Recording History
The following is a discography of the records Tommy Thayer has played on, produced or had some significant involvement with:
KISS - SONIC BOOM
2009 KISS Records
Produced by Paul Stanley
Lead Guitar, Vocals - Tommy Thayer
SONIC BOOM is the first KISS studio album released in 11 years since 1998's Psycho Circus. Debuting at #2 on the US Billboard Album chart, the highest charting album ever for KISS - Sonic Boom is a high water mark for us as a critically acclaimed success by KISS fans and overwhelmingly by the media as well. This album is a personal first by me as well, marking my lead vocal debut on 'When Lightning Strikes.'
KISS SYMPHONY ALIVE IV - KISS
2003 KISS Records
Produced by Mark Opitz
Lead Guitar - Tommy Thayer
KISS Symphony Alive IV, was the debut release for KISS Records/Sanctuary Records on July 22, 2003. This being my first "official" concert as a member of KISS, was unlike anything recorded or released before by the band.
KISS Symphony Alive IV, captured KISS with the prestigious 60-piece Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (arranged and conducted by David Campbell), live before a sold-out crowd of over 40,000 KISS lunatics at Melbourne, Australia's Telstra Dome at the start of our 2003 tour. The energy packed two-disc set captivated and tantalized KISS fans new and old alike with 22 newly recorded live tracks, featuring ten classic KISS tracks backed by the 60-piece Melbourne Symphony, six never-performed-live acoustic versions of KISS classics and six raw classic KISS tracks sans orchestra. A true baptism of fire.
METAL MASSACRE W/BLACK 'N BLUE
1982 METAL BLADE RECORDS
Produced by BRIAN SLAGEL
It was Black 'N Blue's debut on vinyl. The band formed in November 1981, so by mid-1982 we were recording 16-track demos in Portland, OR such as "Give Em the Old 1,2,3." We had set-up a PO box and were soliciting our demo tapes to potential managers, agents and record labels in Los Angeles. We were excited to receive a positive response from Brian Slagel, who covered up-and-coming metal bands in his own fanzine, New Heavy Metal Review. Slagel offered to include our demo recording of "Chains Around Heaven" on a heavy metal compilation record he was producing titled, Metal Massacre, with the likes of other newcomers, Armored Saint and Metallica.
BLACK 'N BLUE - BLACK 'N BLUE
1984 GEFFEN RECORDS
Produced by DIETER DIERKS
After moving the band to Hollywood, CA and solidifying a relationship with our first manager Garo Tashjian, we realized our dreams after only six months and were signed by John Kalodner at Geffen Records. At the time, we were fans of producer Dieter Dierks work with The Scorpions and a French band called Warning. So we were soon on our way to Stomeln, Germany to record our major label debut. Most of the tunes were time-tested from our club days in Portland and LA, with the exception of "School of Hard Knocks", "Show Me the Night" and "One for the Money", which came in just prior to our departure for Germany in January, 1984. I was particularly happy with the way "Hold On to 18" came out.
BLACK 'N BLUE - WITHOUT LOVE
1985 GEFFEN RECORDS
Produced by BRUCE FAIRBAIRN
Engineered by BOB ROCK
The Without Love LP was intended to be an updated "pop" version of Black 'N Blue. The richly produced Bruce Fairbairn sound was our segue into MTV and rock radio with our tune "Miss Mystery," and also became the precursor to the success of Bon Jovi's, Slippery When Wet. The introduction to Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley during the KISS/Black 'N Blue tour of late-1985 and early-1986 would have an influence on my future in the music business. Particularly my favorites are "Stop the Lighting" and "Strange Things."
BLACK 'N BLUE - NASTY, NASTY
1986 GEFFEN RECORDS
Produced by GENE SIMMONS
With the idea of toughening up our sound again, we hired Gene Simmons to produce our third LP, Nasty, Nasty. Gene was hands-on and effective in us achieving our goal of a heavier sound with more attitude. Obversely, the Geffen people did not hear "radio" and supplanted "Ill Be There For You," the Jonathan Cain penned/produced, intended movie soundtrack tune into the song order. The album was raw and it rocked. A couple of my favorite tracks are "Does She or Doesn't She" and "Rules."
BLACK 'N BLUE - IN HEAT
1988 GEFFEN RECORDS
Produced by GENE SIMMONS
We were happy with our working relationship with Gene Simmons and it was natural to continue working together on our Nasty Nasty follow-up, In Heat. With the intention of keeping the sound less-pop, we wrote tunes with the same frame of mind as with Nasty Nasty, but with a slicker production. In the end, our record label thought we were again short on radio songs, so we wrote and recorded "A Sight for Sore Eyes" and "Suspicious" after the fact, and tagged them on to the LP at the last minute.
HARLOW - HARLOW
1990 WARNER/REPRISE RECORDS
Produced by PAT REGAN
By 1989 Black 'N Blue had run it's course, and I was looking for something new. Producer Pat Regan, with whom we'd written the two supplemental In Heat tracks with, had a newly-signed project with a singer/songwriter named Teresa Straley. They needed a guitarist to record the mostly already written songs, so that became me. We ended up recording a solid, great sounding record. Stand-out tracks are "When You Love Someone" and "Beyond Control."
DORO PESCH - DORO
1990 POLYGRAM RECORDS
Produced by GENE SIMMONS, TOMMY THAYER
Hired as executive producer for German hard rock singer Doro Pesch's LP, Gene Simmons asked me to music direct, play guitar and Associate Produce. Upon the beginning of pre-production rehearsals, I didn't know much about Doro, but as recording ensued and we spent more time together, I began to see a very warm, sensitive artist that I very much enjoyed spending two straight months with. Gene suggested her covering B 'N B's "Rock On" from the In Heat album as well.
SHAKE THE FAITH - AMERICA THE VIOLENT
1994 ALFA BRUNETTE JAPAN
Produced by CAL CURTIS
A fellow guitarist friend of mine named Brian Jennings had recently formed an explosive new band with a singer named Dave Aragon called Shake The Faith. They wanted another lead guitarist to round out the sound and it turned out to be me. STF was a powerhouse that undisputedly became the LA rock scene's top club draw by 1993. Steve Harrell of Alfa Brunette Records Japan championed the band and hence resulted in the America the Violent release. We had seen an amazing art print in Playboy Magazine by Hunter S. Thompson. Somehow, I got Hunter's home number in Colorado and had the balls to call him! We had this idea that he'd be the perfect guy to do a similar piece of artwork for our album cover. Believe it or not, he liked us enough to do the art for the cover. There are lots of great rockers on this record like "Anti-Heroes" and "Suffocated."
BLACK 'N BLUE - ONE NIGHT ONLY LIVE
1998 EON RECORDS
Produced by PATRICK REGAN, TOMMY THAYER
As the title suggests, it was one night only and one rehearsal only. Because the five of us in Black 'N Blue have always appreciated a comradery and friendship. Even after the band dissolved, we collectively decided it would be a lot of fun to re-group briefly for a "one night stand" of sorts on Halloween night 1997 in our hometown of Portland, OR, for our friends, families and local fans. My brother John and I had recently established EON Records, with our first release 28 IF already in production. So someone suggested why not record the concert and depending on how it sounds, possibly release it. So because of everyone's schedules, we ended up only rehearsing once the night prior to the show. With some apprehension, trepidation and a few nerves, we took the stage for the first time in almost ten years and rocked the house. We never sounded that good before! The release turned out to be a must. The song, "Violent Kid" was a mainstay in our set-list in our early club days, but it never appeared on a B 'N B record, so we were glad to see it make a resounding comeback that night!
BLACK 'N BLUE - ULTIMATE COLLECTION
2001 UNIVERSAL MUSIC/HIPPO
Produced by MIKE RAGOGNA
When UNIVERSAL Records called in spring, 2001 and said they were interested in doing a "best of" Black 'N Blue collection, I thought, "Wow, a B 'N B 'best of' compilation, how cool!" I helped the label with the art by providing some original photos from my collection and I was pleased with the package and the care putting it together. The die-hard B 'N B fans where ecstatic that they were able to get most of the original recordings on CD, since they were never available in the US. Here's a review that I think summed it up:
This is one of those albums from one of those bands that weren't exactly on the forefront of success. Yet they were better than many of the bands that were. With songs like "Rockin' on Heaven's Door", "Miss Mystery", and my personal favorite, "Superstitious"; These guys should have been a phenomenol success. Unlike many of the more mainstream bands at the time, Black 'N Blue had their own unique flavor that truly captured the essence of the 80's rock genre.
KISS The Box Set
2001 UNIVERSAL MUSIC
Project Coordinator/Package Design Tommy Thayer
For the complete article on the KISS Box Set by Tommy Thayer CLICK HERE
