Tom Petersson
Encyclopedia
Tom Petersson is an American musician, best known as the bassist
and sometime guitarist for the rock band
Cheap Trick
.
and was the first bassist to play a 12 string bass guitar. Jol Dantzig of Hamer Guitars
was the builder of the first 12-string bass, an 8-string bass
in concept but with four courses of three strings. The root tuning of each course corresponds to that of a four-string bass and adds two strings tuned in unison one octave above the root string. Originally Hamer built him a 10-string bass, then the 12-string he originally wanted. His 12-string bass debuts on the song "Heaven Tonight".
Petersson plays bass as a second lead guitar on "He's a Whore" from Cheap Trick's debut album. He sings lead vocals on "I Know What I Want", on one of the versions of "Voices" and on live versions of "Waitin' for the Man".
Petersson left Cheap Trick, shortly after the recording of All Shook Up, on August 26, 1980. Petersson, however, released the solo album Tom Petersson and Another Language and toured the North American club scene with his new group with his then-wife Dagmar. He moved to New York and played shows with his band called Sick Man of Europe, which was the name of a pre-Cheap Trick band he was in with Rick Nielsen.
Petersson rejoined Cheap Trick in 1988 for their Lap of Luxury
album. Despite going platinum and including the #1 hit song "The Flame
", Petersson blamed Lap of Luxury for pigeonholing them into a sound that they were not comfortable with, which led to Busted
and the end of their relationship with Epic.
Petersson continues to record and tour with Cheap Trick. Now on a new label, Cheap Trick Unlimited, Cheap Trick released Rockford
in June 2006 and The Latest
in June 2009. Petersson also appeared on Frank Black
's Fast Man Raider Man
album, released in June 2006.
's video
for their song "Someday?".
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and sometime guitarist for the rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
.
Career
Petersson contributes to the writing of musicMusic
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
and was the first bassist to play a 12 string bass guitar. Jol Dantzig of Hamer Guitars
Hamer Guitars
Hamer Guitars is an American manufacturer of electric guitars. Founded in 1973 by vintage guitar shop owners, Jol Dantzig and his business partner Paul Hamer. Early instruments featured guitar designs based on the Gibson Explorer and Flying V...
was the builder of the first 12-string bass, an 8-string bass
Eight string bass guitar
An eight string bass guitar is a type of bass guitar with double course strings normally tuned in octaves, with both strings in a course usually played simultaneously. As on a 12 string guitar, this produces a natural chorus effect due to the subtle differences in string timbre...
in concept but with four courses of three strings. The root tuning of each course corresponds to that of a four-string bass and adds two strings tuned in unison one octave above the root string. Originally Hamer built him a 10-string bass, then the 12-string he originally wanted. His 12-string bass debuts on the song "Heaven Tonight".
Petersson plays bass as a second lead guitar on "He's a Whore" from Cheap Trick's debut album. He sings lead vocals on "I Know What I Want", on one of the versions of "Voices" and on live versions of "Waitin' for the Man".
Petersson left Cheap Trick, shortly after the recording of All Shook Up, on August 26, 1980. Petersson, however, released the solo album Tom Petersson and Another Language and toured the North American club scene with his new group with his then-wife Dagmar. He moved to New York and played shows with his band called Sick Man of Europe, which was the name of a pre-Cheap Trick band he was in with Rick Nielsen.
Petersson rejoined Cheap Trick in 1988 for their Lap of Luxury
Lap of Luxury
-Singles :* "The Flame/Through the Night" - #1 US, #77 UK. #2 Aus, #3 BB Mainstream Rock* "Don't Be Cruel/I Know What I Want" - #4 US, #77 UK, #8 BB Mainstream Rock, #13 Aus* "Ghost Town/Wrong Side of Love" - #33 US...
album. Despite going platinum and including the #1 hit song "The Flame
The Flame (Cheap Trick song)
"The Flame" is a hit power ballad by Cheap Trick, released on July 25, 1988. The song was first offered to English singer Elkie Brooks, who turned it down. Written by Bob Mitchell and Nick Graham, the song was initially released on Cheap Trick's Lap of Luxury album...
", Petersson blamed Lap of Luxury for pigeonholing them into a sound that they were not comfortable with, which led to Busted
Busted (Cheap Trick album)
Busted is an album by Cheap Trick, which was released in 1990 and peaked at #44 on the US album charts. After the success of "The Flame" from the previous album Lap of Luxury, the band recorded Busted with a similar format, especially on the single "Can't Stop Fallin' Into Love." The single peaked...
and the end of their relationship with Epic.
Petersson continues to record and tour with Cheap Trick. Now on a new label, Cheap Trick Unlimited, Cheap Trick released Rockford
Rockford (album)
-Singles:* "Perfect Stranger* "If It Takes A Lifetime"* "Come On, Come On, Come On" .-Outtakes:* "Mando Ragga" * "What's In It For You"...
in June 2006 and The Latest
The Latest
The Latest is the sixteenth studio album by the American power pop band Cheap Trick. The album was produced by Cheap Trick, Julian Raymond and Howard Willing and was released on June 23, 2009. The album was issued on standard CD as well as limited pressings of vinyl and 8-Track tapes. The album was...
in June 2009. Petersson also appeared on Frank Black
Frank Black
Black Francis is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black...
's Fast Man Raider Man
Fast Man Raider Man
Fast Man Raider Man is a solo double album by Frank Black released in 2006.-Disc one:#"If Your Poison Gets You" - 2:56#"Johnny Barleycorn" - 4:50...
album, released in June 2006.
Personal life
Petersson is married to wife Alison Petersson. He has a son, Liam, and a daughter, Lila.Other work
Petersson was in Concrete BlondeConcrete Blonde
Concrete Blonde is an alternative rock band based in the United States. They were initially active from 1982 to 1995, and again from 2001 to 2004, and once again in 2010.-Biography:...
's video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for their song "Someday?".