Tom was born in Rochdale, Lancashire. With both his parents being Hungarian it always struck him as interesting that ELP's opening track on their first album was based on a piece by a Hungarian composer. Coincidentally, Rochdale is just six miles from the town of Todmorden, at the foot of the West Pennines - where Keith Emerson was born.... could it be something in the water..?
He started piano lessons at the age of six and continued until the age of seventeen when his mother stopped paying for them because he'd left school. Anyway, by then Tom had grown tired of his piano teacher, who had given him a good grounding, but he had already been diversifying. Experimenting at home with styles such as 12 bar, Boogie and Jazz, as well as working out his favourite ELP tracks, he was thinking along the lines of 'going electronic' anyway.
His first job gave him a background in electronics and by the age of nineteen he had already built his first synthesiser from a kit. Eventually, financed by his job as a television repairman, a Crumar electronic piano was obtained to supplement the synth.
Then in 1979 working for a new employer, Tom heard that one of his new colleagues was selling a Hammond Organ. This was quickly acquired and together with his 'arsenal' of instruments, Hammond, Electronic Piano and Synth, he joined his first band at the request of an old school chum... guitarist Tony Hallsworth. The band was called 'Blinder'. Among the covers they played were also suggestions from Tom, not surprisingly tracks like Peter Gunn, Tiger in the Spotlight and America. (This band also played an excellent rendition of Elton John's 'Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding'). Blinder was a five-piece band and lasted a couple of years. In their time they did some studio recording and a few Live and 'In Rehearsal' recordings also exist. After the split Tom and Tony set about forming a new band.
They decided to call upon the services of Leslie Piszkalo for the percussion side of things .... Lez was also at the same school as Tom and Tony years earlier. The new band they named 'Shanghai' and built up a very loyal following over the years playing a mixture of covers and (mainly) their own compositions. 'Shanghai' seemed to have an appetite for bassists and vocalists but the three main members - Tom, Tony and Lez saw the band through for the full five years of its existence. Tony was (and still is) a guitarist heavily into (at that time...and probably still...) a band called Deep Purple. This meant that Tom had to learn material by another one of the great keyboard players of that era. Not that he minded though! Tracks like Lazy, Highway Star and Smoke on the Water were rehearsed and played to enthusiastic audiences. The band were regularly featured in the local press with gig reviews, write ups and photographs, which Tom still has pasted into scrapbooks. The highlight for 'Shanghai' fans was the time they supported 'Here and Now' - formerly 'Gong' - at the Lancashire University in Preston.
As far as ELP tracks were concerned, Shanghai's showstopper was always Fanfare for the Common Man although they also covered Tiger in a Spotlight. This was when Tom started to develop his 'Emerson Stage Antics', building up his collection of daggers at the same time - admittedly not Hitler Youth daggers like Mr. Emerson's - but impressive all the same. Tom however, always wanted to do more - possibly even a full ELP set ... maybe someday.
In 1987 when Shanghai split, Tom got together with the bands vocalist - Adey McDermott, who Tom knew could also knock out a rhythm or two. (Adey was always jumping onto the drums during Shanghai rehearsal coffee-breaks) This was with the aim of putting together the ELP band Tom had been dreaming of. Their first bassist didn't measure up (even though a couple of live videos do exist with him) so eventually Mark Conroy was drafted in and the band - 'Noddy's Puncture' was well and truly ready. This first version of the band developed a very healthy following over the years with fans regularly travelling hundreds of miles to attend their gigs. It must be said that the high point for this first line up has got to be when the band played at the 1995 ELP Convention in Birmingham.
This first Noddy's Puncture line-up lasted some ten years when, after a few non-musical differences, Tom decided that the "Puncture" couldn't be repaired and set about changing the tyre - with view to a new improved version..!
Tom recruited drummer Lez Piszkalo - of earlier Shanghai fame - and also Tony Gunderson (who Tom knew of from the local music scene) to look after the guitars and vocal side of things. They released their first live CD "Warts And All" which is still available and also have some live concert video CD's. (Here are some sample downloads of both our available Audio and Video)
When Tony Gunderson decided to leave, Tom and Lez took a while to sort things out but eventually Tony Hallsworth (also of earlier Shanghai fame) was drafted in as replacement. Talk about things coming full circle ..! Tom, Tony and Lez had been playing together for just over a year when Lez announced he wasn't happy with the bands direction and wanted some changes. Tom finally decided that as this band was a tribute to ELP, what was needed were other ELP fanatics as members.
An email from a certain Phil Blakeney (bassist/vocalist and ELP fan) confirmed this belief, and together with newly discovered Steve Roberts (from Wales) on drums who by the way is another ELP fanatic, things were beginning to look more exciting than ever...!
This new Noddy’s line-up played a few interesting gigs - one being down at Keith Emerson’s old local. It has been a yearly August Bank Holiday expedition but this time Keith himself showed up and joined in. A live CD of this night is available. Called “Thank you, Masked Man” you can hear some excerpts on our Audio page.
The last line-up saw Kevin Colon on bass and vocals - this lasted for just over two years after which Kevin left due to some differences of opinion regarding private practice and the moving of band equipment. Tom and Steve are currently looking for a new member to replace him.
Tom has been an ardent ELP fan ever since hearing his first from them .... 'Pictures At An Exhibition'. He was fourteen at the time and couldn't believe what he'd just listened to. Here is a story which may be worth mentioning and one that Tom will never forget ...
The greatest 'ELP moment' for him was when the band returned to Europe after the American leg of the Black Moon tour in '92. ELP were due to play the Manchester Apollo on Sunday night. On the Friday night leading up, Tom got a phone call from Keith calling from the Hague, Holland where he'd just played at the Congresgebouw ... rendering his L100 useless in the process. He was asking if Tom knew of anyone who could take a look at it on Sunday..? Tom promised to try to help but if all else failed he offered Emo the use of his own Hammond (it did after all take regular beatings) Keith thanked Tom for the offer saying that if he did use it, he would "look after it" - (Yeah Right ...!) and added that anything he broke he'd pay for..
Upon reflection any knife wounds or broken keys caused by the hands of the man who started it all would have been most welcome. Indeed Tom would have expected it ..!
Unfortunately the whole story is too long to relate here. If you're ever at a Noddy's gig then ask him yourself ... he'd be happy to oblige, I'm sure.
At this point Tom would like to mention the fourth and fifth members of the band. Geoff Goostrey who looks after our live sound and Ian Brown who does a little merchandising on our gigs when he's not too busy flashing our lights! It's nice to know that we are in good hands when at the mercy of the 'gig gremlins'. Cheers guys, we love you...