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
When you sign with a label, they do insist upon certain rights, and if you have a competent attorney, your rights will be protected.
I have always been a sucker for the big, upbeat chorus.
When a song gets its legs and begins to come to me, this is the euphoric hook that keeps me wanting to continue.
On acoustic guitar I tend to stay in the key of D for some reason. On electric guitar I keep basic: C, G, D, and A. The key of D minor is also real good for me.
You can have fun, but you also have to put on your thinking cap every day
As a solo artist, I just felt cemented in front of the mike stand. There was very little time to play with the audience and be a band member
There were some older guitarists on my side of town, and I got to know many of them
It was more fun trying to figure out I Want To Hold Your Hand than to take lessons. By this time I knew basic chords
By the time I did that third solo album, I'd finally learned how to do it, but I'd also learned that I liked being in a band
I like being on the road, living in hotels. While I've got a real nice house, I go crazy when I'm there.
If music became extinct now, I dont know what Id be good for.
I've always stuck with Gibsons. I've had Guilds and Fenders, too, but I always wind up going back to Gibsons.
I was born in Alabama and my first live music experiences were in church. Every Sunday we watched regional gospel groups on television singing their hearts out
Songwriting is the other weight on the opposite side of the scale from touring. They balance me out creatively.