Tom Petersson
| Tom Petersson | |
|---|---|
|
Tom Petersson in Chicago, Illinois | |
| Background information | |
| Born | May 9, 1951 |
| Genres | Rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Bass guitar, guitar, vocals |
| Associated acts | Cheap Trick, Fuse |
Thomas John Peterson (born May 9, 1951), better known as Tom Petersson, is an American musician, best known as the bassist and guitarist for the rock band Cheap Trick.[1]
Career
Petersson contributes to the writing of music and was the first bassist to play a 12 string bass guitar.[2] 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 Peterson 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. Ex-Cheap Trick bassist Pete Comita and one of the members of Peterson's solo band were also in the new Sick Man of Europe.
Petersson rejoined Cheap Trick on Oct. 11th, 1987. 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.
Personal life
Petersson is married to wife Alison Petersson. He has a son, Liam, and a daughter, Lilah.
Other work
Petersson was in Concrete Blonde's video for their song "Someday?".
Popular culture
In the eighth episode of the fifth season of CBS TV show How I Met Your Mother, Barney Stinson pretends to be Tom Petersson to pick up a girl.[3]
References
- ↑ Tom Petersson at AllMusic
- ↑ Hamer Quadraphonic 12-String Bass, 12stringbass.net
- ↑