Tom Hamilton’s Unexpected Journey: From Aerosmith to Thin Lizzy
Tom Hamilton, the renowned bassist of Aerosmith, recently shared the engaging story of how a concert outing with his son to see Motörhead ultimately led him to join the legendary Thin Lizzy in 2016.
prior to this experience,Hamilton had dedicated his musical career solely to Aerosmith,a band he helped establish. However, during an appearance on the Defenders of the Faith podcast, he expressed that the opportunity to join Thin Lizzy was simply too enticing to decline.
A Memorable Night with Motörhead
“One night, I attended a Motörhead concert with my son, and afterward, we had the chance to hang out with Lemmy, who was incredibly gracious,” Hamilton recalled. This encounter with Lemmy and the rest of the band, including guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee, unknowingly set the stage for Hamilton’s future with Thin Lizzy.
The Call to Join Thin Lizzy
Months later, Mikkey Dee reached out to Hamilton with exciting news. He informed him that he would be touring with thin Lizzy to honor the 30th anniversary of Phil Lynott’s passing and the 40th anniversary of the iconic album Jailbreak. Dee mentioned that they were in search of a bassist and offered Hamilton the position.
Thin Lizzy had originally disbanded in 1984 following Lynott’s death, shortly after releasing the heavy metal album Thunder and Lightning. In 2010, guitarist Scott Gorham reformed the band with a new lineup that included original drummer Brian Downey, keyboardist Darren Wharton, Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell, and vocalist Ricky Warwick, with Marco Mendoza on bass.
In 2012, the band members created Black Star Riders to produce new music while preserving Thin Lizzy’s legacy, reserving the Thin lizzy name for special events and tours.Fast forward to Hamilton’s pivotal decision.
Taking the Leap
“Deep down, I knew I couldn’t say no, even though it would be my first venture outside of Aerosmith, which made me a bit anxious,” he admitted.“While I had dabbled in smaller projects,I had never embarked on a full tour.”
Ultimately,Hamilton followed his instincts and accepted the offer.
Rehearsals and First Gigs
“A few months later, after diligently learning the songs, I found myself in London for the first day of rehearsals. I thought I was prepared,but I quickly realized I had some catching up to do,” he confessed. Fortunately, he had a supportive ally.
“Damon Johnson, who has as become a close friend, was on guitar. The next day, we worked together, and he helped me refine my skills.From that point on, rehearsals improved substantially, and soon we were ready for our first performance,” he shared.
“We played several major festivals across Europe, and it was an exhilarating experience,” he reminisced.
Respecting a Legend
Although Hamilton never had the chance to meet Phil Lynott,he expressed that performing Lynott’s songs instilled in him a profound respect for the musical legacy Lynott created.
Transitioning Roles
Since then, Hamilton has stepped back from his role with Thin Lizzy, with Mastodon’s Troy Sanders taking over for their final shows in 2019.
In August of the previous year, Aerosmith announced their retirement from touring due to Steven Tyler’s vocal injury, but Hamilton remains optimistic about a potential return in the future.
Simultaneously occurring, original Thin Lizzy guitarist Eric Bell has been working on a new acoustic project that combines Phil Lynott’s bass and vocal tracks with newly recorded guitar parts.
