X-Rock 103.9 Biography: TOM LOUNGES
Name: Tom Lounges a/k/a The Lounge Lizard (a nickname given by Alice Cooper)
On the air: Mon-Fri: 3-7pm / Sunday 6-10pm as host of “Night Rock”
Hails from: Highland, Indiana
Most proud of: My children (daughter Sarah and son Dylan).
Second most proud of: Being the first radio DJ to ever play a Survivor record (“Rebel Girl” when it was just a demo tape).
High school: Highland High School (Class of 1977).
Favorite bands and artists: Alice Cooper, UFO, Jethro Tull, Bob Dylan, Ted Nugent and the King of Rock & Roll –– ELVIS!
First Album I purchased: I was 10 years old and all were bought on the same day at Ribordy’s Drug Store. They were: “HAIR: The Broadway Soundtrack,” The Buckinghams “Time & Charges” & The Monkees “Greatest Hits.” BTW: As you might expect, the “HAIR” LP was immediately taken away once my father heard the lyrics to the songs…”Ouch!”
First 45rmp single I purchased: The Ides of March “Vehicle” (1970).
Album I think you should hear: “Word Jazz” by Ken Nordine; "Blood On The Tracks" by Bob Dylan; "Too Old To Rock & Roll, Too Young To Die" by Jethro Tull; "Apostrophy" and "Overnight Sensation" by Frank Zappa; and "Paul
Rodgers: Live In Glascow" by Paul Rodgers.
Best concert ever: Also my FIRST concert ever! George Harrison & Friends @ Chicago Stadium in 1974. Thanks to my 8th grade classmate Glenn Harkabus for giving me the extra ticket and his dad for driving us. It was a show that literally changed my life!
Other memorable concerts: Elvis Presley @ Chicago Stadium in May 1977. Alice Cooper’s “Welcome to my Nightmare” Tour – date and location is still a little…ahem…foggy.
Favorite Celebrities I’ve Met: Almost too many to name. But here’s a few – Charlie Daniels, Alice Cooper, Chuck Norris, Mark Farner (of Grand Funk), Ted Nugent, and Jakob Dylan (of The Wallflowers).
Biggest Career Thrills: Being in an MTV video with the Championship Chicago Bears and Sister Sledge (“We’re Here to Stay”). Other top thrills are: Drinking homemade red wine backstage with Muddy Waters, shaking hands with Chuck Berry, hanging out at James Dean’s childhood home and being one of the few people allowed to actually sit in Dean’s legendary 1949 Ford that he took to his Fairmount High School dance; and of course, meeting and spending time with some of Elvis Presley’s old crew (Al Dvorin, Joe Esposito, DJ Fontana and The Jordanaires).
Favorite guilty pleasure song: “Henry The VIII” – Herman’s Hermits (I will still sing along with that at the top of my lungs whenever I hear it!)
Favorite retro TV shows: “Voyage To The Bottom of the Sea,” “Land Of the Giants,” “The Time Tunnel” and “Twilight Zone” & “Night Gallery” (both with host Rod Serling)
Favorite TV program as a kid: The Green Hornet and Batman (1960s versions of both)
Favorite retro movies: Anything starring James Dean or Elvis Presley.
Local Teenage Hangouts: The Jerry Lewis Cinema (Highland, IN), Wayne’s Trick Shop (Hammond, IN), Shakey’s Pizza (Highland, IN), Miner-Dunn Restaurant (Highland, IN), and the railroad tracks by my house with my buddies tossing rocks and “acting” cool.
First job: Grill Cook @ Miner-Dunn Restaurant (Indianapolis Blvd. in Highland)
First car: 1972 Galaxie 500. It was a boat on wheels with a big back seat (snicker, snicker) and a trunk that could fit 6-7 teens and a case of ummm…soda…yeah, soda…for our weekend visits to the Y&W Drive-In theater (Merrillville, IN) and Hammond Drive-In theater (Hammond, IN)
Things I did as a kid: Addicted to reading and collecting superhero comic books (loved DC and Marvel equally). Record collecting (I’m still a hard core vinyl junkie with a couple thousand LPs and singles), beer can collecting, and ice skating.
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ADDITIONAL CAREER INFO:
Tom is also a print journalist whose byline has appeared in dozens of national music magazines over the years, including: “Song Hits,” “Hit Parader,” “Video Rock Stars,” “Goldmine Magazine,” “Relix Magazine,” and “Scholastic Magazine.”
Tom was publisher/editor/owner of the “The Midwest BEAT Magazine” (early 1980s-2007); and has long been the music columnist and features writer with The Times daily newspaper on Northwest Indiana (from 1983 thru present). He has worked with and/or interviewed hundreds of music and film/TV celebrities over the years.
Tom has also done night club management work with the Pointe East in Lynwood, IL, Jubilation Night Club in Chicago Heights, IL and Club Dimension in Highland, IN, being among the best known venues he spent time.
Tom spent his wayward youth working at local record stores, including Hegewisch Records (in Calumet City, IL) and later managing Highland Records (Highland, IN) and Woodmar Records (Schererville, IN).
Tom has organized, produced and presented regional concerts and festivals.
Tom has also worked for a CBS Special Products record label that specialized in “re-issues,” has managed rock artists, and has done considerable work as a music industry publicist in a variety of capacities.
Tom has taught a non-credit college “History of Rock ‘n’ Roll” course, and is a popular a guest speaker at several schools – from elementary to universities.
And Tom is partners in a mobile DJ company called “Sounds Of Music” with live audio specialist Joe Rega and IS available to spin tunes and host YOUR next special event! Email him for more info at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
