{"id":7966,"date":"2026-05-03T02:51:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-03T02:51:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=7966"},"modified":"2026-05-03T02:51:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-03T02:51:14","slug":"interview-tommy-james-is-still-going-his-own-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=7966","title":{"rendered":"Interview: Tommy James is still going his own way"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 300px 160px; gap: 2px; width: 460px; background: #eee; padding: 2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u6574\u884c\u5bbd\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876674\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 90px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876676\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u7ad6\u6392 -->\r\n  <div style=\"height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876672\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"height: 500px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876680\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u6469\u5929\u697c\uff08\u548c\u5de6\u4fa7\u5b8c\u5168\u5bf9\u9f50\uff09 -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row: 3\/5; height: 750px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876678\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e6\" data-zoneid=\"5876682\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><em><small>Tommy James performing at Westbury. Photo Credit: Photo Credit: Mark Schoen Photography.<\/small><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Rock singer-songwriter Tommy James chatted about his career in the music industry, his book \u201cMe, the Mob and the Music,\u201d and his weekly radio show on SiriusXM.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe important thing in life is not victory but combat; it is not to have vanquished but to have fought well,\u201d said Pierre de Coubertin, French Educator who was primarily responsible for the revival of the Olympic Games in 1894. This quote applies to multi-faceted veteran artist Tommy James.<\/p>\n<p>He serves as the front-man of the acclaimed rock group Tommy James and the Shondells, which is still touring today. He has been performing live for over 60 years.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-background-on-tommy-james\">Background on Tommy James<\/h2>\n<p>Tommy James\u2019 music can be heard in over 94 films, 102 television shows, and numerous commercials. A native of Dayton, Ohio, Tommy grew up in Niles, Michigan.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout his respected career in the music industry, which spans six decades, he has earned 23 gold records, nine platinum albums, and secured 32 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. He has also sold in excess of 100 million records worldwide.<\/p>\n<p>His biggest hits include \u201cCrystal Blue Persuasion,\u201d \u201cCrimson &amp; Clover,\u201d \u201cMony Mony,\u201d \u201cI Think We\u2019re Alone Now,\u201d \u201cDraggin\u2019 The Line,\u201d \u201cHanky Panky,\u201d \u201cSweet Cherry Wine,\u201d \u201cThree Times In Love\u201d\u00a0and\u00a0\u201cMirage,\u201d and they\u00a0are just a few of his many hit singles.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe title=\"Tommy James &amp; The Shondells - I Think We`re Alone Now Live on Village Square 1967\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hFWhTqLSVzE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-music-and-songwriting-inspirations\">Music and songwriting inspirations<\/h2>\n<p>On his music and songwriting inspirations, he said, \u201cI was inspired by a lot of things. I started when I was very young, actually. I started The Shondells when I was a teenager, and we started recording, and of course, our first record was \u2018Hanky Panky\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat was recorded in my hometown of Niles, Michigan, back when I was 16 years old and it was a regional hit, but it didn\u2019t really go anywhere nationally, because we had no distribution,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFinally, the record kind of came and went, and I graduated from high school in 1965, took my band on the road, and we played clubs all through the West,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n<p>Tommy continued, \u201cIn early 66, we were playing a dumpy little club in Janesville, Wisconsin, and right in the middle of our two weeks, the club got shut down by the IRS because the guy didn\u2019t pay his taxes.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, we stayed home and back to Michigan, but as soon as I got home to Niles, I got the phone call that changed my life, that \u2018Hanky Panky\u2019 song \u2014 that I had recorded two years earlier \u2014 was suddenly sitting at No. 1 in the city of Pittsburgh,\u201d he elaborated.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe title=\"Hanky Panky\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DCnXFePGGmU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\u201cSo, that literally kicked off my career, and I went to Pittsburgh and did some shows, did newspaper interviews, and a week later, we were in New York,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI had a new group of Shondells, by the way, that I got in Pittsburgh, and a week later, we were in New York selling the record to a major label, and we ended up on Roulette Records,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat really began my career, and I started songwriting and all the rest of it once I was in New York,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tommy-james-on-his-book-me-the-mob-and-the-music\">Tommy James on his book \u2018Me, the Mob and the Music\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>His book \u201cMe, the Mob and the Music\u201d was released via for Simon &amp; Schuster, and it became a bestseller. The memoir garnered rave reviews from music critics, fans, and industry insiders alike; moreover, it was selected by <em>Rolling Stone Magazine<\/em> as one of the \u201c25 Greatest Rock \u2018n\u2019 Roll Memoirs of all time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell,  this is a story I had been wanting to tell for a long time and didn\u2019t feel that I could,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Tommy continued, \u201cThe title of the book is \u2018Me, the Mob, and the Music\u2019 and of course, the reason why it\u2019s titled that is because Roulette Records, in addition to being a functioning record label, was also a fund for the Genovese crime family in New York, and that made life really interesting for us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe were hanky panky-ing and mony-mony-ing. There\u2019s a very dark story that was going on behind us that we really couldn\u2019t talk about. So, it took a long time to tell the story, and finally I did it in the book,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe title=\"Tommy James - Draggin&#039; the Line (Dick Clark Show 1972)\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TZLInDZv-Mc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tommy-james-the-radio-host-on-siriusxm\">Tommy James \u2014 The radio host on SiriusXM<\/h2>\n<p>Tommy James hosts his own weekly radio show \u201cGettin\u2019 Together With Tommy James\u201d\u00a0on SiriusXM. \u201cThe radio show on SiriusXM is going great. This is our ninth year on the air,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is really quite amazing. When they first came to me and offered me to do the show, I was a little concerned because as much as I\u2019ve been on the radio and involved in radio, I had never worked that side of the microphone before,\u201d he elaborated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI had never really been a DJ before. So, this was a whole new experience, and I wasn\u2019t sure I could do it, but after the third show, I was having a ball,\u201d he exclaimed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can tell you right now that being on the radio allows me to hear all kinds of music,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen I go up to SiriusXM, I meet people, groups and celebrities from all over, and it\u2019s like a big club up there.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think being with SiriusXM is perhaps the hippest job in the world,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe title=\"Tommy James and the Shondells - Crimson &amp; Clover\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XS0niyiKlcw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-digital-age\">The digital age<\/h2>\n<p>On being an artist in the digital age, Tommy reflected, \u201cWell, true enough what is amazing is the way people can hear music today\u2026 on their iPhones or they can download it or stream it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are many ways to hear music, and it\u2019s really a wonderful experience to be in the music business because music now is all over the world,\u201d he noted. \u201cMusic is not just in one country. It\u2019s available everywhere on the planet. Also, not only can people hear SiriusXM, they can also hear our music online whenever they want to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, it\u2019s really wonderful that the whole world is now your selling place in the digital age,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tommy-james-on-the-resurgence-of-vinyl\">Tommy James on the resurgence of vinyl<\/h2>\n<p>Tommy also observed the recent resurgence of vinyl. \u201cAt the same time vinyl is coming back. which is awesome. Isn\u2019t that something? It\u2019s the young ones that are buying vinyl and in Europe, it\u2019s outselling CDs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI love the warmth, scratchiness and nostalgia of vinyl. I\u2019ve always been a fan of vinyl. Even though CDs sound better, the experience of playing vinyl is so different than playing a CD where it just disappears into a drawer,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cVinyl is great and fun. It feels like a story within a story. You are participating in the listening experience, and you feel like you are really involved with the music,\u201d he expanded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe liner notes allow you to read all about the group and the album\u2026 and you see who wrote the songs,\u201d the rock crooner added.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-2-1200x800.jpg\" alt=\"Tommy James performing at Westbury\" class=\"wp-image-3845103\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-2-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-2.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tommy James performing at Westbury. Photo Credit: Photo Credit: Mark Schoen Photography.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-advice-for-young-and-aspiring-artists-and-bands\">Advice for young and aspiring artists and bands<\/h2>\n<p>For young and emerging artists, musicians, and bands, Tommy said, \u201cWell, I get asked that a lot, actually. Today, the record companies aren\u2019t signing groups like they used to, so there\u2019s very little taking place within the labels.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, my recommendation today is rather than go to a record company first off, go to a publishing company, especially if you\u2019re writing music,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPublishing is where the action really is. Publishing is really the ownership of the songs so if you\u2019re writing, which you should be doing if you\u2019re trying to make it as a group, is to go to the publishing company,\u201d he elaborated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are so many of them online\u2026 you can go right to the others online, see where they are and contact them, and go get some face time with a publisher rather than a record company,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnce you have a partnership with a publisher concerning your songs and ownership of your songs, then you can go to a record company. This way, you have some clout behind you instead of just coming in off the street,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo anyway, that\u2019s what I would do if I were looking for a record deal today,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-stage-of-his-life\">Stage of his life<\/h2>\n<p>On the title of the current chapter of his life, Tommy revealed, \u201cThree Generations of Rock and Roll.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat is kind of closely related to people asking me, \u2018What would you like on your tombstone?\u2019 or \u2018How would you like to be remembered?\u2019 Hopefully, that my songs have good energy to them that people remember them.\u201d he elaborated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I look out at our concert crowds now, I literally see three generations of people out there. So, it would be three generations of rock and roll,\u201d he clarified.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tommy-james-on-his-book-being-made-into-a-movie-and-possible-broadway-show\">Tommy James on his book being made into a movie and possible Broadway show<\/h2>\n<p>On his future plans with the book, Tommy stated, \u201cWell, there are things that I would like to still accomplish\u2026 It looks like our book is being turned into a movie, and after that, they want to do a musical\u2026 a Broadway show.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, these are things that are going to be fun, especially watching them come together. of course, I\u2019ll take part in co-producing a lot of these things. The movie of \u2018Me, The Mob, and the Music\u2019 is going to be fun. They\u2019re in the casting phase right now,\u201d he elaborated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe were originally going to do a theater production, which would involve an hour and a half or a two-hour movie for theaters, but that\u2019s not how movies are made anymore. So many of them are made as episodes, such as seven or eight episode films for Netflix or HBO Max,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, that is what we are going to do. This way, you can develop the characters better, and you can tell the story better,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-Credit-Love-Images-1.jpg\" alt=\"Tommy James\" class=\"wp-image-3845108\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-Credit-Love-Images-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-Credit-Love-Images-1-768x513.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tommy James. Photo Credit: Love Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tommy-james-on-the-key-to-longevity-in-the-music-business-all-of-these-decades\">Tommy James on the key to longevity in the music business all of these decades<\/h2>\n<p>Regarding the key to longevity in the music business all of these decades, Tommy shared, \u201cLongevity, for us, has been quite amazing. I thank the fans and the good Lord for the kind of longevity we\u2019ve had.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is our 60th year now. Before my first hit record, I was doing this for five years prior to that, but in the major leagues, this is our 60th year, and I\u2019m very, very flattered and honored to be doing music for this long.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve been around for so long, we are now able to see things from a historical perspective,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tommy-james-on-his-songs-being-covered-by-many-other-artists-and-groups\">Tommy James on his songs being covered by many other artists and groups<\/h2>\n<p>Many artists around the globe have covered and continue to cover Tommy\u2019s songs, which include the late Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Joan Jett, Billy Idol, Kelly Clarkson, Carlos Santana, Cher, Tom Jones, The Boston Pops, and R.E.M., among countless others.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, we\u2019ve been very lucky,\u201d he admitted. \u201cWe\u2019ve had over 350 cover versions of our songs from Prince to Dolly Parton to everyone in between doing our songs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m very flattered and honored when another artist does one of our tunes. I\u2019m very interested to hear another artist\u2019s take on our songs,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe title=\"Tommy James &amp; the Shondells - Mony Mony on the Ed Sullivan Show\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7b4vHGBk9cU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tommy-james-reveals-his-personal-favorite-songs\">Tommy James reveals his personal favorite songs<\/h2>\n<p>When asked about his personal favorite song in his own musical catalog, he responded, \u201cWell, that\u2019s a tough one. I suppose I would have to say \u2018Crystal Blue Persuasion\u2019 because it was such a different kind of record for us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen we do \u2018Mony Mony\u2019 in our live show, there is not much oxygen left in the room. So, I think it\u2019s a toss-up between \u2018Mony Mony\u2019 and \u2018Crystal Blue Persuasion\u2019,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe title=\"Tommy James and the Shondells - Crystal Blue Persuasion\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oDN7nukZRnw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tommy-james-the-new-jersey-hall-of-fame-inductee\">Tommy James \u2014 The New Jersey Hall of Fame inductee<\/h2>\n<p>In 2017, Tommy James was inducted into the coveted New Jersey Hall of Fame, where his life-size hologram can be viewed at the Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe New Jersey Hall of Fame induction was great,\u201d he admitted. \u201cAs a matter of fact, my wife, Carol Ross, is a part of it. A year ago, I married Carol, who is also my manager, and she sits on the Board of the Directors.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I went into the New Jersey Hall of Fame, it was great, and they are very serious about people from New Jersey having status and celebrity status. They are just a wonderful group of people,\u201d he elaborated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile I am not the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame yet \u2014 we\u2019re going to have to wait for a little bit for that \u2014 the New Jersey Hall of Fame recognition was incredible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAlso, when it\u2019s our turn, we will finally get in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. So many of my friends are in, so it\u2019s about time,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-performing-with-joan-jett-at-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame\">Performing with Joan Jett at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame<\/h2>\n<p>Speaking of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he performed \u201cCrimson and Clover\u201d with Joan Jett during her 2015 induction ceremony. \u201cWhen Joan was indcuted, she asked me if I would do \u2018Crimson and Clover\u2019 with her, and I did. So, I was on stage with literally four generations of rockers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was myself, Miley Cyrus, Joan Jett, and Dave Grohl all singing \u2018Crimson and Clover\u2019 at the same time,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe title=\"Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Joan Jett Crimson and Clover (2015 Clip) | HBO\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mml7w2mL-Bo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-additional-career-accolades-and-honors\">Additional career accolades and honors<\/h2>\n<p>Tommy James was inducted as a \u201cModern Era Legend\u201d at the fourth annual Pittsburgh Rock \u2018N Roll Legends awards in 2017, and in 2019, he was subsequently named \u201cJukebox Artist of the Year\u201d by the Amusement and Music Owners Association of New York.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2026-westbury-concert\">2026 Westbury concert<\/h2>\n<p>On April 18th, 2026, Tommy James performed at Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair on Long Island, New York. \u201cWestbury was great,\u201d he exclaimed. \u201cIt was a fun show, and of course, the Long Island crowds are always great.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-1-1200x800.jpg\" alt=\"Tommy James performing at Westbury\" class=\"wp-image-3845102\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tommy James performing at Westbury. Photo Credit: Photo Credit: Mark Schoen Photography.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tommy-james-talks-about-rock-legend-link-wray\">Tommy James talks about rock legend Link Wray<\/h2>\n<p>Tommy James opened up about rock and guitar legend Link Wray. \u201cLink Wray was great. Link was one of the original big-time guitar players. \u2018Rumble\u2019 was a great record, and he set the tone for rock and roll,\u201d Tommy said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cChuck Berry probably got more fame and more notoriety than Link Wray, but Link Wray was a major factor in rock and roll, and he was a great instrumentalist,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStarting in the late 50s and early 60s, when the fuzz tone got invented, it really changed a lot of guitar players from that steely, clean sound to a hard-edged rock and roll,\u201d he elaborated.<\/p>\n<p>With \u201cRumble,\u201d Link Wray had the sole rock instrumental in history banned from radio for fear it would incite teenage violence at the time.  \u201cA lot of records got banned back in the day\u2026 a lot of parents thought rock and roll created juvenile delinquents,\u201d he observed. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, it started the black leather jacket crowd along with motorcycles,\u201d Tommy added.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Rock-and-Roll-Hall-of-Fame.jpg\" alt=\"Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Link Wray\" class=\"wp-image-3658154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Rock-and-Roll-Hall-of-Fame.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Rock-and-Roll-Hall-of-Fame-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Link Wray. Photo Courtesy of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tommy-james-defines-success\">Tommy James defines success<\/h2>\n<p>Regarding his definition of success, Tommy said, \u201cSuccess is a trophy you get for doing a good job.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn rock and roll, success is achieving what you set out to do, and that is making people happy. That is really what it boils down to,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-Credit-Love-Images.jpg\" alt=\"Tommy James\" class=\"wp-image-3845104\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-Credit-Love-Images.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-Credit-Love-Images-768x513.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tommy James. Photo Credit: Love Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-message-for-his-fans-and-supporters\">Message for his fans and supporters<\/h2>\n<p>For his dedicated fans and supporters, Tommy said, \u201cWell, thanks for everything. Thank you for your good wishes and your support for all these years.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cHonestly, the support of the fans is the greatest part of the whole thing, because our fans have followed us \u2014 not only for our music \u2014 but also in all the other different projects we\u2019ve gotten involved in,\u201d he elaborated.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-closing-thoughts-on-the-book-me-the-mob-and-the-music\">Closing thoughts on the book \u2018Me, the Mob and the Music\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>On the book, Tommy remarked, \u201cWell, I hope that people can identify with it, and that they can track along with us, because it covers quite a lengthy period in my life and in the group\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe comments we keep getting from the book have been great,\u201d he exclaimed. \u201cEven though the book has been out for quite a while \u2014 it has been a bestseller for a long time \u2014 and I am just thrilled that the fans have stuck with us over time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAlso, to some extent, I hope the fans see themselves in this book, too,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n<p>His book, \u201cMe, the Mob and the Music\u201d is available on digital service providers by clicking here.<\/p>\n<p>To learn more about iconic rock singer-songwriter Tommy James, his book, music and tour dates, check out his official website, and follow him on Facebook, <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.twitter.com\/TJSHONDELLS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">X (formerly known as Twitter)<\/a>,\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><!-- \u603b\u5bb9\u5668\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u5bbd908px Grid\u7d27\u51d1\u5e03\u5c40 -->\r\n<div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 728px 160px; gap:2px; width:908px; background:#eee; padding:2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u901a\u680f\u9876\u90e8\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u6a2a\u5e45 908x258 \u8de8\u6574\u884c -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column:1\/-1; height:258px; background:#ff6b6b; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114307\" data-width=\"908\" data-height=\"258\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114307});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u7b2c\u4e8c\u901a\u680f\uff1a728\u00d790 \u901a\u680f -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column:1\/-1; height:90px; background:#4ecdc4; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114300\" data-width=\"728\" data-height=\"90\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114300});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u4e3b\u680f\uff1a\u591a\u5e7f\u544a\u5806\u53e0 -->\r\n  <div style=\"display:grid; 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background:#ff9ecd; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114305\" data-width=\"250\" data-height=\"250\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114305});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n    <div style=\"height:139px; background:#c792ea; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114302\" data-width=\"133\" data-height=\"139\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114302});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n    <div style=\"height:125px; background:#91e7ac; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t\r\n<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114303\" data-width=\"125\" data-height=\"125\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114303});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u7ad6\u680f\uff1a160\u00d7600 \u6574\u5217\u9ad8\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row:3\/8; height:600px;  display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114301\" data-width=\"160\" data-height=\"600\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114301});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<br \/> Interview: Tommy James is still going his own way<br \/>\n<br \/>#Interview #Tommy #James<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tommy James performing at Westbury. Photo Credit: Photo Credit: Mark Schoen Photography. Rock singer-songwriter Tommy&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7967,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[1303,487,2885],"class_list":["post-7966","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories","tag-interview","tag-james","tag-tommy"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography.jpg",1920,1280,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-768x512.jpg",640,427,true],"large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-1024x683.jpg",640,427,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography.jpg",1920,1280,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-1115x715.jpg",1115,715,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-800x500.jpg",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-1024x683.jpg",1024,683,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Mark-Schoen-Photography-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?cat=7\" rel=\"category\">Stories<\/a>","tag_info":"Stories","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7966","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7966"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7966\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7967"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7966"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7966"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7966"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}