Tommy at NAMM 2012 – your photos
Here are a few photos of Tommy Clufetos at NAMM 2012, with fans and friends.
Thank you to Norbert Saemann, Udo Huebeck and Jason Hartless
Tommy interviewed in January 2012 issue of Rhythm Magazine
Out on the shelves now, Tommy Clufetos is interviewed in the January edition of the UK’s Rhythm Magazine.
Find out more here: http://www.musicradar.com/rhythm/january-issue-of-rhythm-on-sale-now-519543
Tommy interviewed on WJBK before his recent home town appearance [Watch]
Tommy Clufetos was interviewed by Fox 2 owned new channel WJBK, prior to his hometown appearance at the dams High School Auditorium in Rochester Hills.
You can watch the video below:
Tommy is going back to Detroit!
From Tommy’s Facebook page:
I’m comin’ back to Detroit Dec 13th Check it Out!
You can buy tickets here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250929619071
Gus and Tommy cover Rat Salad
Found this great video online of Tommy and Gus jamming on tour recently to the Black Sabbath classic Rat Salad – enjoy the video!
This video was taken in February this year but is still worth revisting:
Tommy Clufetos heading to Meinl 2011 [UPDATE]
UPDATE: July 9 2011: Sadly due to a diary conflict, Tommy Clufetos will no longer be attending the Meinl Drum Festival this year. Instead Tommy will be in the studio with Ozzy Osbourne. As Meinl’s Event Manager Norbert Saemann explains:
“We’re sorry that Tommy can’t participate in our festival, but we completely understand his situation. However we are thrilled to be able to include Johnny in our festival and look forward to an outstanding performance from him.”
Tommy Clufetos will be at the Meinl Drum Festival 2011 in Mexico City this July 13.
To find out more visit: http://www.meinldrumfestival.com/
Frank Bello from SamsonTech interviews Tommy
Check out Frank Bello talking to Ozzy Osbourne drummer, Tommy Clufetos on the Black Carpet at the 2011 Revolver Magazine Golden God Awards! Sponsored by Samson and Zoom.
Check out this new video with Gus, Blasko and Tommy
From BareBonesRadio, check out this interview with Ozzy’s band members Gus G, Blasko and Tommy on the Black Carpet at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards
Tommy in digital drum magazine Sick Drummer
Tommy features in Sick Drummer Magazine, the first ever digital drum magazine.
Issue 17 which features Tommy talking about his current ride of the “Ozzy Train” is available now.
Find out more by going here: Sick Drummer Latest Issue.
And see what the magazine looks like by watching the video below:
Tommy in the May/June issue of Drums and Percussion
TC will be in the May/June edition of Drums and Percussion magazine.
The German publication will be out at the end of April (27), but here is a glimpse of the cover with Tommy.
Skull and Bones interviews Tommy
SkullandBones.com, a heavy metal social networking site and blog recently sat down to interview Tommy Clufetos.
Here is an extract from that interview.
Sam Roon (SR): You seem to be in the studio a lot with various artists yet now you are on the road with Ozzy, how do you prioritize what you will do and when?
Tommy Clufetos (TC): I concentrate on one thing at a time… I prefer to dedicate 100 [percent] of my effort on one situation… then move on to the next.
SR: Do you consider yourself more of a studio musician, or a touring one?
TC: I’m comfortable in either… but if you said I could only do one for the rest of my life… it would definitely be playing live!!
SR: In 2010, you were on several releases by major artists. Was it difficult to execute so much in a year? Do you find yourself getting stretched thin on creative output?
TC: Nope… I ‘ve learned it’s good to get away from music sometimes in order to keep your fire and excitement alive
SR: What are some of the trials and tribulations of recording that much in such a short period of time?
TC: None for me… I prefer it to be spontaneous and as fresh as possible… when u think too much about it you can lose the most natural way to approach it.
SR: Drummers have a world all their own, how are you received in that scene and how does it feel to be in such an influential role?
TC: I’m the wrong guy to ask… First I try to play whats best for the music and the people I’m working for… if in doing so, people dig it-then that’s a total plus!!!
To read the rest of the interview please go here: blogs/tommy-clufetos-interview
Meinl Cymbals Interview!
Tommy sits and chats with Meinl Cymbals and lets you watch him smash out an awesome solo!
TC interviewed by Metal Underground
Metal Underground recently caught up with Tommy for a chat. You can read the full interview here: http://www.metalunderground.com/interviews/details.cfm?newsid=65626
Here is an excerpt:
Drummer Tommy Clufetos, who has previously performed alongside Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper, is currently on the road handling drumming duties for Ozzy Osbourne. While taking a break from bringing the new album “Scream” to the masses, Clufetos spoke with me about how he managed to land a gig with Ozzy and what the band will be doing in the coming months. Tommy also hinted at the possibility of another upcoming studio album and explained his own personal history with drumming.
xFiruath: You joined Ozzy Osbourne in 2009, so tell me about how you got hooked up with the band.
Tommy: I got hooked up with Ozzy because Ozzy’s former drummer Mike Bordin, who is an awesome drummer, was unavailable to play at the audition because he was playing with Faith No More. Rob Blasko recommended me because we had played together in Rob Zombie’s band. He and I came in and made it comfortable for Gus to just concentrate on playing the guitar and having a great time auditioning for Ozzy. After that they asked me to play at a show called Blizzcon in Anaheim, California. Unfortunately Mike Bordin also couldn’t make it to that one so I was asked to do that. It kind of just grew out of me doing those couple of things.
xFiruath: Were you actually involved in any of the studio recordings or has it just been live shows?
Tommy: The record was recorded before I joined the band. Kevin Churko, the producer, handled all the drum duties on the record and did a fabulous job.
xFiruath: How’s the tour with Ozzy Osbourne going?
Tommy: We just played in L.A. and had a great show. The band, all the guys in the band, you couldn’t ask for a greater bunch of guys. They are all so super talented and we are focused on making it the best Ozzy Osbourne band. We’re all there for Ozzy to do his thing and put on the greatest shows he can. We all have the same focus so it’s worked out unbelievably well so far.
Vote for Tommy C in Revolver Magazine’s Golden Gods 2011
Revolver Magazine’s Golden God Awards nominations are in and you can play a hand in the public vote. Tommy Clufetos has been nominated for Drum Workshop Best Drummer, so get your votes in now by going to: http://www.revolvermag.com/beta/goldengods/voting
The show is April 20 2011 at Club Nokia in LA. Find out more here: http://www.revolvermag.com/beta/goldengods
Braveworlds.com interviews TC: “I’m A Straight Ahead Rock ‘N’ Roller And So Is OZZY; It Totally Works Perfect”
Braveworlds.com recently sat down and had a long chat with Tommy, covering a wide range of topics including his extensive career, his place in Ozzy Osbourne and much more. Read an excerpt of the interview here and go here to read the interview in full: http://www.bravewords.com/news/155950
Drummer TOMMY CLUFETOS – “I’m A Straight Ahead Rock ‘N’ Roller And So Is OZZY; It Totally Works Perfect”
Hot Flashes
Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 19:28:56 EST By Mitch Lafon
The name Tommy Clufetos might not pop to mind when first thinking of great rock drummers, but the Detroit native has quietly made a name for himself as one of the best among the rock elite. In the last decade, Tommy has toured and recorded with TED NUGENT, ALICE COOPER and ROB ZOMBIE. This past year, he could be heard pounding out the beat for rock icon, OZZY OSBOURNE. Bravewords.com recently caught up with the man behind the skins to find out more.
Bravewords.com: You quit Rob Zombie’s band to join Ozzy. How has it been adjusting to Ozzy’s style of drumming?
Tommy Clufetos: “It’s my job to adjust. I just learn the songs to the best of my ability and I don’t really think about it much more than that. It’s what I’ve done my whole life. It’s not like I’ve played with one band my whole life and to do it with someone different is a big deal. Some guys come up playing with the same four guys, so to play with different musicians is kind of awkward, but for me it’s weird not to play with different musicians. It was a natural progression for me, because I’m a straight ahead rock ‘n roller and so is Ozzy. It totally works perfect.”
Bravewords.com: Was it intimidating the first time you were in rehearsals with Ozzy?
TC: “No! If you’re intimidated, you should pack up and leave.”
Bravewords.com: You’ve been on the road with Ozzy for eight or nine months now. How has it been going?
TC: “It’s going totally amazing. I’m in Ozzy Osbourne’s band playing some of the greatest music ever written. The crowds are going insane and the band gets along so great. Everybody is such a great person and great player that is a drummer’s dream come true.”
Bravewords.com: While you are on the road. Are you working on new music? Will there be another new Ozzy album soon?
TC: “Yes, we are working on new tunes and tomorrow we’re going to do a soundcheck early to record some of these ideas. We’re always putting down new stuff. We’re in the process all the time.”
Bravewords.com: How much did you contribute to the recording of Ozzy’s last album, Scream?
TC: “I didn’t do the album Scream whatsoever. The entire album was done before I joined the band. Kevin Churko, the producer, handled all the drums. I’m not sure exactly how he handled it, but he handled all the drum duties on that album and he did an amazing job.”
Bravewords.com: I was under the impression that you had played on the album. Are you looking forward, then, to actually playing on an Ozzy album?
TC: “Of FUCKING course I am. It would be great.”
Bravewords.com: Let’s go over your history. You played with Alice Cooper. Tell me about it.
TC: “I first saw Alice when I was maybe twelve, he came around to Detroit and I remember going, ‘this is so cool dude’. He had long hair, boot… this is rock ‘n roll. The next two years went by and I said to myself, ‘I’m going to play in that band one day.’ So, when I finally got the gig… It was a great time and I’ve been lucky that all the guys I’ve worked for have great iconic songs. They are not just big time musicians; they are legends… Living legends! All these guys have survived the trends in music and are still doing it. That, to me, is the biggest form of success. I hope I’ll be doing this in forty years as well, because that’s what it’s all about – survival.”
Read the rest of the interview here: http://www.bravewords.com/news/155950
Real Detroit Weekly features Tommy Clufetos
The publication Real Detroit Weekly has featured Tommy in a homecoming music feature. You can read it on their site in full here: realdetroitweekly.com/detroit/tommy-clufetos/Content?oid=1452325
Here is an extract:
How did you come to tour with Ozzy? Did you find him, or did he find you?
It kinda just happened in an odd way. I was playing with Rob Zombie previously and there’s always a connection from one thing to the other, there always has been in my career so far. Ozzy was auditioning a new guitar player, who is in the band now, Gus G., who’s an amazing, talented guy. Ozzy’s drummer at the time, who is a great drummer in his own right, Mike Borden, couldn’t make the audition so they asked me to play the audition to make it comfortable for Gus, so he could come in and it’d be stable and have the greatest audition he could without worrying about the band being good or not. So, I was called in to do that. Then I was asked to do a gig in Anaheim, Calif. called BlizzCon, this big video game convention that Ozzy was playing, so I played that gig and out of that they asked me to join the band and that was it.
Macomb Daily interviews Tommy: Rochester alum realizes a dream with Ozzy tour
Macomb Daily sat down this week with Tommy before the show and spoke about his career, drumming with Ozzy and much more. The publication is in Rochester where Tommy was a Rochester Adams High School alumnus.
Rochester alum realizes a dream with Ozzy tour
Published: Thursday, February 10, 2011
Tommy Clufetos is no stranger to working with big names.
The Detroit-born drummer, a Rochester Adams High School alumnus, already lists Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Rob Zombie and Mitch Ryder on his résumé. But even among those, he considers his current gig with Ozzy Osbourne a dream come true.
“I’ve always wanted to play in his band,” notes Clufetos, 31, who started out at age 11 playing in a group led by his saxophonist-singer father. “It’s always been a dream of mine, so this is totally amazing.”
Clufetos came on board Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” about a year ago, auditioning at the suggestion of bassist Rob “Blasko” Nicholson, who played with Clufetos in Zombie’s band. Along with guitarist Gus G. and keyboardist Adam Wakeman, the drummer is part of a new Osbourne entourage, which has charged the group with a sense of purpose.
“We’re on a mission,” Clufetos explains. “We want to be Ozzy’s best band. And Ozzy has a newfound energy. Everywhere we go everybody’s like, ‘Oh my God, Ozzy was unbelievable!’
“I think having new blood in the band and a new energy really helps. Everybody loves a kick in the ass, so that’s what we’re there for.”
And, Clufetos is pleased to report, the environment off stage is just as pleasing as it is on.
“Ozzy is great,” he says. “He’s totally down to earth. He’s totally fun. He’s hilarious. We all get along great. We’re all laughing all the time. We’re playing cards in Ozzy’s room. We went out to dinner last night. It’s like we’re all buddies, to it’s a great experience, better than I could have imagined.”
— Staff writer Gary Graff
Detroit Free Press: 5 questions with Tommy Clufetos
Before Tommy played at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Saturday he did a quick q & a with Detroit Free Press.
Tommy Clufetos will be the first to tell you: He flew under the local music radar.
But his name is in lights now. Clufetos will be behind the drum kit when Ozzy Osbourne’s tour rolls into the Palace of Auburn Hills on Saturday. With a glowing, growing reputation as a hard rock hired gun — his résumé includes tours with Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie — Clufetos has watched his stock rise since graduating from Rochester Adams High School in 1988 “by the skin of my teeth.”
Clufetos was playing with Mitch Ryder a decade ago when he was enlisted by Alto Reed (Silver Bullet Band) for soundtrack sessions on the 2001 Jeff Daniels film “Escanaba in da Moonlight.” There he met Nugent, and got his big-time break.
He spoke with the Free Press this week.
QUESTION: Tell us about your early music background.
ANSWER: I got my first drum set in Sterling Heights for my seventh birthday, and from that point on knew what I wanted to do with my life. It’s great to know what your future is when you’re a kid. It makes the ride easier. My parents were amazing with that kind of stuff. They always supported me. I can’t imagine the amount of noise and mayhem they had to deal with for 18 years in their house.
Q: Obviously you’ve got to have the chops to make a career as a session player or hired gun. But is there an element of right-place, right-time for catching a break?
A: Well, unless you’re ready for that moment, you can’t take advantage of it. Whether you’re a plumber or a baseball player — it’s all about being prepared for when you get an opportunity. It arrives for everybody, but you have to do your homework and be ready. Knock on wood, I’ve had those moments. I’m the luckiest guy. As a kid growing up in Detroit, I dreamed of this, but for it to really be happening, I feel so lucky and so blessed.
Click here to read the rest: http://www.freep.com/article/20110210/ENT04/102100345/1039/Ent/5-questions-Tommy-Clufetos-drummer-Ozzy-Osbourne
Tommy interviewed on The Metal File [audio]
“The Metal File” podcast from Montreal’s CHOM-FM, sat down and interviewed Tommy Clufetos on the recent tour. You can stream the audio by going to Blabbermouth for the audio stream.
MLive.com interviews Tommy: “Working with Ozzy a dream”
MLive.com recently sat with Tommy while he was in Auburn Hills with Ozzy Osbourne and spoke about his career and what it means to be working with Ozzy.
Working with Ozzy Osbourne a dream come true for Rochester’s Clufetos
By Christina Fuoco Karasinski | Contributing Writer
Courtesy: Drummer Tommy Clufetos, former of Rochester, performs with Ozzy Osbourne.
AUBURN HILLS — Drummer Tommy Clufetos admits he’s a lucky guy.
The Rochester native began his drumming career at age 6, when he received his first pair of sticks. He balanced school and playing the drums in his dad’s band throughout his formative years, often attending class on only a few hours of sleep.
Now, at age 31, he’s sitting behind the kit for legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne and touring the world.
“It’s been a wild ride since the last 20 years,” Clufetos said to The Flint Journal.
Clufetos, who now lives in Los Angeles, got his break from a fellow Detroiter, the Motor City Madman Ted Nugent, after meeting him through Bob Seger sax player Alto Reed.
“I got asked by Alto Reed to play on a movie soundtrack and Ted was playing guitar,” said Clufetos, who previously played for Mitch Ryder. “Previously to that, I had been working my a– off for 10, 15 years playing drums. All that hard work will lead up to a little window where you get an opportunity to move on to the next level.
“That was my first little window of playing with Ted Nugent in the studio.”
Clufetos’ resume also includes stints performing with Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie, alongside fellow Detroiter John5. He left Zombie’s band for Osbourne in 2009, replacing Mike Bordin who reunited with his former act Faith No More. The Ozzy Osbourne tour, with special guest Slash, comes to The Palace of Auburn Hills on Saturday. (more…)
Away Team Interviews Tommy Clufetos
Away-Team.com recently sat and conducted a Q&A with Tommy Clufetos where he spoke about Ozzy, Zombie, Alice Cooper and much more. Read some extracts from the interview here:
AWAY-TEAM: I’d like to start by congratulating you on the success of the current tour, and on semi-recently being named the new full time drummer for Ozzy Osbourne.
TOMMY CLUFETOS: Thank you.
AWAY-TEAM: You guys are currently touring with Slash as your supporting act, I know you’ve had the chance to play with him before, how did that come to be?
TOMMY CLUFETOS: You mean how did it come with me jamming with Slash before?
AWAY-TEAM: Yeah.
TOMMY CLUFETOS: I was doing this thing with Alice Cooper, not when I was in Alice Cooper’s band, he just asked me to help him out and do this thing called the MAP Fund, which is affiliated with the Grammy’s and it helps those with substance abuse addictions. So we played at this concert, and Slash jammed with Alice when I was playing drums, I think he played “School’s Out” or something. So we played together then, and he just asked me to jam with him a couple times out of that. He’s a total gentleman, Slash, I love his guitar playing. Ya know he’s one of the last guitar hero rock stars out there, so… I can’t say enough about that guy, he’s such a great guy, and great musician.
Read the entire interview from Away-Team.com
Metal Assault interviews Tommy
Aniruddh “Andrew” Bansal of Metal Assault conducted an interview with Tommy Clufetos. The chat can now be streamed using the audio player below.
Bare Bones Music interviews TC (audio)
Russell “Evil G.” Johnson of BareBonesMusic.com recently conducted an interview with Tommy. The chat can now be streamed using the audio player below.
Tommy Clufetos (Ozzy Osbourne) Interview by barebonesmusic
