08/22/2013
TOMMY THAYER - LOCAL GUITAR HERO
Tommy Thayer adds a KISS of community spirit to fundraiser
Written by Jason Vondersmith
Tommy Thayer never tires of putting on the makeup, donning �The Spaceman� ensemble, playing the classics nightly and touring seemingly every year with an American institution, rock band KISS.
The lead guitarist Thayer, 52, gets excited for any performance, whether it be in Winnepeg, Manitoba, or Tokyo�s Budokan arena.
�You can never forget how fortunate you are to walk up on stage before 14,000 people,� the Beaverton native and Sunset High graduate says. �With this band and its amazing history, great persona and characters and show, how can you lose sight of how great that is? We�re flying on private jets and staying at Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton. ...�
KISS celebrates its 40th year together next year, and Thayer has played alongside juggernauts Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley for the past 11. We�re talking epic longevity for one of the hardest-working groups in music.
�It�s a lethal, viable, legit rock �n� roll band, and we�re playing just as big of shows as ever,� he says. �It�s extremely rare for a group like KISS to continue for 40 years. I can count the number of bands on one hand who�ve done that. We�re playing arenas and stadiums and selling out, with an onslaught of new kids following us. It�s multigenerational. It�s like a tribe.�
But, Thayer, who lives in suburban Los Angeles with wife Amber and maintains another residence in Cannon Beach, has never forgotten his roots. The son of a successful businessman and a musician mother, Thayer serves on the board of directors of Pacific University in Forest Grove.
A rural private college and a hard-rockin� guitarist? Yeah, it�s an odd match, as Thayer has dutifully helped the Washington County school raise funds for athletics through his Legends event and golf tournament. The golfing part has been shelved for the year, as Legends leans on the musical aspect with another star-studded lineup for the dinner-auction-concert fundraiser, Sunday, Aug. 25, at Waverley Country Club in Portland.Tommy Thayer adds a KISS of community spirit to fundraiser
Written by Jason Vondersmith
Tommy Thayer never tires of putting on the makeup, donning �The Spaceman� ensemble, playing the classics nightly and touring seemingly every year with an American institution, rock band KISS.
The lead guitarist Thayer, 52, gets excited for any performance, whether it be in Winnepeg, Manitoba, or Tokyo�s Budokan arena.
�You can never forget how fortunate you are to walk up on stage before 14,000 people,� the Beaverton native and Sunset High graduate says. �With this band and its amazing history, great persona and characters and show, how can you lose sight of how great that is? We�re flying on private jets and staying at Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton. ...�
KISS celebrates its 40th year together next year, and Thayer has played alongside juggernauts Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley for the past 11. We�re talking epic longevity for one of the hardest-working groups in music.
�It�s a lethal, viable, legit rock �n� roll band, and we�re playing just as big of shows as ever,� he says. �It�s extremely rare for a group like KISS to continue for 40 years. I can count the number of bands on one hand who�ve done that. We�re playing arenas and stadiums and selling out, with an onslaught of new kids following us. It�s multigenerational. It�s like a tribe.�
But, Thayer, who lives in suburban Los Angeles with wife Amber and maintains another residence in Cannon Beach, has never forgotten his roots. The son of a successful businessman and a musician mother, Thayer serves on the board of directors of Pacific University in Forest Grove.
A rural private college and a hard-rockin� guitarist? Yeah, it�s an odd match, as Thayer has dutifully helped the Washington County school raise funds for athletics through his Legends event and golf tournament. The golfing part has been shelved for the year, as Legends leans on the musical aspect with another star-studded lineup for the dinner-auction-concert fundraiser, Sunday, Aug. 25, at Waverley Country Club in Portland.
Scheduled to appear with Thayer in a concert are: Bill Champlin, formerly of Chicago, a two-time Grammy Award winner; Danny Seraphine, Chicago�s original drummer; Billy Kimball, former lead singer of six-time Grammy winner Toto; Ed Roth, producer and keyboardist with California Transit Authority; and Patrick Lamb, Oregon�s Grammy-nominated jazz saxophone player.
Also making appearances will be rock manager Doc McGhee, who helped launch the careers of KISS, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, The Scorpions, Hootie & The Blowfish, Diana Ross and James Brown, and several prominent athletes.
For more information, go to pacific.edu/legends.
The Tribune caught up with Thayer, co-founder of Oregon Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Black �n Blue:
Tribune: Few bands rival KISS in longevity and appeal. Key to success?
Thayer: A lot of people are critical about over-promoting, going in many different directions with sponsorships and licensing. But, with a band like KISS, you can do that. Some groups can�t do that kind of stuff, because they�d be accused of selling out. We�re always able to get outside the box.
That�s the cool thing about it, the spirit of what made KISS unique from the very beginning, the early �70s. A lot of people thought it was a joke, but KISS always trumped the norm. You always have detractors, but KISS is about entertaining and exploring new things. It continues to baffle people, even us. You see these teenagers � how do they get turned on to KISS?
Tribune: How�d you get involved with Pacific University?
Thayer: I didn�t go to school there, even though it�s a university literally in our backyard. They approached me, and I thought about it, it set me back for a second. �What?� It�s cool that they�re thinking outside the box. I liked the idea of coming back to the area I grew up, getting involved, helping out. It�s been a real gratifying experience. What I can bring to the table is fundraising and profile.
Tribune: The university wanted your father, James, to serve on the board, and he recommended you?
Thayer: He was a community leader and military hero (former U.S. Army brigadier general). He�s 91 now, has done great service for our community. They were interested in getting somebody from the Thayer family, and he said, �How about Tommy?�
Tribune: Your family has been quite successful?
Thayer: Dad and mom (Patricia) started the J. Thayer Co. in 1955 and it became the largest office products company on the West Coast. My brothers Mike and John were involved. A large conglomerate bought it in the 1990s and, when John�s noncompete (clause) finished, he started another J. Thayer Co., a Web-based company in Lake Oswego that�s expanded into California, Washington and Denver.
Tribune: Your mother served as your inspiration?
Thayer: She was a classical musician, violinist, playing through her time in college at Washington State. She brought music and creative arts to the family. She was a great music aficionado, played all the classics at home, the great show tunes. She�s now 89, just a ball of energy.
Mom and dad live in Lake Oswego. Growing up hearing great music in the air, so to speak, makes a difference. My older brother, Jim, too � he�d play Beatles records, pop music. Then I got involved in music programs in school.
Tribune: It�s probably not a stereotypical story, a rocker coming from a great family?
Thayer: A lot of guys come from lousy families. Not that we haven�t had our problems, every family has their issues. There�s a good foundation there. Especially with my parents, they�ve always been supportive of what I or we wanted to do. Never heard, �Can�t do that; shouldn�t do that.� It was great (support), especially when it started popping for me.
They wanted me to get a college education. But I got involved with groups, and then I was on my way to California with Black �n Blue. ... I just read a book, �Talent Is Overrated.� It�s more about how much persistence you have. How hard you want to work.
Tribune: You�ve avoided the trappings of a rock star?
Thayer: With Black 'n Blue, we�d go on the road and have a good time. But, I never got into drugs; never felt compelled to do that. My tenure now with KISS � I�m not in my 20s, and you look at things differently and more responsibly. It�s a big business we�re in; you have to be a professional to make it, to get through it. It�s not like it was in the �60s � sex, drugs and rock �n� roll, where drugs are part of the culture of rock �n� roll bands. That�s long since past.
Tribune: Golf had to be dropped from the Legends event because of your schedule?
Thayer: We toured Australia, had a full European tour and North America for about six weeks (ending Aug. 18 in Hollywood). We�ll go to Japan in October. Thankfully, we carved out a weekend we could do this. We�re still doing a golf tournament, but it�s more exclusive.
Tribune: Musicians like to swing the sticks?
Thayer: They do. A lot of artists and musicians like to play golf; a lot of pro golfers like to play music. ... (The best) would probably be somebody like Alice Cooper or Justin Timberlake. I�m decent, not quite as good as the best.
Tribune: What�s Gene Simmons like?
Thayer: Like what you see on (reality show) �Family Jewels.� He�s got a persona and exterior that can be a little abrupt and abrasive. He�s a good guy with a kind heart, believe it or not. The most ambitious and tenacious person I�ve ever met. Definitely a workaholic. He goes all the way back to producing Black �n Blue records, and we toured with KISS in 1985. He�s like an older brother.
Tribune: And, Paul?
Thayer: More private, very creative, very smart. He and Gene are like yin and yang. That�s what makes it a great combination. Not to say they haven�t had disagreements, but they look beyond that.
Tribune: How about the
drummer?
Thayer: Eric Singer is one of my great friends, amazing guy. Best rock �n� roll drummer out there in my book. Perfect for KISS.
Tribune: Will KISS be playing music and touring forever?
Thayer: We basically take it one day, one month, one year at a time. People always speculate what KISS will be up to in five years. KISS will be up to something. We have a new Arena Football team (announced last week), and people are scratching their head, �What?�
Written by Jason Vondersmith
Tommy Thayer never tires of putting on the makeup, donning �The Spaceman� ensemble, playing the classics nightly and touring seemingly every year with an American institution, rock band KISS.
The lead guitarist Thayer, 52, gets excited for any performance, whether it be in Winnepeg, Manitoba, or Tokyo�s Budokan arena.
�You can never forget how fortunate you are to walk up on stage before 14,000 people,� the Beaverton native and Sunset High graduate says. �With this band and its amazing history, great persona and characters and show, how can you lose sight of how great that is? We�re flying on private jets and staying at Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton. ...�
KISS celebrates its 40th year together next year, and Thayer has played alongside juggernauts Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley for the past 11. We�re talking epic longevity for one of the hardest-working groups in music.
�It�s a lethal, viable, legit rock �n� roll band, and we�re playing just as big of shows as ever,� he says. �It�s extremely rare for a group like KISS to continue for 40 years. I can count the number of bands on one hand who�ve done that. We�re playing arenas and stadiums and selling out, with an onslaught of new kids following us. It�s multigenerational. It�s like a tribe.�
But, Thayer, who lives in suburban Los Angeles with wife Amber and maintains another residence in Cannon Beach, has never forgotten his roots. The son of a successful businessman and a musician mother, Thayer serves on the board of directors of Pacific University in Forest Grove.
A rural private college and a hard-rockin� guitarist? Yeah, it�s an odd match, as Thayer has dutifully helped the Washington County school raise funds for athletics through his Legends event and golf tournament. The golfing part has been shelved for the year, as Legends leans on the musical aspect with another star-studded lineup for the dinner-auction-concert fundraiser, Sunday, Aug. 25, at Waverley Country Club in Portland.Tommy Thayer adds a KISS of community spirit to fundraiser
Written by Jason Vondersmith
Tommy Thayer never tires of putting on the makeup, donning �The Spaceman� ensemble, playing the classics nightly and touring seemingly every year with an American institution, rock band KISS.
The lead guitarist Thayer, 52, gets excited for any performance, whether it be in Winnepeg, Manitoba, or Tokyo�s Budokan arena.
�You can never forget how fortunate you are to walk up on stage before 14,000 people,� the Beaverton native and Sunset High graduate says. �With this band and its amazing history, great persona and characters and show, how can you lose sight of how great that is? We�re flying on private jets and staying at Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton. ...�
KISS celebrates its 40th year together next year, and Thayer has played alongside juggernauts Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley for the past 11. We�re talking epic longevity for one of the hardest-working groups in music.
�It�s a lethal, viable, legit rock �n� roll band, and we�re playing just as big of shows as ever,� he says. �It�s extremely rare for a group like KISS to continue for 40 years. I can count the number of bands on one hand who�ve done that. We�re playing arenas and stadiums and selling out, with an onslaught of new kids following us. It�s multigenerational. It�s like a tribe.�
But, Thayer, who lives in suburban Los Angeles with wife Amber and maintains another residence in Cannon Beach, has never forgotten his roots. The son of a successful businessman and a musician mother, Thayer serves on the board of directors of Pacific University in Forest Grove.
A rural private college and a hard-rockin� guitarist? Yeah, it�s an odd match, as Thayer has dutifully helped the Washington County school raise funds for athletics through his Legends event and golf tournament. The golfing part has been shelved for the year, as Legends leans on the musical aspect with another star-studded lineup for the dinner-auction-concert fundraiser, Sunday, Aug. 25, at Waverley Country Club in Portland.
Scheduled to appear with Thayer in a concert are: Bill Champlin, formerly of Chicago, a two-time Grammy Award winner; Danny Seraphine, Chicago�s original drummer; Billy Kimball, former lead singer of six-time Grammy winner Toto; Ed Roth, producer and keyboardist with California Transit Authority; and Patrick Lamb, Oregon�s Grammy-nominated jazz saxophone player.
Also making appearances will be rock manager Doc McGhee, who helped launch the careers of KISS, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, The Scorpions, Hootie & The Blowfish, Diana Ross and James Brown, and several prominent athletes.
For more information, go to pacific.edu/legends.
The Tribune caught up with Thayer, co-founder of Oregon Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Black �n Blue:
Tribune: Few bands rival KISS in longevity and appeal. Key to success?
Thayer: A lot of people are critical about over-promoting, going in many different directions with sponsorships and licensing. But, with a band like KISS, you can do that. Some groups can�t do that kind of stuff, because they�d be accused of selling out. We�re always able to get outside the box.
That�s the cool thing about it, the spirit of what made KISS unique from the very beginning, the early �70s. A lot of people thought it was a joke, but KISS always trumped the norm. You always have detractors, but KISS is about entertaining and exploring new things. It continues to baffle people, even us. You see these teenagers � how do they get turned on to KISS?
Tribune: How�d you get involved with Pacific University?
Thayer: I didn�t go to school there, even though it�s a university literally in our backyard. They approached me, and I thought about it, it set me back for a second. �What?� It�s cool that they�re thinking outside the box. I liked the idea of coming back to the area I grew up, getting involved, helping out. It�s been a real gratifying experience. What I can bring to the table is fundraising and profile.
Tribune: The university wanted your father, James, to serve on the board, and he recommended you?
Thayer: He was a community leader and military hero (former U.S. Army brigadier general). He�s 91 now, has done great service for our community. They were interested in getting somebody from the Thayer family, and he said, �How about Tommy?�
Tribune: Your family has been quite successful?
Thayer: Dad and mom (Patricia) started the J. Thayer Co. in 1955 and it became the largest office products company on the West Coast. My brothers Mike and John were involved. A large conglomerate bought it in the 1990s and, when John�s noncompete (clause) finished, he started another J. Thayer Co., a Web-based company in Lake Oswego that�s expanded into California, Washington and Denver.
Tribune: Your mother served as your inspiration?
Thayer: She was a classical musician, violinist, playing through her time in college at Washington State. She brought music and creative arts to the family. She was a great music aficionado, played all the classics at home, the great show tunes. She�s now 89, just a ball of energy.
Mom and dad live in Lake Oswego. Growing up hearing great music in the air, so to speak, makes a difference. My older brother, Jim, too � he�d play Beatles records, pop music. Then I got involved in music programs in school.
Tribune: It�s probably not a stereotypical story, a rocker coming from a great family?
Thayer: A lot of guys come from lousy families. Not that we haven�t had our problems, every family has their issues. There�s a good foundation there. Especially with my parents, they�ve always been supportive of what I or we wanted to do. Never heard, �Can�t do that; shouldn�t do that.� It was great (support), especially when it started popping for me.
They wanted me to get a college education. But I got involved with groups, and then I was on my way to California with Black �n Blue. ... I just read a book, �Talent Is Overrated.� It�s more about how much persistence you have. How hard you want to work.
Tribune: You�ve avoided the trappings of a rock star?
Thayer: With Black 'n Blue, we�d go on the road and have a good time. But, I never got into drugs; never felt compelled to do that. My tenure now with KISS � I�m not in my 20s, and you look at things differently and more responsibly. It�s a big business we�re in; you have to be a professional to make it, to get through it. It�s not like it was in the �60s � sex, drugs and rock �n� roll, where drugs are part of the culture of rock �n� roll bands. That�s long since past.
Tribune: Golf had to be dropped from the Legends event because of your schedule?
Thayer: We toured Australia, had a full European tour and North America for about six weeks (ending Aug. 18 in Hollywood). We�ll go to Japan in October. Thankfully, we carved out a weekend we could do this. We�re still doing a golf tournament, but it�s more exclusive.
Tribune: Musicians like to swing the sticks?
Thayer: They do. A lot of artists and musicians like to play golf; a lot of pro golfers like to play music. ... (The best) would probably be somebody like Alice Cooper or Justin Timberlake. I�m decent, not quite as good as the best.
Tribune: What�s Gene Simmons like?
Thayer: Like what you see on (reality show) �Family Jewels.� He�s got a persona and exterior that can be a little abrupt and abrasive. He�s a good guy with a kind heart, believe it or not. The most ambitious and tenacious person I�ve ever met. Definitely a workaholic. He goes all the way back to producing Black �n Blue records, and we toured with KISS in 1985. He�s like an older brother.
Tribune: And, Paul?
Thayer: More private, very creative, very smart. He and Gene are like yin and yang. That�s what makes it a great combination. Not to say they haven�t had disagreements, but they look beyond that.
Tribune: How about the
drummer?
Thayer: Eric Singer is one of my great friends, amazing guy. Best rock �n� roll drummer out there in my book. Perfect for KISS.
Tribune: Will KISS be playing music and touring forever?
Thayer: We basically take it one day, one month, one year at a time. People always speculate what KISS will be up to in five years. KISS will be up to something. We have a new Arena Football team (announced last week), and people are scratching their head, �What?�
