Tommy Aldridge - #39 - Whitesnake - Ozzy and more.
100 drummers I’ve seen and heard in my lifetime
#39 Tommy Aldridge (1950)
I saw and heard Tommy Aldridge the summer of 1971. I drove to hear Bobby Caldwell play with Johnny Winter And, at Pirates World in Dania, Florida. The opening band was Black Oak Arkansas, with Tommy Aldridge playing drums.
Black Oak Arkansas became popular during the festival, concert, post Woodstock period of time. Drum solos were a crowd pleaser. Though I don’t remember much about BOA, Tommy Aldridge played an impressive drum solo. He was an early pioneer of the double bass drum setup, inspired by Louie Bellson and Sam Woodyard.
Tommy Aldridge has also played and recorded with Pat Travers, Gary Moore, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Yngwie Malmsteen, Vinnie Moore, Thin Lizzy, Ted Nugent and more.
I respect drummers from that period. Musicians my age, that have continued to play their instrument as a professional.
Several years ago, I was playing at a nice lounge in downtown Orlando, called The Grand Bohemian. It was a small lounge in a nice hotel with a Bosendorfer piano. Hence, it was called The Bosendorfer Lounge. Through the entrance of the lounge door, I could see someone sitting at a table. He seemed to be watching the band and me play.
Though I’d never met Tommy Aldridge, he has the unique Rock ‘n’ Roll look. When we finished the set, I walked to get a closer look. Approaching his table, I said to him, you’re Tommy Aldridge. We both laughed. He commented that he enjoyed hearing me play. I had an unusual style. He was very courteous and disappeared with a couple female fans.