A Peverett Phile Christmas 6 Pheaturing Tommy Henriksen

Hello, welcome to A Peverett Phile Christmas 6. How are you? Man, I need a new Christmas logo, right? More colorful, and what's with the words "Articles" and "Interviews" and the address of this blog? You know where to find it if you're reading it. Next year I'll get a new logo.  So, I can't wait to find out what movie North Korea allows me to see this Christmas.  Good thing you pit a photo of your kids on your holiday card in case anyone hadn't seen the 15,239 you posted on Facebook this year.  Did you get all your Christmas shopping done? I saved a lot of money on Christmas this year by not spending any money on Christmas presents.  Okay, let's talk about things not Christmas related for  a minute. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush announced that he will "actively explore" a 2016 presidential campaign, via a post on his Facebook page. This is the clearest indication yet that the brother of George W. Bush might be willing to throw away years of goodwill with the nation's Latino community, as well as a reputation for being a sensible Republican, in order to make himself seem crazier than Ted Cruz and Rand Paul in order to curry the favor of the conservative base. UPDATE: Jeb Bush announced today that he's actively exploring losing to Ted Cruz in the 2016 primaries. Oh, well.  Beloved comedian Robin Williams... who chose to take his own life this past August topped Google's annual list of most-searched topics for 2014, beating out search terms such as "World Cup," "Ebola," and "Flappy Bird." He would have probably found this immensely amusing. I have to say time marches on and attention spans whither, but Robin Williams' absence still gnaws at me like a toothache.  It would seem as though old-fashioned tobacco-and-tar cigarettes just aren't good enough for today's youth, with their fancy iTelephones and their XBox 64s. Haha. According to a new government survey on drug use, this generation of no-goodnick teenagers would much rather vape on an e-cigarette than riddle their lungs with carcinogenic gunk the way their parents and their parents' parents used to. It's just sad. Vaping is the rollerblading of smoking.  Christmas means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, so it makes sense that there are a lot of different types of Christmas songs. There are solemn, Jesus-focused songs like "Silent Night"; fun, lighthearted songs like "Jingle All The Way"; and kinda rapey songs like "Baby, It's Cold Outside." When you're looking for just the right song this holiday season, use this helpful diagram by MJ Wesner, which classifies songs according to whether they're more about Santa or more about Jesus, and whether they're more melancholy or more jolly.

Looking for a jolly song about Jesus? Try "Joy to the World." Want something melancholy about Santa Claus? Give a listen to "Please Come Home For Christmas" by Charles Brown. Sigh. So good. So, yesterday I went to see an Orlando Magic game and I was surprised at the sandals they were selling.

I love inspirational posters, and I saw this about one about Russian winters.

You're welcome, fellas.  Also you know I am a big Star Wars fan, right? And I love Slave Leia... well, check this out...

I love it.  Speaking of Star Wars... you can keep your Elf on a Shelf. I've got a 'Trooper on a pooper.

I have to show you something. Someone thought this was a picture of two T-Rex's fighting over a watermelon...

I don't see it myself.   So, I think I'm gong to the store later...

Where is this store? And now from the home office in Port Jefferson, New York, here is the...

Top Phive Elf Complaints
5. Incredible markup at North Pole Wawa.
4. Workmen’s compensation doesn’t cover “mistletoe-lung.”
3. Bells on clothing target for jeers at truck stops.
2. Dead elves just tossed out on tundra.
And the number one elf complaint...
1. Santa only invites his favorites to join him in the Jacuzzi.

If you spot the Mindphuck let me know. It should be pretty easy. Okay, a friend of the Phile wanted to come on and say something to you readers. So,here is a special...

I want to wish all the readers on the Peverett Phile a Merry Christmas or a happy Hanukkah or whatever you celebrate. And to you, Jason, I hope you have a great Christmas and that your son has the bestest Christmas ever!

Christmas card 
A Christmas card is proof for people you haven't seen recently that you are alive and functional enough to lick a stamp.

Today's pheatured guest is an American musician from Port Jefferson who is best known for his work with Alice Cooper. He has a new solo single called "Give 'em Hell" which is available on iTunes and a solo album coming out next year called "Tommy! Tommy!! Tommy!!!" Please welcome to the Phile... Tommy Henriksen.

Me: Hey, Tommy, welcome to the Phile! How are you, man?

Tommy: Hi, Jason, alas klar!! All is good here in Switzerland!

Me: Okay, let's get this outta the way first you... what's Orianthi really like?

Tommy: Orianthi is a great person! Great fucking guitar player! So much blues! And she is pretty funny!

Me: And she's hot and I have been trying to get her on the Phile for years.

Tommy: No worries, I just hooked you up with Ori!! She said she would love to do it!!

Me: Really? That's so fucking cool. She's not in Alice's band anymore, right? I think she's with Richie Sambora now.

Tommy: Ori left Alice Cooper to go back to her solo stuff and Orianthi and Richie are doing a record as we speak together which is gonna blow some minds!!

Me: Can you believe he left Bon Jovi?

Richie: I can’t speak for Richie but when I was with him Orianthi and my brother Jon Levin from Dokken the other night he seems pretty happy and excited as well as Ori!

Me: You knew me when I was a kid back in Port Jefferson, right? Im 46 years old now, how much older are you?

Tommy: Well, I’m 4 years older than you! I met you through a guy by the name of George Ripley and Bob Tis who worked for Foghat and the Boogie Hotel! I painted the Boogie Hotel when I was a kid to get free studio time! That place had a magic too it! I miss it BIG TIME!

Me: I just visited it in October. I must say you have a lot more talent than I have. I have none, except I play a kazoo. How did you get to know my dad and Foghat, Tommy?

Tommy: Richie Simpson first and he introduced me to George Ripley and through Ripley I met Bob Tis and Don Berman! Port Jeff was a small tough town and Foghat were the band! I would see Roger  and Craig driving there dope cars through town and heard they recorded and built a studio down Port! So I would go hang around to say hello and get to know them which I did!! Your dad was very quiet and sweet! And back then when I heard your dad say he was a vegetarian (I had no idea what that meant). I would go to Roger's house and clean up stuff for him and clean the studio and I met you at the house your family lived in Belle Tere which was the best place to live down by the cliffs! Also years later I would write songs with your dad for a band I had called Big Trouble that Lonesome Dave (your dad) came up with amazing lyrics and melody’s! Learned a lot from him about writing! 

Me: I have those Big Trouble demos, Tommy. They were good songs. You painted Boogie Hotel? For those that don't know, tell them what Boogie Hotel Studios is. I mentioned it on the Phile before so some readers will know.

Tommy: The Boogie Hotel was a magical studio built by the band Foghat! It was the place down Port! I remember when they were recording drums for the record ”Boys to Bounce and Girls to Chat” and they were getting a kick drum sound for days!!

Me: How did you get the painting job and who hired you?

Tommy: Bob Tis got my old band Ruffkut to paint and I think I guy named Jeff and Steve were also a big part of the Boogie Hotel who would later help us out also!

Me: What part of Port Jefferson are you from and when did you leave it?

Tommy: Jason, I came from the white trash part of Port Jefferson Station! I left in 1989 and have never been back! Best decision I have ever made thanks to my brother Jeff Pilson who saved my life! 

Me: You have never been back since? I was just there in October. I love it.

Tommy: No... I felt I had to get out of there! When I go back now to see my family its nice!

Me: You've even been to our house in Belle Terre... The House That "Slow Ride" Built. Do you remember it?

Tommy: That house in Belle Terre was amazing! Probably still is! That was the first time I was at a rich person’s house! Pretty cool!! And your dad was chill always!!

Me: What do you remember about it and what do yo remember about me?

Tommy: I remember it being huge! I was a kid back then so... and I remember meeting you and your mom and sister! I remember the red hair and you both were very shy!!

Me: Okay, so, when did you first start to play the guitar?

Tommy: I started playing guitar at the age of 14 after seeing this band called Tusk at the roller skating rink I went to! After meeting the Rondinelli’s I would never look back!

Me: Did you take lessons or did you teach yourself, Tommy?

Tommy: I took some lesson’s from a guy named Jim Kleinlaus in my neighborhood who was such a sweet guy and amazing guitar player! I would love to thank him if he is still around!

Me: What kinda music did you listen to growing up?

Tommy: I grew up listening to The Who, Foghat, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper! So many great bands!! Port Jeff was a rock town filled with soooo many great musicians!

Me: You're a big Sex Pistols fan, right? Was it a Sex Pistols song you learnt first?

Tommy: "Pretty Vacant" but I was more a Ramones  fan after seeing them in 1978 playing a free show in Central Park which changed my life!

Me: My son is 15 and he is playing guitar as well. He's idol is Slash... who is your idol?

Tommy: My idol has always been Peter Gabriel from the start to the finish.

Me: When did you first start playing in a band, Tommy? Was that on Long Island?

Tommy: I started when I was 15 playing in a band called No Deal... we played CBGB’s and clubs when I couldn’t get in!! They would sneak me in last minute! Pretty cool when I think about it now!

 Me: You ended up in the German band Warlock. How the fuck did that happen? What was it like in Germany?

Tommy: I got the Warlock gig through 2 guys named Tommy Bolan and Joey Balin! Germany was fucking awesome! First time I was ever out of the United States.

Me: You had an amazing career, I have to tell you, working with people like Lady Gaga, Lou Reed and Keisha. What were they like to work with?

Tommy: Lady Gaga was amazing when I first worked with her! I knew she had something (no fear) she doesn’t return my calls anymore! Success!  Keisha is another talented singer! Believe it or not behind all that auto tune she can sing! Lou Reed… c’mon… that was the gig!! Was through Bob Ezrin who I work with and co-produce with on a lot of projects!

Me: Do you have a favorite musician who worked or played with?

Tommy: Alice Cooper!

Me: You're currently a member of Alice Cooper's band... when did you first meet Alice?

Tommy: I met Alice in 2000 and was a fan as a kid and also I was a roadie and runner for him!! Funny shit!

Me: When you worked on the album "Welcome 2 My Nightmare" did you have a feeling he was gonna ask you to join his band?

Tommy: No... not at all... he just asked Bob… who played the guitars, bass, keyboards and engineering and Bob said Tommy!! Alice looked at me and said I want you in my band! And Steve Hunter had a help in that big time too!

Me: Alice lives in Arizona, so did you have to go there for awhile?

Tommy: No, he would come to us! Bob’s and my studio in Nashville and L.A.

Me: You live in Switzerland now, right, with your beautiful family. How did you end up in Switzerland?

Tommy: Meeting the best woman, Sandra who is so beautiful and kind and a great mother to our son Finn Cooper.

Me: Is your wife Swiss?

Tommy: Oh yeah… she’s the Swiss miss!!

Me: You wear a lot of leather on stage and some kind of headpiece like Havok from the X-Men comics. Did you choose your own stage clothes or did Alice say this is what you're gonna wear?

Tommy: You mean Tugg Speedman!!! Haha!! Alice say’s just go out there and kill!

Me: I just read you played with a Phile Alum... drummer Bobby Rondinelli. What hand was that in, Tommy?

Tommy: I’ve known Bobby since I was 14 we also played in Rondinelli and Doro together.

Me: And you also worked briefly with C.C. Deville from Poison. Man, you worked with some crazy people, haven't you?

Tommy: That was a band called Needle Park! It was with Kelly Hansen who is now the lead singer for Foreigner and James Kottak who plays in the Scorpions! Great band! Too many drugs for C.C. and James at that time!

Me: At least Alice is normal off stage playing golf. Do you play golf?

Tommy: Alice is in a great mood everyday and no, I don’t play golf!

Me: Another band you were in was P.O.L... not to be confused with P.I.L. Was P.O.L., a P.I.L. cover band?

Tommy: P.O.L. was my punk band in 1994.

Me: Do you like doing your own thing or working with other people, Tommy?

Tommy: I love doing both!

Me: Let's talk about your new solo album "Tommy! Tommy!! Tommy!!!" Who came up with that title?

Tommy: A friend of mine named Sparky came up with the "T.T.T."

Me: Who plays on the album with you?

Tommy: I have a bunch of guest lead guitar players! Steve Hunter, Satchel from Steel Panther, Jon Levin from Dokken, Jason Roller from Kelli Pickler and Joey Sykes from The Baby’s played some great parts and solo’s!

Me: When I first heard the single "Give'm Hell" I was expecting heavy metal song, or a hard rock song but it's not, is it? It's a pop song with rock vocals. It's a great song though. Did you write it?

Tommy: That is the first single for Europe and it's very pop with rock guitars, banjo’s, fiddle, synthesizers! Just everything I love about a song! I wrote the whole record!

Me: What brand and make do you play, Tommy?

Tommy: I play Gibson SG Les Paul custom’s! The 3 pick up ones and I own 5 of them and they are all 1991-1993s! The Gibson guitars made in early 90s are the best but I loved your dad’s Bo Diddley guitar... that square black one he used all the time!! I hope you have that guitar!!

Me: Yes, I do. So, what's happening on 2015 for you? Anything exciting?

Tommy: The "Tommy! Tommy!! Tommy!!!" record will come out in January 2015 in Switzerland, Germany and Austria on K-Tel and Rough Trade! Then I will release it in the States on a label or myself but I am doing a vinyl record on Bellyache in January of a limited run!

Me: How long do you think you will be with Alice for?

Tommy: I will be with alice until he retires!

Me: I have to show a picture of you playing with Alice...

Me: Okay, Tommy, on the Phile I ask random questions thanks to Tabletopics. Ready? I need new questions. Haha. Would you rather meet your great great grandparents or your great great grandchildren?

Tommy: Great great grandchildren to make sure we got it right this time! Haha.

Me: Tommy, thanks for being on the Phile. Please come back again. Go ahead and plug your website. All the best, my friend.

Tommy: Facebook.com/TommyHenriksenOfficial, Tommyhenriksen.net, Alicecooper.com. Thanks, J.P. !!

There you go, that about does it for this entry of the Phile. Thanks to Jeff Trelewicz and Tommy Henriksen. The Phile will be back next Sunday with Amy Paffrath who is the host of VH1's "Dating Naked" and on Monday it's the last entry of the year with Painted On Water. Spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye and have a safe and fun Christmas!

Not if it pleases me. No, you can't stop me, not if it pleases me. - Graham Parker