Short Biography of Thomas "Bam Bam" Parisi
Thomas Edmund Parisi was born on May 20, 1955 in Fort Eustace, VA. The first born child of Edmee and Anthony, Thom soon would be the oldest of six Parisi children including Michael, Julia, Clelia, Camille and James.
Considering the fact that the only piece of furniture his parents'
had when they got married was a piano, Thomas probably was exposed to music before he was
even born. (That same piano is now in the possession of Thom's youngest
brother, Jim.) Both Edmee and Anthony dabbled in music and all of Thom's
five brothers and sisters still participate in music in one form or another (so
what if two of his siblings play only the kazoo.)
The Parisis moved to Simsbury, Ct. when Thom was 5 years old. In 1969
Thom's father passed away at the tender age of 39 from a heart attack while
sitting in their living room. This traumatic event seemed to haunt Thom his entire life. As long as this author had known Thom, his highest
priority in life was to live longer than his father. Though Thom
ultimately succeeded it was unfortunately not by much.
Thom's interest in electronics was no less intense than his love for
music. By the time he was thirteen years old, he was both an accomplished
drummer and an electronics wizard. This combination of skills would carry
him through his entire life as a musician/producer/engineer.
Thom's apartment was more like a recording studio with a bedroom and kitchen
than a home. And he wouldn't want it any other way. Everything, with
the exception of his wife Teresa and baby daughter Talia, was second to his music.
Thom played in many bands throughout his career. In high school he was a member of Eric Von Zipper and the Flies, a local 50s group that also featured Bam Bam Project Members Larry Migliore on lead vocals and Ken Eichler on lead guitar. After graduating from Fordham University with a degree in theology, Thom joined another band called Spindrift with Ken Eichler and some other New York musicians. Spindrift performed and recorded all original music and gave Thom and Ken their first taste of working in a 24 track recording studio. Soon thereafter, Thom would become a founding member of The Hip Pocket Band, which ultimately became a long tenured Westchester based rock and roll band featuring many talented local musicians including: Joel Smith, Eddie Martin, John Heithaus, Eddie Denise, "Handsome" Dick Kaplan, Cat McCord, Kevin "Dr. C" Crutchfield and Ken Eichler. The Hip Pocket Band was a local favorite and was enlisted as one of the regular house bands for former Sopranos cast member Vinnie Pastore's club in New Rochelle, The Crazy Horse. The Hip Pocket Band also recorded a single called "Wakes Me Up" that eventually wound up being played on the radio in the US and Europe and was also re-recorded in Hebrew and released in Israel. Thom also played regularly with many other local groups and finally ended up working with Larry Migliore (also goes by the name Larry Neil) again in a band called "Almost Human." They recorded a terrific rock CD called "No Reason" with which they continue to enjoy success. Their song "Everywhere I Go" was just used in the MTV show "Dismissed". "Almost Human" was to be the last band in which Thom was physically able to play.
Thom spent his days working in the Sam Ash music store in White Plains, New York and his evenings either gigging or recording. He was truly a music-oholic and would never turn down a gig. Needless to say, with his talent, he was a very busy drummer up until the time he fell ill.
Thom married Teresa in February of 1998. Soon thereafter, they announced the forthcoming arrival of their first (and what would be their only) child, Talia. Thom was already exhibiting symptoms of his illness but did not yet know exactly what was wrong. However, Thom never looked happier and more content than the day he introduced his daughter, Talia, to this author, a friend of Thom's for over 30 years. When Thom held Talia, he was transformed into another person. Unfortunately, Thom soon would be hit with the diagnosis of brain cancer and his world would suddenly be transformed again. One of life's cruel twists.
However, nothing seemed sadder than the day Thom admitted that he was no longer capable of keeping a steady beat. He told this author that his body refused to do what his mind asked and that he was losing his coordination. He looked absolutely crushed and that was before he even knew exactly what was wrong with him.
There isn't a single musician within a forty mile radius that did not know Thom. On top of being a great drummer, he was a sweetheart of a guy - a gentle giant - and that was reinforced when hundreds of friends and musicians showed up to pay tribute to Thom at a benefit concert not long before he passed away. The organizers of that benefit raised over $20,000 for Thom's family.
Thomas died on November 9, 2000 with his friends and family at his side.
I met Thom Parisi when I was thirteen years old when he and his family moved into the house behind mine in New Rochelle, New York. The first thing I noticed was the constant sound of drums being played several times a day, everyday. Much to my pleasure and my dad’s dismay, Thom was very fond of practicing. Like a magnet, I was attracted to Thom's drumming and soon after we met, we became close friends.
Thom had a dry sense of humor which was evident when he once charged me five cents for a piece of toast! I’ll never forget the day - Thom helped me with my paper route and I decided to walk across a frozen lake by our house to take a short cut. Thom knew it was a bad idea and I can still see him on the bank of the lake laughing his head off as I tried to climb out of the icy water!
However, our greatest bond was music. I remember always wanting to sing and play music and Thom was a willing teacher. We soon had our first semblance of a "band", which included Thom, myself , Mike (Thom’s brother) and Fred Carlson from Thom’s old neighborhood in Simsbury Connecticut. This quartet is memorialized in a small black and white photo within The Bam Bam Project CD.
Our first "real" band was "Eric Von Zipper and The Flies" thrown together in our high school days. We had a big following in school and Kenny was the lead guitarist. After high school, I lost touch with Thom when he went off to Fordam University and I to Westchester Community College. Later on when I had just turned thirty, I was watching VH1 on TV and I got the urge to write music. I immediately went to White Plains and visited Thom at the Sam Ash music store. I broached the subject about writing some tunes together and Thom was up for it. Our first song was "Dreaming of You". Thom made me do the vocals in the bathroom because the room had a natural reverb. But singing next to Thom’s cat’s litter box was tough. From that time forward we wrote a ton of songs, some destined for the scrap heap and some that gained some noteworthy acceptance. We both became "published" songwriters. Thom was amazed when we got our first royalty checks and simply said, "Wow, I’m actually making money writing music". We continued writing songs together for about fourteen years.
Thom and I went on to form "Almost Human", the last band he ever played in and the last time we made music together. I had to get a substitute drummer, but it never really was the same. To this day, things are not the same without him.
I think of him always. He was my best friend and music mentor combined. His talents in music made me strive to be better than I ever was. His illness and death taught me to be a better human being than I thought I could ever be and for this I will always love him and will never forget this gentle man.
Check out Memory Lane for some photos.