Rockfinger’s Tommy Lamb graced the cover of Guitar Now! in 1977.
Yet another sad anniversary: Believe it or not, it’s 20 years to the day since Tommy Lamb perished in a brawl at Indiana’s Plainfield Correctional Facility.
Unlike so many rock-and-roll deaths, Tommy’s demise never seemed to inspire a renewed interest in his music. Nor has he attracted one of those morbid death cults that affix themselves to departed musicians like nasty black barnacles. Ironic, given the epic morbidity of Tommy’s tragic tale.
Would it have been any different if Tommy hadn’t been such an understated player? If Rockfinger had managed to finish that second album? Or if the band hadn’t been led by twin brothers who abhorred each other? None can say — though it seems tragically fitting that Tommy’s bad luck streak should extend into the afterlife.
Sadly, I couldn’t locate the 1977 issue of Guitar Now! pictured here, though the magazine re-interviewed the embittered guitarist in 1991 for their 77 Greatest Solos of the ’70s issue. (“Feel It” clocked in at #68.)
Here’s Dan Dickerson’s classic Q&A:
Tommy Lamb’s Bicentennial Blast
I also found this excellent overview of Tommy’s truncated career:
Rockfinger: Loathe Thy Brother
If you don’t know Tommy’s upbeat fretmanship and downbeat biography, I suggest starting there.
But perhaps the best way to remember Tommy is through his music.
He he he ha ha ha ho!
April Fools Joe. 🙂
As I remember he was an endorser of the Hallmark Swept Wing guitar line. He used to end his shows by putting his Hallmark Swept Wing in a baby carriage and rolling it off stage humming a lullaby. He was rumored to have a deal where he was going to switch over to endorsing Big Bopper guitars at the time of his death. We will never know what the fate of the Big Bopper guitar might have been with his nod.
There was music in 1976?
Nope.
Thecoslar is correct: the Human League invented music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKwQ_zeRwEs
“Nobody listens to Jazz”…..”You fear Jazz”…. 🙂
Geez…I really miss “Guitar Now!” magazine :)….Was there barcodes on magazines in 1977?… :)Tommy Lamb the legend..and innovator of the beer tab pick…everyone stole something from Tommy!
He was ahead of his time. In the next decade the invention of the click track would have fixed that had he been free to use it.
Sorta reminds me of “Return of the Son of Hey Lawdy Mama” or something!
Yes — it’s THAT good.