Thom Mooney (born January 5, 1948, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States) is an American rock drummer.
Influenced by the British invasion during the 1960s, Mooney was a founding member of the East Coast rock group Nazz, along with guitarist Todd Rundgren, who later went on to have a successful solo career. With the release of the first album Nazz (the name derived from an old jazz expression as well as the Yardbirds' track "The Nazz Are Blue"), his group had a larger than life live show, touring with the then-nascent group Spirit, with a guitar-driven sound that was propelled by Mooney's energetic drumming style.[citation needed] Reviews were enthusiastic, but the group's demise, shortly after their return to the recording studio, was the result of growing pains and perhaps too much hype.[citation needed] Mooney went on to assist in the release of the second album Nazz Nazz, and a posthumous third album Nazz III, but then worked to become one of the most active rock drummers in the 1970s, eventually working as musical director and drummer for Rita Coolidge, as well as session work and writing with Men at Work's Colin Hay, John Hiatt, tours with Roger McGuinn, and many others. As well as Nazz, he has drummed with Fuse, Paris (with Bob Welch), the Curtis Brothers and Tattoo (with Wally Bryson).
At present, Mooney lives on the West Coast, and is still active in music.
References
- The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, Third Edition, ISBN 978-0743201209