Happy, heavy New Years, headbangers! Did you miss us? We’ve sure missed you! Amidst all the holiday cheer and festivities, we’ve been cooking up a month’s worth of explosive new metallic writings, just for you. It’s all the more reason why, instead of boring you with 500 words on *insert random Scandinavian death metal demo here* (don’t worry, there’ll be plenty of that to come), we’ve decided to kickoff the new year with an interview guaranteed to hit you Night in the Ruts. That’s right maniacs, we’re honored to present to you an exclusive interview with none other than Aerosmith bassist, Tom Hamilton. Although Aerosmith’s touring career came to a rather tragic finish last year, Hamilton is moving forward with his new band, Close Enemies. In this new interview, Hamilton discusses the excitement around starting a new creative vehicle, the ever-changing music industry, meeting the equally iconic Tom G. Warrior of Celtic Frost/Hellhammer fame, and, uh, “Bolivian marching powder”. Don’t try this at home, kids!
You’re about to hit the road with your new band, Close Enemies. When did this band first come together and whose idea was it to name the band as such?
Tom Hamilton: Trace Foster (guitar), Peter Stroud (guitar), Tony Brock (Drums) and Gary Stier (lyrics) had been writing songs and making demos during 2023 and early 2024. We had actually gotten together before that for a few days, but then I went into Aerosmith mode to get ready for what was supposed to be our Peace Out tour. When that tour got cancelled, Trace called me and invited me to check out what they had been up to and possibly join up. Trace was actually my bass tech, but he happens to be a great guitarist and songwriter.
I listened to their demos and was knocked out, so I went down to Peter’s house in Atlanta where we all got together. That first day, we came up with a song that’s now called “Wink and a Feather”. They’re all great guys and fun to work with, along with being excellent musicians. I had a rough demo of a song I had been working on, so one day I played it for the guys. By the end of the day, we had a track. That one’s now called “More Than I Could Ever Need”.
Coming up with a name for a band is a comedy of creativity. Every time someone had a good idea, we went on Spotify or Google and found other people who had already used it. It went on and on like this for a while. Then one day, Peter and his wife, Lynn, were watching The Godfather and there’s a line that goes: “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” Lynn suggested using Close Enemies for a band name and we all went for it.
Besides yourself, another name in the fold many will be familiar with is drummer Tony Brock of The Babys. I imagine The Babys and Aerosmith must’ve crossed paths, sharing a bill or two in the ‘70s. When did you first meet Tony and what’s it like working together as a rhythm section?
TH: I remember when The Babys were out, but we never met up back then. I don’t think we were ever on the same bill, but I could be mistaken. I first met Tony when he came up to Boston with Trace and Peter and we jammed for a few days. We hit it off musically right away. He has a great feel, great taste. In other words, he kicks ass!
Of the videos that have come out of the band performing live thus far, the new songs have a real old school, hard rocking sound to them, similar to early Aerosmith. Were there any musical ideas in this upcoming batch of Close Enemies songs that were intended for Aerosmith?
TH: We all come from a love of rocking out. I remember what it felt like to listen to Led Zeppelin or the Yardbirds or the Stones when they first came out. That feeling got printed onto my heart and soul, and is still there. We’re very song oriented, which is similar to Aerosmith. It’s not good enough to just play loud and fast. There has to be a melodic aspect that completes the picture. There has to be lyrics that you want to sing to. None of the songs were meant to be Aerosmith songs, but when I recorded my bass tracks, there was no way to hide my Aerosmith DNA! I was able to draw on that and also extend my style in a way I haven’t before.
The band’s debut single, “Sound of a Train”, hits the airwaves on Friday, January 17th. What can you tell us about this song and why did the band choose it as the first single?
TH: “Sound of a Train” has all of the elements I just mentioned. It’s a guitar song with a solid vocal and a lonely atmosphere that pulls you in.
As Close Enemies prepares to release new music, they’re about to do so in a music industry that’s worlds apart from the industry that was even a decade ago, let alone the industry that was during Aerosmith’s ‘70s heyday. As someone who’s witnessed these changes firsthand, what are your thoughts on releasing music in 2025 and do you have any advice for young bands and artists planning on doing the same?
TH: The way records are made and released these days is a double edged sword. It’s great that people can literally make a record in their bedroom! It means that recording technology is available to many more people than ever before. When we made our first records, you couldn’t do it without access to a recording studio and you couldn’t set foot in a recording studio without a lot of money that usually came from a record company. Then, you had to have a giant apparatus to manufacture and distribute the record when it was done. Ideally, a lot of this is still true today. That’s the gold standard as far as the process goes. The main advice I would give bands is to make sure you have great songs. That’ll never change. And you have to imagine how it’s going to be to play the songs live and make sure you’re ready to do it.
About 8 years ago now, you played bass for a series of shows by fellow legendary hard rockers, Thin Lizzy. What was that experience like for you and what were your favorite Thin Lizzy songs to play on bass? Furthermore, do you have a favorite memory of Phil Lynott from back in the day?
TH: I went to see Motörhead with my son one night and after the show, we were able to spend a lot of time with Lemmy, who was so great to us. We got to meet his band. His drummer was Mikkey Dee. A few months later, he got in touch with me and said he was going to be playing with Thin Lizzy on a tour to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of Phil Lynott’s death. He said they were looking for a bass player and if I wanted the gig, it was mine. I knew in my heart there was no way I would say no, although it would be the first time I ever did something outside of Aerosmith so, I had some butterflies.
I had done some minor things outside of my day job, but never a tour. A few months after that, after studying my ass off learning the songs, I was in London for the first day of rehearsals. I thought I had the songs down, but I was a little behind the curve. Damon Johnson, who is now a great friend of mine, was playing guitar. He and I got together one on one the next day and he helped me get polished. What a great guy!
From then on, rehearsals went better and better and the we were off to our first gig. We played five or six big festivals in Europe and it was a blast. I loved playing “The Boys are Back in Town” and “Whiskey in a Jar”. After the festivals, we played on a cruise which was an entirely new experience that I really enjoyed. Unfortunately, I never met Phil Lynott. Learning his songs gave me an immense amount of respect for what he accomplished musically.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Aerosmith’s landmark third album, Toys in the Attic. Looking back, what memories stand out to you from the making of that album, and do you have a particular favorite off of there?
TH: I remember how hard I worked getting ready for that album. After Get Your Wings, I was determined to take a step forward with my playing. Not that I recommend it, but I went through a good amount of Bolivian Marching Powder to help me drive myself forward. I was also determined to get in on the songwriting. I came up with the bass and guitar parts for “Uncle Salty” and “Sweet Emotion”.
There’s a photo out there of yourself with an equally iconic “Tom” of the hard rock and metal world, Tom G. Warrior of Celtic Frost, Hellhammer, and Triptykon, taken at Maryland Deathfest 2015. What brought you out to Baltimore that Memorial Day weekend and what were your thoughts on that experience?
TH: I just remember going and seeing an entire hotel full of metal freaks. Aerosmith was never actually a heavy metal band, but a lot of people in the press put us in that category. I actually felt a little out of place, but everybody was really cool. I accepted the Hard Rocker’s Hard Rock award, which is right in my living room. It’s not only the coolest looking award, but it’s by far the most well made. I treasure all my MTV video awards, but they’re starting to fall apart because they used really cheap metal to make them!
Wait a minute! Hold ON! I just realized I was thinking of a whole different event! I was at Maryland Deathfest 2015 with my son Julian. He and I decided to make a father/son trip out of it. We were able to wander all over the festival without me getting recognized because it wasn’t my genre. I don’t think there were many Aerosmith fans there because everybody was intensely into death metal! Julian knew everything about every band there, so he made sure I was educated. We had an awesome time!
Being from Illinois, I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask about an infamous tale of Aerosmith folklore. Legend has it that on July 13, 1984, when Aerosmith played the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield, Illinois, a brawl broke out on stage amidst the band, stemming from a conflict between Steven and Joe. I use the word “legend”, because there are a few conflicting accounts of this event. Do you recall what happened that evening?
TH: That would have been shortly after the band got back together after Joe and Brad (Whitford) had left. We hadn’t dealt with some of our alcohol and chemical issues yet, so there were gigs that almost didn’t happen. I don’t really remember that particular moment because there were others as well. I seem to remember the band being in the back lounge of the bus one day, having a heated meeting and the frustration got out of hand. We had a big metal canister of popcorn and Brad decided to emphasize a point by pulling out his knife and stabbing it right through the metal top of the can!
In closing, what does the rest of 2025 have in store for Tom Hamilton and Close Enemies?
TH: Well, hopefully, people like our record and we get offered a tour. Right now, we’ll just build it up bit by bit!
Thank you for the interview Tom! All the best to you and Close Enemies!
TH: Thanks very much for letting me know you like “Sound of a Train”!
Close Enemies’ debut single, “Sound of a Train”, comes out Friday, January 17th. The band will be playing City Winery in Chicago on Tuesday, January 28th. Tickets can be purchased here. For more information on Close Enemies, visit www.closeenemiestheband.com.
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