Former Bands - C-D9 :), I
Fought Gandhi, CopeStone, Dimension 9, Dysfuntional Siblings
Location - Broomall,
PA
Equipment
2000 Gibson Epiphone Les Paul Plus Top, 1995 Japanese Fender FotoFlame Telecaster Custom Deluxe Guitar, 2009 Fender
Squire Strat, Line 6 PodXT
Live, Peavey Renown 212 converted to a guitar amp head, Kerly
Music & Blue Steel Guitar Strings, Tortex
Pics, EMG/Duncan/Fender Pickups
Influences
AFI, Agent Orange,
Bauhaus, Black Flag, The Cure, Dead Kennedys, Dio,
DRI, Elvis Costello, Fugazi, Generation X (Billy
Idol), Joy Division, Killing Joke, Killswitch
Engage, Metallica, Misfits, The / Samhain,
Mission UK, NIN, Nirvana, The Police, Sex Pistols / Public Image Ltd., The
Smiths / Morrissey, Stray Cats, more more
more!!!
Music Career
Thomas began his career primarily as a guitarist and
backup vocalist in various local and one off bands in the Philadelphia area.
In late 1993, while attending college, he met a drummer on the campus and
decided to start a band. In early
1994 Thomas met Michael Lieb on campus and
started talking about performing together and the band Dimension 9
(originally as ontogeny) was born.
After a few weeks Pete Deeney was brought
in on bass and a 3 year run was made before breaking up which included a S/T demo, a full length “Noize”
and various recordings never released, as well and NUMEROUS drummers.
Thomas and Michael recruited a new bassist and drummer and formed the band
CopeStone releasing a S/T demo. After a year or two Michael left the band
on not great terms and his friendship with Thomas was strained. The band continued on for another year or
2 releasing a CD titled “Judgement
Games” and playing shows all over PA, NJ, and NY, including the Volcom Records stage of the Vans Warped Tour in Camden, NJ.
Thomas decided to leave the band in late 2000 after getting married and
trying to recover from open heart surgery and an Aortic Dissection.
Shortly after Thomas co-founded the band I Fought Gandhi
(IFG) with a purpose of having fun and trying to alienate the audience,
which worked well.
After some time Thomas formed the band Abigail's End. This band would last 8 years on and off
as the band went through a number of bad situations, including more medical
situation.
Thomas has since reconciled with Michael from Dimension 9 and CopeStone and are working on new material, as well as
re-recording some older material.
Medical Horrors
Thomas was born with
Aortic stenosis. This led to him having Aortic valve
replacement at the age of 7. Thomas
spent the next 17 years outliving the valve according to some doctors. In 2000, Thomas suffered an Aortic Dissection which he
almost did not survive. There is
no explanation as to why this occurred and still puzzles the doctors. Thomas had his Ascending Aorta replaced with a
graft and another Aortic Valve Replacement.
In 2001 there was another operation as Thomas had
developed an Aortic Aneurysm where the graft stopped. Thomas was told
after the operation that this could occur.
He then had to have his Descending Aorta
replaced with a graft as well.
A few weeks after leaving the hospital Thomas was
rushed back vomiting blood. When in the ER Thomas' wife was told that
he had a very low blood count and was in dire need. Thomas was put on a central line to pump
the blood quickly into his body. He
was hold that he had a bleeding ulcer caused by take an anticoagulant and
given pain medicine that causes the same affect. He had this ulcer taken care of and since
then has been living relatively healthy with his wife and two sons and
still playing music.