Legendary Drummer Tommy Aldridge

Legendary Drummer Tommy Aldridge To Give Clinic At Ted Brown Music In Tacoma, Washington

The following report is courtesy of John Larson from here:

Call Tommy Aldridge a rock star and he would probably just laugh and shake his head. “I’m a blue collar worker. I enjoy drums and drumming and I just put up with all the other crap.” By that he means all the drama the comes with his rock ‘n’ roll profession – the heavy partying, the ego trips, the groupies, the in-fighting. Aldridge said he never really got into all that stuff, which is no doubt why the 57-year-old looks and acts 20 years younger today.

Aldridge is an avid bicyclist, gets up early and eats a healthy diet. He likes worship and praise music and said he thanks God every day for all the blessings bestowed upon him. And he’s still a wildman at the drum kit too – that will never change – with that fierce look on his face fans have come to know and love.

As a freelance drummer Aldridge spends a lot of time traveling, providing the thunder for such hard rock greats as THIN LIZZY, OZZY OSBOURNE, TED NUGENT, WHITESNAKE and more. This summer Aldridge will go on an American tour with LYNCH MOB and CINDERELLA.

He travels the world giving drumming clinics as well. On May 8, Aldridge will be in Tacoma giving a drum clinic at Ted Brown Music. It certainly won’t be a formal classroom setting by any means. “‘Clinic’ is too sophisticated a word for what I do,” Aldridge said. “It’s somewhat educational, but more of a show and tell kind of thing, entertaining and informative.” Basically, Aldridge shares equal time with the drum kit, letting the instrument do an important part of the “talking.”

While Aldridge is aggressive on the skins, he’s really a down-to-earth, personable man, very friendly and easy to talk to. He welcomes questions from his clinic “students” and sincerely enjoys visiting with them. “The more the merrier,” he stated.

Meet Aldridge at Ted Brown Music, 6228 Tacoma Mall Blvd., May 8 from 7-8 p.m. Cost of the clinic is $10.

Read more here.