Tom Spencer (musician)

Tom Spencer (born 30 June 1967) is an English musician, singer, songwriter and stained glass artist.

Bands

• The Rave
• Motherhive
• Big Boy Tomato
• The Lurkers
• Sugarsnatch
• The Yo-Yos
• Fastlane Roogalator
• The Loyalties
• The Dogs D'Amour
• The Ginger Wildheart band
• The Men They Couldn't Hang
• Swill and The Swaggerband
• Banjoey Ramone
• Stefan Cush and The Feral Family^[1]
• The Professionals

Musical career

Born in West London, son of the late John B Spencer (novelist and musician 1944 – 2002) Tom Spencer is a guitarist and vocalist. He is also an accomplished bass and banjo player.

Spencer began gigging in his teens, firstly singing backing vocals for John B Spencer's bands around the West London circuit, then supporting them with his own school formed bands. He continued his musical education as guitarist for his father, touring Europe for the first time. Back home he played guitar for Motherhive – a band fronted by Blue Zoo's Andy Overall. They released one album 'Richard'

In the early 1990s he joined new wave/punk outfit Big Boy Tomato. They released two EPs 'Acton Baby' and 'Hormones and Hangovers' Big Boy Tomato were the perpetual support band for the likes of Stiff Little Fingers, The Cropdusters, The Godfathers, Mega City 4, Die Toten Hosen and The Toy Dolls. They signed to Cargo Records but their debut album although recorded, was never released.

During this time Spencer became guitarist for punk legends The Lurkers, joining Arturo Bassick and Dan Tozer for around 6 years and played on the Lurkers album 'Ripped and Torn'. The Lurkers toured Germany regularly as a result of Die Toten Hosen championing them with covers of the tracks 'New Guitar in Town' and 'Shadow' Ironically the original Lurkers in 1978 were signed to Beggars Banquet, the same recording label as The Louts (a John B Spencer band)

Next came Sugarsnatch, a splinter group of Big Boy Tomato. Featuring Spencer on lead vocals and guitar for the first time, bass Nik Peckham and drums Andy Selway (aka Bladz), who later became drummer in the Yo-Yos. One album 'Mad Cows and Englishmen' was written and released in the space of three weeks, drawing on influences from the trios love of comics. Sugarsnatch only played in the UK twice, concentrating on the European circuit.

In 1998 Michael Algar (aka Olga) from the Toy Dolls, having enjoyed the Sugarsnatch album, invited Spencer to sing backing vocals on his forthcoming album 'One More Megabite' During this session he bonded with Danny McCormack (The Wildhearts) and the seed of what was to become The Yo-Yos was born. Six months later and joined by Bladz on drums and guitarist Neil Phillips (B-Movie Heroes), the Yo-Yos released two EPs for Rebound records – 'Out of My Mind' and 'Rumble(d)'. After touring the UK as support for The Backyard Babies in 1999, and various tours and shows of their own, the band was signed by US label Sub Pop and released their debut album 'Uppers & Downers' in 2000. Two US tours followed, before splitting due to differences within the band, and Danny McCormack's well publicised drug problems.^[2] In 2005 the The Yo-Yos reformed with a new line-up. Spencer and McCormack were now joined by Rich Jones (Amen, The Black Halos) on guitar and Craig Herdman (The Cherrykicks) on drums. The band recorded a new EP entitled 'Given Up Giving Up' and toured the UK supporting 3 Colours Red. They finally parted company after supporting AntiProduct on a UK tour and the re-emergence of earlier problems. After a seven-year hiatus, The Yo-Yos reformed for a gig in February 2012, to celebrate McCormack's 40th birthday.^[3] They still continue to play at the occasional gig or festival.

In 2006 The Loyalties were formed in Soho, London with Tom Spencer fronting on vocals and playing bass. With two EP releases under their belts and split 7" singles with 'The Supersuckers', Duff McKagan's Loaded and Berlin's 'Radio Dead Ones', the band released their debut album So Much For Soho on Devil's Jukebox label in 2008. The Loyalties toured the UK in 2008 with The New York Dolls, Loaded, Black Lungs and The Wildhearts. The current line-up consists of Rich Jones, Tom Spencer, El Jonez, Simon Maxwell and Rich Rags. Their latest album Til the death of Rock'n'Roll was released in 2013 and came with an accompanying whodunnit? novel of the same name.^[4]

Banjoey Ramone are Spencer's latest venture, a skiffle/punk outfit consisting of ex and current Loyalties, Demented are Go!, Grit and Urban Voodoo Machine members.^[5] He also plays in his family band Fastlane Roogalator with among others, his brothers Syd and Will (the band is a tribute to their father John B Spencer). The band have released two albums, the self entitled 'Fast Lane Roogalator' (2003) and '3 Sessions Later' (2005).^[6]

Spencer has been a one time member of Ginger Wildheart and Friends,^[7] The Dogs D'Amour, The Vincent Razorbacks and Swill and The Swaggerband.^[8] He currently plays banjo and guitar with folk punk legends The Men They Couldn't Hang and appears on their albums 'Devil on The Wind' (2009) and 'The Defiant' (2014).

On 16 October 2015, Spencer filled in for Steve Jones for The Professionals reunion concert at the 100 Club in celebration of the release of a three disc set (The Complete Professionals) by Universal Music Group.^[9][10] In January 2016, the band announced a three show tour for 17 to 19 March.^[11] A joint headline show featuring Rich Kids has also been announced at London’s O2 Shepherds Bush Empire for 16 May.^[12] The show has been reschedule for 23 June due to the ongoing structural work at the venue.

Art career

Tom Spencer is a stained glass artist and owns a business 'Tattoo Glass' based in Chiswick, West London.^[13] His work is based on panel designs inspired by tattoo art and has been commissioned throughout the UK by private collectors, shops, bars and clubs. In 2014–2015 his glass work is displayed in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London as part of the 'Tiki Love Truck' installation – a mobile mosaic mausoleum. The piece forms part of the exhibition by artist Carrie Reichardt 'Disobedient Objects', inspired by protest movements.^[14] The exhibition is set to tour the world from February 2015. Spencer exhibits his work at Bankrobber Gallery, Mayfair^[15] He also manages traditional stained glass restoration and commissions through 'West London Stained Glass'.

References