"When I hit the stage" by Drivin' Rain

A tribute to Tommy DeWolf by Matt Sanders

Despite Tommy DeWolf's death, the members of Drivin' Rain have decided to continue on. They recently released the unfinished "Delightfully Evil" as-is, Tommy's "last official recording."

Rain frontman Timexx Nasty says the disc contains the band's most revealing songs, full of darkness and death. The CD is now available at www.drivinrain.net.

A tribute for Tommy DeWolf is scheduled for June 9 at Pockets featuring the bands Slow Riot, 9th Life and the Stella Blue Band.

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DeWolf's bands:

R.I.S.K., Drivin' Rain, Thunder Bay, Bad Dreams, Forcer, Tezer, Stage Crew, DeWolf Pack, Nasty Granny, The Mary Ramsey Band, Diligence, Tooth and Nail: The Dokken Tribute

Songs he wrote with Drivin' Rain:

"A Law Against Me", "Hellwater", "Delightfully Evil", "Cracks in the Armor", "Toys for the Witches", "Nail in My Coffin", "Drink My Wine", "When I Hit the Stage", "Silhouette", "Toss of the Dice".

Bands he opened for:

L.A. Guns, Skid Row, Nazareth, Steppenwolf, HEad East, Pat Travers, Saxon, Black Oak Arkansas, Revis, Eddie Money, Keel, Frank Hannon of Tesla, Jimmie Van Zant, American Dog, The Kentucky Headhunters.

His favorite bands:

W.A.S.P., Dokken, L.A. Guns, Skid Row, Tesla, Iron Maiden, American Dog, Frank Sinatra, The Cult, Alice Cooper.

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~Last month OFF Magazine asked you to submit your words about and pictures of Tommy DeWolf, the Drivin' Rain guitarist who died in April from an accidental overdose of alcohol and painkillers. You responded.

Here, your comments and pictures about one of the local music scene's best-loved artists.

To the guys of "Driving Rain", I know you will forever miss Tommy, as I will also.

Tommy was one of my first boyfriends, the most kind and sweet guy I ever dated. Our time together was years ago, but I love him still. I was fortunate to have been at his concert with Skid Row, and we were able to sit down after and enjoy a long, good coversation. Tommy, I'll always love you and I'll miss you till we meet again.

Rest in peace my friend.

-- Jodi Sticht

I lived with him, I worked with him, I wrote with him, I partied with him, I argued with him, I celebrated with him, I mourned with him, and after a decade of being in L.A. and bustin' my ass to find what I was looking for, I had to come home to find it, and that was Tommy.

All the years in Drivin Rain' I was asked "What did we sound like," really having no answer. One day I realized what the answer was -- we sound like Tommy. Never, ever sounded better in my life until I met Tommy And I'll never sound as good as when I was with Tommy. I'm sure Drivin Rain will move on, but without Tommy you can image it'll never sound the same. I've played with a lotta big guitar monsters and there'll never be any to compare to Tommy DeWolf. Thanks Tommy for the memories and the chances you gave all of us.

-- Geep Clark, Drivin' Rain

I played in the band Drivin' Rain with Tommy DeWolf for the last four-and-a-half years of his life. My first four conversations with Tommy occurred over the telephone; he had been informed that I was to be hired (even before my first true "audition") and said that he just wanted to welcome his new bass player -- that he trusted his brothers' judgment.

Those first conversations bonded Tommy and I for life. Both of us had just suffered grave losses in our families and took comfort in each other's sympathies.

Our first face-to-face solidified our relationship. Drivin' Rain had its first practice with the line-up that was to become closer than brothers over the next four-and-a-half years.

In that amount of time, you learn a lot about each other. Even those who met Tommy only once were impacted by him. The man faced more roadblocks, pitfalls, and physical problems than most people I've ever met -- but you'd never know; he always had a smile and an encouraging word letting you know that YOU could do it!

I also learned that when Tommy said, "Hey Skully, we've been friends a long time, ya-da-ya-da-ya ..." that was his way of asking me for a cigarette!

In the years the four of us worked as a team, we have written dozens of songs together, recorded two albums, been interviewed on numerous radio stations and Internet broadcasts, been featured on television shows, made magazine/newspaper articles a hundred or so times, AND watched ourselves go from opening for '70s acts like Black Oak Arkansas, Nazareth and Steppenwolf to sharing the stage with our biggest '80s inspirations like Frank Hannon of Tesla, Naked Beggars (featuring Jeff Labarr and Eric Brittingham of Cinderella) and Skid Row!!

Ya know, when you lose a friend, it's really hard; when that friend is like a brother, even tougher. When you lose a bandmate, you lose a brother through art -- and that cuts Very Deep. But when the four of you have had a personal hand in making each other's dreams come true, and then one of you is just ... gone ... it's an emptiness I STILL find difficult to describe.

Tommy's last show was the show of his dreams. He had always told our singer - and his oldest friend - Timexx, that they would open for L.A. Guns one day ... I'm proud to say that I shared the stage with Tommy once again as this dream came true for his Grand Finale.

Love you, Tommy. You'll be missed more than words will ever be able to convey.

Your Bass Player and Friend.

-- Skully Shemwell, Drivin' Rain

"What a shame. Tommy was a nice guy and will be missed".

-- Eric Brittingham (Cinderella/Naked Beggars)

"DeWolf was such a nice guy. I'm glad I had a chance to meet him."

-- Paul Black (L.A. Guns/Faster Pussycat)

"I won't forget Tommy, his playing touched me and that is very rare these days."

-- Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns, Guns N Roses, Brides Of Distructon)

"We all loved that boy and he will sure be missed by all who knew him."

-- Black Oak Arkansas

Thanks for taking the time and effort to help us reflect on the legacy Tommy left for the Cape music scene.

He was a good friend, fun to hang out with, and amazing to watch onstage. Being originally from out of town (Detroit), I've seen a lot of great players, and he was one of the best -- no ego trip or holier-than-thou attitude, just pure Tommy, onstage and off.

He will be missed by anyone and everyone that ever had the pleasure of knowing him.

RIP, my friend.

-- "Detroit" Dave Swords

What do I have to say about Tommy DeWolf? Well, we just don't have enough time for me to tell you the stories and thoughts I have reguarding my dear friend Tommy. So I'm going to try my best to just tell a lil of my feelings.

I met Tommy about 5 or 6 years ago and we quickly became friends. I quickly became a fan of Tommy's playing, his band Drivin'Rain, and his exuberant character. Tommy always has supported my art and music, he helped me to start my first band, he drove me to be better as a person, a songwriter and guitarist.

He always told me playing guitar great wasn't as hard as I thought it was, but that was easy for Tommy to say; he just didn't realize that not everyone had the talent he carried with him everyday in all aspects of his life (aside from occasional bar edicate). Tommy and I were roomates, friends, fellow musicians and, in my opinion, Family. I miss him and always will. He has touched my heart, my life and I know I'm not the only one who feels that way. Tommy DeWolf is an inspiration and a spirit I will carry with me always. I only hope I can make as big a difference in life as that great man did and still does.

-- Stella Blue