The Beat Goes On

This is a post I was hoping I'd never to have to write.

Tommy was one of those precious friends I knew I could always depend on, someone who would be there for me no matter what. You knew you could count on him to be there with a good word and a smile and a genuine interest in your life and the many other lives he touched.

So you get in the habit of depending on a guy like Tommy. He'll always be there, you figure, because he always has been there. Nothing bad is supposed to happen: he lived well, took care of himself, stayed positive, did good works, gave freely of himself. He probably flossed every day. You don't have to keep an eye on a guy like that, because he can take care of himself.

I know there are many who knew Tommy as an educator. For 34 years he was a teacher and administrator, and I have no doubt that he was good at what he did. But I knew him as an artist, a dedicated and hard-working musician.

I first met him in 1979 when I produced some demo tapes for him and his band "Tommy." I was impressed with his playing, the musical way he used his drums and his ear for arrangement. I was supposed to be just running the studio, but before long I found myself playing guitar parts here and there and soon I was a member of the band.

The band became The Rev, and The Rev became an odyssey of many rehearsals, long nights in the studio searching for the Perfect Track, and a whirlwind of shows at L.A. nightspots. After a few years The Rev morphed into The Balding Brothers, and the rock'n'roll circus continued for a couple of more years. There were good times and terrible times, but no matter what, Tommy kept the beat for us through it all. The drums are the heart of a rock band, and we put a lot of pressure on Tommy to hold us together musically. I mean a lot of pressure, but I don't recall him ever being anything but his calm, easygoing self, and I don't recall him ever giving less than everything he had when he was behind the drums.

I left the business for a long time, and as a result I didn't see Tommy for a while. It's one of the things I regret about the 90's. But even though we didn't see each other a lot, I still felt close to him (we were Balding Brothers, after all!). Luckily we reconnected in the past few years. We jammed a little, hung out a little, and it was as if we'd never been apart. In typical fashion, when I started a new band and we didn't have any gigs, Tommy supported us by inviting us to open for Cheap Sax at their huge annual party, because that's the way he rolled.

I miss you already, old friend, and I expect I always will. I thought we had more time. Damnit, I thought you'd always be there. I'm so grateful you were in my life, but this is not the Perfect Track we were seeking. There was supposed to be a much longer fadeout, and a lot more time to laugh and sing together.

So long, Tom. The beat goes on, but it will never be the same.

--Larry Menshek