Exclusive Interview: Tom Allom on Loverboy

Loverboy Fan Club News (Spring 1985)

Tom Allom is a strapping jolly Englishman with energy to spare! His quick wit and ready-to-rock confidence has made him a favorite, and he's one of the big reasons why Loverboy are Lovin' Every Minute of It'!

His history in the recording business dates back to the late sixties and includes engineering the first three Black Sabbath records and producing such bands as the Strawbs (5 albums), Def Leppard (first album), Krokus (the second last), Y & T (last album) and Judas Priest (the last five).

"I was looking forward to working with this band," says Tom on the topic of LOVERBOY. "I was really quite surprised and delighted to hear from them. They weren't one of the bands I would expect to call me, yet they were the exact sort of band I've been looking to work with. I owe most of my success to heavy metal, but I don't think any producer likes to be pigeon-holed, because there's more to it than that. And it's not often you get a chance to prove it."

He's gotten to know the band pretty well after three and a half months of daily 14 hour or more sessions. We asked him to tell us what the guys were like in the studio and being the gentleman he is, he obliged.

"Mike's the clown . . . he has a wonderful sense of humour. He's a great singer. when he gets into a song, he really delivers as a vocalist. One of his great assets is a voice that doesn't sound like anyone else's. I've noticed a tremendous difference in his performance as to how into the song he is. If he's really into the song, he can be stunning. We've worked him to death. He's singing better than ever, now. But the songs are projected by the singer. That makes the vocals really the most important part."

"Paul? He's the most dedicated person I've ever worked with. He works very, very hard at his craft. He lives music. He's a very solid, dependable and strong leader, and it's been great co-producing with him. He's a tremendously important part of the album. Invaluable. Tenacious, Remained objective even after working it for a year...And he's an exceptional guitarist, particularly strong on rhythm. He gets inside a track when he plays rhythm. Of course tasty leads, too. One thing that always amuses me about Paul is that he can't go through a day without taking his guitar apart. Trying a different neck with a different body and the like."

"Matthew Frenette. Again, at his best, he's stunning. One of the best drummers in rock and roll, definitely. He was the key in getting the energy onto this record. Drummers always have ups and downs because, inevitably, an awful lot rests on their shoulders pretty early on. If he doesn't cut it, then the track doesn't cut it. I've heard Matt play brilliantly, but also sluggishly at times when he wasn't feeling good about it. He can put so much energy into it without playing anything different than he had the night before--it's just that the spirit is there. That's what we hoped to get and Matt really came through. He was really hot when he put his tracks down. He had his moments, but just when you'd thought it wasn't working--he was overtired and it was time to call the session--he'd come through with this great track."

"Scott--Scotty's a good solid bass player and a classic character . . .He's got one of the most wonderful senses of humour--very dry, very intelligent--the intellect of the group. He's a charming person to work with. He's very easy going--he'd be the last one to get testy after a long night. And he's a good rock 'n' roller. I like it when he shows up to the studio in combat gear--his fatigues and boots . . .The Survivor--he's come to play!"

"Dougie . . .Working on those keyboard parts with him was really a pleasure for me because it's been so long since I've really got down to working with keyboards. I started playing piano when I was five, and I've rather missed it--whilst I could never do with two hands what he could do hanging from a ceiling with one!! As a keyboard player, there's none better in rock and roll. And he has the technique to play absolutely anything that's playable. Emmerson, Wakeman--all the great fast players of rock and roll. He's at least as good as that. He's just full of music. All kinds. His classical training shines through, and there's no substitute for it in this kind of band. He's done a lot of wonderful work on this album. He's had great ideas. And he's another sense of humour. A good mix of joviality and serious business. . . "

"They're all very funny fellows. There's been a lot of moments of hysterical laughter, and there's been very little in the way of tempers wearing thin . . . Incredibally little, actually. It's extraordinary because they're very tired. At times it's been intense, but there's been a wonderful atmosphere, a really good feeling--particularly over the last months when it's been so clear this record is turning out wonderfully well . . .It's worked!!