of Lords (band) - Demons Down
- Thin Lizzy - One Night Only
- Gary Moore - Dirty Fingers
- Vinnie Moore - Mind's Eye
- Motörhead - March or Die
- Ted Nugent - Full Bluntal Nugity
- Ruby Starr - Scene Stealer
- John Sykes - 20th Century
- Whitesnake - Slip of the Tongue
- Whitesnake - Live... In the Still of the Night
- Whitesnake - Live: In The Shadow Of The Blues
| Thin Lizzy |
| John Sykes | Scott Gorham | Marco Mendoza | Michael Lee |
| Phil Lynott | Brian Downey | Eric Bell | Gary Moore | Brian Robertson | Snowy White | Darren Wharton | Tommy Aldridge | Randy Gregg |
| Discography |
|---|
| Studio albums: Thin Lizzy | Shades of a Blue Orphanage | Vagabonds of the Western World | Nightlife | Fighting | Jailbreak | Johnny the Fox | Bad Reputation | Black Rose: A Rock Legend | Chinatown | Renegade | Thunder and Lightning |
| Live albums: Live and Dangerous | Life | BBC Radio One Live in Concert | The Peel Sessions | Boys Are Back in Town: Live in Australia | One Night Only |
| Whitesnake |
| Members |
|---|
| David Coverdale - Doug Aldrich - Reb Beach - Uriah Duffy - Tommy Aldridge - Timothy Drury |
| Former members: Jon Lord - Dave Dowle - Ian Paice - Cozy Powell - Denny Carmassi - Aynsley Dunbar - Neil Murray - Rudy Sarzo |
| Bernie Marsden - Mel Galley - Micky Moody - John Sykes - Adrian Vandenberg - Vivian Campbell - Steve Vai - Warren DeMartini - Marco Mendoza |
| Discography |
|
Studio albums: Snakebite - Trouble - Lovehunter - Ready an' Willing - Come an' Get It - Saints & Sinners - Slide It In - Whitesnake - Slip of the Tongue - Restless Heart - |
|
Live albums: Live at Hammersmith - Live...In the Heart of the City - Starkers in Tokyo - Live: In The Shadow Of The Blues |
