Tommy Thayer
Encyclopedia
Tommy Cunningham Thayer (born November 7, 1960) is an American
musician
and songwriter best known as the lead guitarist for the American hard rock band Kiss
.
and grew up in the nearby suburbs of Beaverton, Oregon
. His mother Patricia Thayer (née Cunningham) was a classically trained violinist and singer and father James Thayer was a businessman, community leader and retired Brigadier General
in the US Army.
Early on, Thayer was raised in a musical family with three brothers and a sister amidst sounds that ranged from classical to The Beatles
and other classic 1960s pop music
. Thayer’s passion for early 1970s hard rock bands drove his desire to pick up electric guitar at age 13. After graduating from Sunset High School (Beaverton, Oregon) in 1978, Thayer played in many local garage and club bands eventually forming his own group with singer Jaime St. James
called Black 'n Blue
.
.
The band traveled to Germany in early 1984 to work with Scorpions
producer Dieter Dierks
, releasing Black 'n Blue in August 1984, featuring the songs "Hold on to 18" and "School of Hard Knocks", both co-written by Thayer and St. James. The follow-up Bruce Fairbairn
produced album, "Without Love
" was released in 1985 with Thayer, St. James and Jim Vallance co-writing the single "Miss Mystery". After touring for two months as opening act for Kiss in fall 1985, Black 'n Blue hired Kiss bassist Gene Simmons
to produce the band’s next studio album "Nasty Nasty
", released in 1987 and "In Heat" in 1988. Geffen subsequently dropped the band in late 1988.
In October 2010, Black 'n Blue was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame
in Portland.
, which includes the Simmons and Thayer songs, "Betrayed". and “The Street Giveth, The Street Taketh Away.” That same year, Thayer recorded guitar tracks for singer-songwriter Teresa Straley and producer Pat Regan
's record deal with Reprise Records
.
Thayer co-produced and played guitar on Doro
Pesch's 1991 Polygram
Records release, Doro
. In 1992, Thayer joined Los Angeles rock band Shake the Faith and recorded the album America the Violent, which was released in Japan in 1994. Thayer persuaded journalist Hunter S. Thompson
to create the original artwork for the album cover.
hired Thayer to work part-time on their forthcoming book Kisstory, which led to other projects and eventually a full-time role with Kiss. Thayer's work for Stanley & Simmons began by performing such tasks as painting Stanley's house and cleaning out Simmons' gutters. Thayer managed the 1995 Worldwide Kiss Convention tour and the Kiss MTV Unplugged
concert. In preparation for 1996’s Kiss Alive/Worldwide Tour
, Thayer worked with guitarist Ace Frehley
and drummer Peter Criss
, to help them relearn their original guitar and drum parts from the 1970s. Thayer worked as producer and editor of Kiss’s long form video and film releases including: Kiss, The Second Coming in 1998, New Line Cinema’s feature Detroit Rock City
in 1998, and Showtime Television’s pay-per-view, The Last Kiss in 2000.
By 2002 and with the growing uncertainty of Ace Frehley’s involvement in the band, Thayer stood by for a Kiss performance at the 2002 Winter Olympics
Closing Ceremony in Salt Lake City to fill-in on lead guitar if necessary. One month later Thayer got the call and donned the spaceman makeup for the first time, filling in and performing onstage with Kiss at a private concert in Trelawny, Jamaica
. Several TV appearances followed in 2002 including ABC
’s Dick Clark’s American Bandstand
50th Anniversary Show and That 70s Show on Fox
.
(all in Kiss makeup) for a concert at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne
Australia
. Recorded and filmed in front of 40,000 fans, a pay-per-view
, Kiss Symphony: Alive IV
CD and DVD were released worldwide later in the year. A Kiss Japanese tour in March 2003 was a forerunner to the KISS-Aerosmith World Domination tour that kicked off in summer 2003, setting sales records as one of Pollstar
Magazine’s top grossing tours of the year. Kiss was on the road again in May 2004 with the Rock the Nation Tour
. Thayer produced the RIAA double-platinum selling DVD set, Rock the Nation Live!
, released worldwide in December 2004.
Kiss kicked off their Alive 35 tour in Melbourne, Australia in March 2008 to a huge crowd of 60,000 fans celebrating the 35-year history of the band. Hailed as the “Spectacular of the Year,” the sold-out tour ran through Australasia
, Europe
, South America
and North America
in 2009, cumulating 100 concerts in 29 countries, to 1.5 million Kiss fans. Making an appearance on the 2009 season finale of American Idol
, Thayer and Kiss were joined onstage by Idol contestant Adam Lambert
for a Kiss set seen by 30 million TV viewers.
Sonic Boom
, the first KISS studio album in 11 years was released worldwide in October 2009, debuting at #2 on the Billboard magazine album chart. Thayer co-wrote three songs on the record, including his own lead vocal debut on “When Lightning Strikes.”
A brand new Kiss and Dr. Pepper TV ad debuted during the 2010 Super Bowl
to an estimated 100 million TV viewers. Promotions leading up to the debut included Thayer & Kiss ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange
in January 2010 in full Kiss regalia.
Kiss embarked on the highly anticipated Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour
in Sheffield
, England
on May 1, 2010, playing 35 shows in stadiums and arenas throughout Europe through June. Kiss appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
in July, kicking off Kiss's 60-date The Hottest Show on Earth Tour
of North America culminating in July 2011.
Kiss is in the studio recording Monster
, due to be released in 2012.
in Forest Grove
, Oregon in September 2005.
Through 2006 and 2007, Thayer has continued his interest in helping inspire kids with a commitment to support school programs, particularly in music. He arranged for new musical instruments to be donated to jump-start ailing school band programs in Oregon. Thayer has made appearances at middle and high schools in Forest Grove, Hillsboro
, and Lake Oswego, Oregon speaking to students with hopes that they will follow their dreams and accomplish all that they aspire to do. More recently in February 2010, Thayer & Kiss were featured in ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
helping a family in need with new instruments for their home-based, non-profit music school.
Kiss's continued dedication to the support of US military stationed abroad inspired the band to headline Rockin' the Corps
, a massive outdoor concert in 2005 at Camp Pendleton, California dedicated to the US Marines and US Military personnel stationed in Iraq
and Afghanistan
.
In March 2007, Thayer and Gene Simmons visited the Marines of Camp Pendleton again, and members of the US Army, US Navy and US Air Force, to honor their commitment to the United States with a rally and live performance featuring a medley of the armed forces anthems that was filmed for an hour-long Gene Simmons Family Jewels
TV special on A&E
that aired on Memorial Day
2007.
In summer 2007, Thayer's passion for golf inspired the now annual Pacific University Legends Golf Classic. The premier golf and entertainment event features Thayer along with a line-up of Professional Golfers Association
pros and other celebrity friends and musicians who help raise money for Pacific University's Athletics Program in Oregon. Legends has continued for five successful years now with the likes of Gene Simmons, John Daly
, George Lopez
, Don Felder
, Robby Krieger
, Darius Rucker
and Clint Black
participating in and supporting the event.
Thayer donates all royalties earned from sales of his Hughes & Kettner
signature guitar amplifier to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles
to support of the important medical needs of sick and injured children. Thayer announced the launch of his own Hughes & Kettner Tommy Thayer Signature Edition guitar amplifier in 2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and songwriter best known as the lead guitarist for the American hard rock band Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
.
Early life
Thayer was born on November 7, 1960 in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
and grew up in the nearby suburbs of Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, seven miles west of Portland in the Tualatin River Valley.As of the 2010 census, the population is 90,267. This makes it the second-largest city in the county and Oregon's sixth-largest city...
. His mother Patricia Thayer (née Cunningham) was a classically trained violinist and singer and father James Thayer was a businessman, community leader and retired Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
in the US Army.
Early on, Thayer was raised in a musical family with three brothers and a sister amidst sounds that ranged from classical to The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and other classic 1960s pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
. Thayer’s passion for early 1970s hard rock bands drove his desire to pick up electric guitar at age 13. After graduating from Sunset High School (Beaverton, Oregon) in 1978, Thayer played in many local garage and club bands eventually forming his own group with singer Jaime St. James
Jaime St. James
Jaime St. James is the lead vocalist of the glam metal band Black 'N Blue. He also served a brief stint in the mid-2000s as the lead singer of Warrant, but he left upon the return of Warrant's original lead singer Jani Lane to the line-up in 2008. He sang on the Warrant album Born Again.Born James...
called Black 'n Blue
Black 'N Blue
Black 'n Blue is a Hard rock band from Portland, Oregon. The current members are singer Jaime St. James, guitarist Shawn Sonnenschein, guitarist Jeff Warner, bassist Patrick Young, and drummer Pete Holmes.-History:...
.
Black 'n Blue
Formed in November 1981, Black 'n Blue played gigs in Portland area for over a year before making a move to Southern California in early 1983. Black 'n Blue had immediate success as a top draw in Hollywood's rock clubs, and within six months signed a major worldwide recording contract with Geffen RecordsGeffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
.
The band traveled to Germany in early 1984 to work with Scorpions
Scorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
producer Dieter Dierks
Dieter Dierks
Dieter Dierks is a German record producer mostly known for his collaboration with the rock band Scorpions.- Youth :...
, releasing Black 'n Blue in August 1984, featuring the songs "Hold on to 18" and "School of Hard Knocks", both co-written by Thayer and St. James. The follow-up Bruce Fairbairn
Bruce Fairbairn
Bruce Earl Fairbairn was a Canadian musician and international record producer from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was active as a producer from 1976 to 1999 and is considered one of the best of his era...
produced album, "Without Love
Without Love (Black 'n Blue album)
Without Love is Black 'n Blue's second album. It was produced by Bruce Fairbairn.-Track listing:# "Rockin' on Heaven's Door" - 3:30# "Without Love" - 3:38...
" was released in 1985 with Thayer, St. James and Jim Vallance co-writing the single "Miss Mystery". After touring for two months as opening act for Kiss in fall 1985, Black 'n Blue hired Kiss bassist Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
to produce the band’s next studio album "Nasty Nasty
Nasty Nasty
Nasty Nasty is Black 'n Blue's third album. It was produced by Kiss bassist Gene Simmons, with the exception of the song "I'll Be There For You" which was produced by The Babys/Bad English/Journey rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Jonathan Cain....
", released in 1987 and "In Heat" in 1988. Geffen subsequently dropped the band in late 1988.
In October 2010, Black 'n Blue was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame
Oregon Music Hall of Fame
The Oregon Music Hall of Fame is an award honoring musicians from the U.S. state of Oregon. The first induction ceremony took place on October 13, 2007.-History:...
in Portland.
1989–1993
In 1989, Thayer co-wrote songs with Gene Simmons and played session guitar on song demos for Kiss's 1989 release, Hot in the ShadeHot in the Shade
-Personnel:*Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals*Gene Simmons – bass guitar, vocals*Bruce Kulick – lead guitar, backing vocals*Eric Carr – drums, percussion, vocals-Charts:AlbumSingles- Certifications :...
, which includes the Simmons and Thayer songs, "Betrayed". and “The Street Giveth, The Street Taketh Away.” That same year, Thayer recorded guitar tracks for singer-songwriter Teresa Straley and producer Pat Regan
Pat Regan
Patricia Ann Regan was a British anti-gun activist and campaigner. Regan became an activist after the murder of her son, Danny in 2002. Danny had become involved in drugs and was most likely the victim of a dealing dispute. She joined Mothers Against Violence after his death...
's record deal with Reprise Records
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
.
Thayer co-produced and played guitar on Doro
Doro (musician)
Dorothee Pesch , popularly known as Doro Pesch or Doro, is a female rock vocalist, formerly of the German heavy metal band Warlock ....
Pesch's 1991 Polygram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
Records release, Doro
Doro (album)
Doro is the second solo album of the German female hard rock singer Doro Pesch. The album was released in May 1990.-Overview:Doro’s second album is more a solo effort than a band production...
. In 1992, Thayer joined Los Angeles rock band Shake the Faith and recorded the album America the Violent, which was released in Japan in 1994. Thayer persuaded journalist Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter Stockton Thompson was an American journalist and author who wrote The Rum Diary , Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 .He is credited as the creator of Gonzo journalism, a style of reporting where reporters involve themselves in the action to...
to create the original artwork for the album cover.
Kiss
In 1994 Kiss's Gene Simmons and Paul StanleyPaul Stanley
Stanley Harvey Eisen , better known by his stage name Paul Stanley, is an American hard rock guitarist, singer, musician, painter and songwriter best known for being the rhythm guitarist and primary lead vocalist of the rock band Kiss. He is the writer or co-writer of many of the band's...
hired Thayer to work part-time on their forthcoming book Kisstory, which led to other projects and eventually a full-time role with Kiss. Thayer's work for Stanley & Simmons began by performing such tasks as painting Stanley's house and cleaning out Simmons' gutters. Thayer managed the 1995 Worldwide Kiss Convention tour and the Kiss MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
concert. In preparation for 1996’s Kiss Alive/Worldwide Tour
Alive/Worldwide Tour
The Alive/Worldwide Tour was a 1996-1997 concert tour by Kiss. It was the first tour with original members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley since their 1979 Dynasty Tour...
, Thayer worked with guitarist Ace Frehley
Ace Frehley
Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Kiss. He took on the persona of the "Spaceman" or "Space Ace" when the band adopted costumes and theatrics...
and drummer Peter Criss
Peter Criss
George Peter John Criscuola , better known as Peter Criss, is an American drummer and singer, best known as the original drummer for the rock band Kiss...
, to help them relearn their original guitar and drum parts from the 1970s. Thayer worked as producer and editor of Kiss’s long form video and film releases including: Kiss, The Second Coming in 1998, New Line Cinema’s feature Detroit Rock City
Detroit Rock City (film)
Detroit Rock City is a 1999 film about four teenagers in a Kiss cover band who try to see their idols in Detroit in 1978. Comparable to Rock 'n' Roll High School, Dazed and Confused, The Stöned Age, and I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Detroit Rock City tells a coming of age story through a filter of 1970s...
in 1998, and Showtime Television’s pay-per-view, The Last Kiss in 2000.
By 2002 and with the growing uncertainty of Ace Frehley’s involvement in the band, Thayer stood by for a Kiss performance at the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
Closing Ceremony in Salt Lake City to fill-in on lead guitar if necessary. One month later Thayer got the call and donned the spaceman makeup for the first time, filling in and performing onstage with Kiss at a private concert in Trelawny, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
. Several TV appearances followed in 2002 including ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
’s Dick Clark’s American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
50th Anniversary Show and That 70s Show on Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
.
The Spaceman
Thayer became the lead guitarist for Kiss on February 28, 2003. In his debut concert, Kiss joined forces with the 70-piece Melbourne Symphony OrchestraMelbourne Symphony Orchestra
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Melbourne, Australia. It has 100 permanent musicians. Melbourne has the longest continuous history of orchestral music of any Australian city and the MSO is the oldest professional orchestra in Australia...
(all in Kiss makeup) for a concert at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Recorded and filmed in front of 40,000 fans, a pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
, Kiss Symphony: Alive IV
KISS Symphony: Alive IV
Kiss Symphony: Alive IV is a 2003 live album from Kiss performing with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra . The arrangements were made by David Campbell, who also conducted the MSO. It is the group's fourth album in the Alive series and first release under Kiss Records and Sanctuary Records...
CD and DVD were released worldwide later in the year. A Kiss Japanese tour in March 2003 was a forerunner to the KISS-Aerosmith World Domination tour that kicked off in summer 2003, setting sales records as one of Pollstar
Pollstar
Pollstar is a concert tour industry's leading trade publication that gets its information primarily from the agents, managers and promoters who are producing concerts. Founded in 1981, it is based in Fresno, California and has an office in London with correspondents in six countries. Pollstar is...
Magazine’s top grossing tours of the year. Kiss was on the road again in May 2004 with the Rock the Nation Tour
Rock the Nation Tour
The Rock The Nation World Tour was a concert tour by the hard rock group Kiss. Poison was the opening band. The tour marked the return of Eric Singer on the drums who once again replaced Peter Criss whose contract was not renewed by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. The tour was not very successful,...
. Thayer produced the RIAA double-platinum selling DVD set, Rock the Nation Live!
Rock the Nation Live! (DVD)
KISS: Rock The Nation Live! is a 2005 live music DVD by American hard rock band Kiss. The DVD is popular because of the addition of "Kiss Powervision" which enables the viewer to select different camera angles each focusing on a different member of the band...
, released worldwide in December 2004.
Kiss kicked off their Alive 35 tour in Melbourne, Australia in March 2008 to a huge crowd of 60,000 fans celebrating the 35-year history of the band. Hailed as the “Spectacular of the Year,” the sold-out tour ran through Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
in 2009, cumulating 100 concerts in 29 countries, to 1.5 million Kiss fans. Making an appearance on the 2009 season finale of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
, Thayer and Kiss were joined onstage by Idol contestant Adam Lambert
Adam Lambert
Adam Mitchel Lambert is an American singer, songwriter, and actor from San Diego, California. In May 2009, he finished as the runner-up on the eighth season of American Idol...
for a Kiss set seen by 30 million TV viewers.
Sonic Boom
Sonic Boom (Kiss album)
Sonic Boom is the 19th studio album and the first in 11 years from band Kiss, released on October 6, 2009. The album was recorded at Conway Recording Studios in Hollywood, CA and produced by the band's co-leader Paul Stanley and co-produced by Greg Collins...
, the first KISS studio album in 11 years was released worldwide in October 2009, debuting at #2 on the Billboard magazine album chart. Thayer co-wrote three songs on the record, including his own lead vocal debut on “When Lightning Strikes.”
A brand new Kiss and Dr. Pepper TV ad debuted during the 2010 Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
to an estimated 100 million TV viewers. Promotions leading up to the debut included Thayer & Kiss ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
in January 2010 in full Kiss regalia.
Kiss embarked on the highly anticipated Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour
Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour
The Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour was a concert tour by American rock band Kiss in support of their 19th studio album Sonic Boom, which was released in October 2009....
in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on May 1, 2010, playing 35 shows in stadiums and arenas throughout Europe through June. Kiss appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that initially aired from May 25, 1992 to May 29, 2009, and resumed production on March 1, 2010. The fourth incarnation of the Tonight Show franchise made its debut on May 25, 1992, three days following Johnny...
in July, kicking off Kiss's 60-date The Hottest Show on Earth Tour
The Hottest Show on Earth Tour
The Hottest Show on Earth Tour was a concert tour by Kiss in support of their latest studio release Sonic Boom. It is essentially the North American and international leg of the Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour, itself a continuation of the Kiss Alive/35 World Tour that started in 2008. Kiss also played...
of North America culminating in July 2011.
Kiss is in the studio recording Monster
Monster (Kiss album)
Monster is the upcoming 20th studio album from Kiss, set to be released in late spring of 2012. The album's title was confirmed by Kissonline.com on August 21, 2011 to be Monster...
, due to be released in 2012.
Philanthropy
With a desire to get involved and give back to the community where he grew up, Thayer was elected to the Board of Trustees at Pacific UniversityPacific University
Pacific University is a private university located in Oregon, United States. The first campus began more than 160 years ago and is located about 38 km west of Portland in Forest Grove...
in Forest Grove
Forest Grove, Oregon
Forest Grove is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, west of Portland. Originally a small farm town, it is now primarily a bedroom suburb of Portland. Settled in the 1840s, the town was platted in 1850 and then incorporated in 1872 and was the first city in Washington County...
, Oregon in September 2005.
Through 2006 and 2007, Thayer has continued his interest in helping inspire kids with a commitment to support school programs, particularly in music. He arranged for new musical instruments to be donated to jump-start ailing school band programs in Oregon. Thayer has made appearances at middle and high schools in Forest Grove, Hillsboro
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
, and Lake Oswego, Oregon speaking to students with hopes that they will follow their dreams and accomplish all that they aspire to do. More recently in February 2010, Thayer & Kiss were featured in ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is a reality television series providing home renovations for less fortunate families and community schools etc...
helping a family in need with new instruments for their home-based, non-profit music school.
Kiss's continued dedication to the support of US military stationed abroad inspired the band to headline Rockin' the Corps
Rockin' the Corps
Rockin' the Corps is a thank you concert designed to show appreciation to the Marines and sailors returning home from Iraq and to the men and women of the United States Marine Corps.-Reception:The concert was a great success...
, a massive outdoor concert in 2005 at Camp Pendleton, California dedicated to the US Marines and US Military personnel stationed in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
In March 2007, Thayer and Gene Simmons visited the Marines of Camp Pendleton again, and members of the US Army, US Navy and US Air Force, to honor their commitment to the United States with a rally and live performance featuring a medley of the armed forces anthems that was filmed for an hour-long Gene Simmons Family Jewels
Gene Simmons Family Jewels
Gene Simmons Family Jewels is an American reality television series that premiered on A&E on August 7, 2006. The show follows the life of KISS bassist and vocalist Gene Simmons, his longtime partner Shannon Tweed, and their two children, Nick and Sophie....
TV special on A&E
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
that aired on Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
2007.
In summer 2007, Thayer's passion for golf inspired the now annual Pacific University Legends Golf Classic. The premier golf and entertainment event features Thayer along with a line-up of Professional Golfers Association
Professional Golfers Association
Professional Golfers' Association, , is the usual term for a professional association in men's golf. It is often abbreviated to PGA...
pros and other celebrity friends and musicians who help raise money for Pacific University's Athletics Program in Oregon. Legends has continued for five successful years now with the likes of Gene Simmons, John Daly
John Daly (golfer)
John Patrick Daly is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour.Daly is known primarily for his driving distance off the tee , his non-country club appearance and attitude, and his rough-and-tumble personal life. Daly remains one of the most popular and intriguing figures on the PGA Tour...
, George Lopez
George Lopez
George Lopez is an American comedian, actor, and talk show host. He is mostly known for starring in his self-produced ABC sitcom George Lopez. His stand-up comedy examines race and ethnic relations, including the Mexican American culture...
, Don Felder
Don Felder
Donald William "Don" Felder is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his work as lead guitarist for the Eagles from 1974 to 1980 and again from 1994 to 2001.-Early life and influences:...
, Robby Krieger
Robby Krieger
Robert Alan "Robby" Krieger is an American rock guitarist and songwriter. He was the guitarist in The Doors, and wrote some of the band's best known songs, including "Light My Fire," "Love Me Two Times," "Touch Me," and "Love Her Madly."...
, Darius Rucker
Darius Rucker
Darius Rucker is an American musician. He first gained fame as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, which he founded in 1986 at the University of South Carolina along with Mark Bryan, Jim "Soni" Sonefeld and Dean Felber...
and Clint Black
Clint Black
Clint Patrick Black is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist and occasional actor. Signed to RCA Records in 1989, Black made his debut with his Killin' Time album, which produced four straight Number One singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country...
participating in and supporting the event.
Thayer donates all royalties earned from sales of his Hughes & Kettner
Hughes & Kettner
Hughes & Kettner is a German brand of guitar and bass amplifiers, cabinets and effects processors. It was founded in Neunkirchen in 1984 and is based in St.Wendel since 1987....
signature guitar amplifier to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Children's Hospital Los Angeles, formerly Childrens Hospital Society, is a private, non-profit teaching hospital in Los Angeles. The hospital provides multidisciplinary care to over 93,000 children each year, with physician expertise in over 100 pediatric specialties and subspecialties.The hospital...
to support of the important medical needs of sick and injured children. Thayer announced the launch of his own Hughes & Kettner Tommy Thayer Signature Edition guitar amplifier in 2008.
Personal life
Thayer and his wife Amber (née Peek), who designs custom jewelry, were married on June 4, 2006 and currently live in the Los Angeles area.Black 'n Blue
- 1984: Black 'n BlueBlack 'N Blue (album)Black 'n Blue is the self-titled debut album of Black 'n Blue, recorded in 1984.The track "Chains Around Heaven" had previously appeared on the second pressing of the first Metal Massacre compilation, perhaps best known as the compilation to feature the first commercially-released recording by...
- 1985: Without LoveWithout Love (Black 'n Blue album)Without Love is Black 'n Blue's second album. It was produced by Bruce Fairbairn.-Track listing:# "Rockin' on Heaven's Door" - 3:30# "Without Love" - 3:38...
- 1986: Nasty NastyNasty NastyNasty Nasty is Black 'n Blue's third album. It was produced by Kiss bassist Gene Simmons, with the exception of the song "I'll Be There For You" which was produced by The Babys/Bad English/Journey rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Jonathan Cain....
- 1988: In Heat
- 1998: One Night Only: LiveOne Night Only: LiveOne Night Only: Live is a Black 'N Blue live album.-Track listing:# "Rockin' On Heaven's Door"# "Autoblast"# "Hold On To 18"# "Does She Or Doesn't She"# "Heat It Up! Burn It Out!"# "Without Love"# "Miss Mystery"# "Violent Kid"...
- 2001: The Demos Remastered: Anthology 1The Demos Remastered: Anthology 1-Track listing:# "Chains Around Heaven# "I'm The King"# "The Strong Will Rock"# "Squeeze Me"# "Violent Kid"# "Sign In Blood"# "Wicked Bitch"# "School Of Hard Knocks"# "Cold Heart"# "Hold On To 18"# "Lifeline"# "Autoblast" -Personnel:...
- 2001: Ultimate CollectionUltimate Collection (Black 'n Blue album)Ultimate Collection is a Black 'n Blue compilation.-Track listing:# "Rockin' On Heaven's Door"# "Autoblast"# "Hold On To 18"# "Wicked Bitch"# "Without Love"# "Miss Mystery"# "Nasty Nasty"# "I Want It All "# "Nature Of The Beach"...
- 2002: Live In Detroit – 1984Live in Detroit – 1984-Track list:# "Chains Around Heaven"# "Action"# "Autoblast"# "The Strong Will Rock"# "Hold On To 18"# "Wicked Bitch"# "School Of Hard Knocks"# "I'm The King"# "One For The Money"-Personnel:* Jaime St. James: Lead Vocals* Tommy Thayer: Guitar, keyboards...
- 2005: CollectedCollected (Black 'n Blue box set)Collected is a five disc Black 'N Blue box set, released in 2005, with 4 audio CDs and one DVD.-Disc 1:#"Strong Will Rock"#"School Of Hard Knocks"#"Autoblast"#"Hold On To 18"#"Wicked Bitch"#"Action"#"Show Me The Night"#"One For The Money"...
(box set) - 2007: RaritiesRarities (Black 'n Blue album)-Track listing:# "Violent Kid"# "Sign In Blood"# "Wicked Bitch"# "Cold Heart"# "Hold On To 18"# "Lickety Split"# "Serious Drag"# "So Long"# "Hell Yeah"# "Autoblast" # "I'm The King" -Personnel:* Jaime St. James: Lead Vocals...
Kiss
- 1998: Psycho CircusPsycho CircusPsycho Circus is the 18th studio album by American band Kiss. The album features the original four members back together, and in full make-up....
(not credited) - 2003: Kiss Symphony: Alive IVKISS Symphony: Alive IVKiss Symphony: Alive IV is a 2003 live album from Kiss performing with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra . The arrangements were made by David Campbell, who also conducted the MSO. It is the group's fourth album in the Alive series and first release under Kiss Records and Sanctuary Records...
- 2008: Jigoku-RetsudenJigoku-Retsuden-DVD :Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan, April 2, 1977#"Detroit Rock City"#"Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll"#"Ladies Room"#"Firehouse"#"I Want You"#"Cold Gin"#"Nothin' to Lose"#"God of Thunder"#"Rock and Roll All Nite"#"Shout It Out Loud"#"Black Diamond"...
- 2009: Sonic BoomSonic Boom (Kiss album)Sonic Boom is the 19th studio album and the first in 11 years from band Kiss, released on October 6, 2009. The album was recorded at Conway Recording Studios in Hollywood, CA and produced by the band's co-leader Paul Stanley and co-produced by Greg Collins...
- 2009: Kiss Sonic Boom Over EuropeKiss Sonic Boom Over EuropeKiss Sonic Boom Over Europe is a series of live albums , containing a recording of the complete set from a European show on the Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour which began May 1, 2010 in Sheffield, England.-Details:...
- 2012: MonsterMonster (Kiss album)Monster is the upcoming 20th studio album from Kiss, set to be released in late spring of 2012. The album's title was confirmed by Kissonline.com on August 21, 2011 to be Monster...