Tom Keifer

Carl Thomas Keifer was born in Springfield, Pennsylvania, on January 26, 1961. Tom grew up in a musical family and began playing guitar at a young age. By the time he reached his teens, Tom discovered rock bands such as

Carl Thomas Keifer was born in Springfield, Pennsylvania, on January 26, 1961. Tom grew up in a musical family and began playing guitar at a young age. By the time he reached his teens, Tom discovered rock bands such as Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, and Bad Company. Tom was interested to know what kind of music influenced these bands, so he did some research by finding and listening to old blues records by Johnny Winter, Muddy Waters, and B.B. King. Tom soon fell in love with the blues and was heavily influenced by this kind of music.

Tom joined his first rock band while in junior high school. He soon learned to play the electric guitar. The young musician struggled with drug and alcohol abuse during this time, and considered dropping out of school to pursue a music career. However, Tom’s mother Adrienne, bribed her son to stay in school by promising him a real Les Paul guitar upon graduation. Tom graduated and received this coveted instrument. After graduating Tom played guitar in bands such as Saints in Hell, Telepath, and Diamonds. Keifer was often forced to eat out of restaurant trash cans and live in his car to survive.