Tommy Thayer’s journey went from Black ‘n Blue to KISS. What began as a high school friendship in Portland, Oregon, between Thayer and Jamie St. James led to one of the most notable transitions in rock history.
Black ‘n Blue and the Gene Simmons Connection
As Collin Larkin documents in his ‘The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock,‘ Thayer and St. James formed Black ‘n Blue in 1981. According to Roppongi Rocks, Black ‘n Blue supported KISS during the ‘Asylum’ tour in 1985. By 1986, KISS bassist Gene Simmons became involved with the band and produced their albums ‘Nasty Nasty’ (1986) and ‘In Heat’ (1988). Although these releases didn’t match the success of their earlier records, Simmons’ involvement later gained a meaning.
Thayer worked on various projects after Black ‘n Blue disbanded in 1989. He joined Harlow for their 1990 album. He contributed guitar work to Doro’s self-titled album. He played with Shake The Faith on ‘America The Violent’ in 1994. Thayer and his former Black ‘n Blue bandmate Jamie St. James also performed in Cold Gin, a Los Angeles-based KISS tribute band. They played alongside Cold Sweat members Anthony White and Chris McLernon.
Thayer later became Gene Simmons’ assistant and KISS’s tour manager.
Tommy Thayer’s Transition to KISS
Thayer played an increasingly important role behind the scenes by the mid-1990s. He worked on KISS’s official book project ‘Kisstory,’ helped manage rehearsals, and even assisted Ace Frehley and Peter Criss in preparing for the band’s reunion tour. His technical skills and reliability made him a trusted figure within KISS’s inner circle.
Frehley’s commitment to the band wavered in 2002, and KISS needed a replacement. Thayer stepped in and officially took over as lead guitarist during a private KISS show in Jamaica on March 6, 2002. His first recorded work with KISS appeared on ‘Sonic Boom’ (2009).
On his addition to KISS, he said, “I joined at a time when they needed somebody who could pick up the pieces and start a new run, so to speak. Sure, there was criticism. There always is, particularly in that case; but I felt like I’ve grown and evolved through the years. It’s worked out well for everyone.”
