Tommy’s home is modest but clean. Tommy’s less famous guitar, the Fender Telecaster and his new amplifier grace the entrance to his home. A piano sits in the far corner. Sheet music is piled on the table and Tommy mentions that he is learning the Elvis/Jerry Reed classic, “Guitar Man,” for his lounge act at the Blue Comet in Glenside.

Dominating the wall like a Warhol at the Philadelphia Art Museum is Tommy’s famous Guild guitar. Like its master, the guitar is slightly weathered but full of interesting character. The Guild looked much smaller than I recall from the live performances a decade ago.  Tommy had a couple of funny stories for each of the signatures.  He mumbled with a touch of nostalgia, “One of the real perks of being on a record label is that I was able to meet my heroes. I only got people who meant something to me to sign my guitar.”

A Saturday afternoon trip down memory lane with the ex-rock star.

marc, west chester