Tommy Shaw
Tommy Shaw
Tommy Roland Shawis an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and performer best known for his work with the rock band Styx. In between his stints with Styx, he has played with other groups including Damn Yankees, Shaw Blades as well as released several solo albums and he is not just a rhythm guitarist, but also a capable lead guitarist...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionGuitarist
Date of Birth11 September 1953
CityMontgomery, AL
CountryUnited States of America
It is all about being open and paying attention to the music in your head. I think most people have original music playing in their heads from time to time.
Once you start thinking about it in a mercenary frame of mind, then you're finished. You're a joke, because there are too many mercenaries out there already.
I'd better be on the road, or I'll be going nuts. I'm not the kind of guy who sits around with a pipe and slippers watching soap operas.
Make sure you know what you are signing when you sign a recording contract.
Les Pauls work out real well for me because I'll beat the hell out of them and they'll still work. The only trouble with them is finding good ones.
I don't write on tour. There is so much to do day in and day out when you are on the road
We were playing popular music, but we were doing our own arrangements because we were too lazy to sit down and figure out the originals
I soon gave up instruction for self-teaching
I feel like I have the greatest life an artist could dream of
When I was about 3, my grandfather used to give me and my sister a nickel to sit out on the front porch with him and sing songs.
I don't like looking back.
When I became 16 I started thinking seriously about singing.
I'm not the kind of guy who deserves to play a vintage guitar because I'm too rough on instruments.
Around '75 when the recession hit, club owners started going to disco because it was cheaper for them to just buy a sound system than it was to hire a band.