Tom Keifer and the story of how he came to be - surprising details about the Cinderella vocalist

Tom Keifer (Keifer). - one of the most brilliant frontmen in the history of glam metal and heavy rock! But beyond that, he's a talented songwriterwho gave us some of the best romantic ballads such as "Nobody's Fool" or "Long Cold Winter".

From the very beginning of his career, Tom has made a loud voice for himself, and even dazzled with his charisma Jonah Bona Joviso that the group Cinderella made it to Olympus pretty quickly! Nevertheless - his story of ascent, and later the peak of fame, is full of dark moments... But despite everything - our hero has always remained loyal to himself, his work and fans.

The early years, or how addiction led to the creation of Cinderella

Tom was lucky: his parents loved music, and in many ways - this played a key role in making the future legend of the Cinderella decided to pick up a guitar. In high school, the boy joined his first band, and around the same time learnt the electric guitar. But at the same time the young man struggled with his inner demons: already in his teens Tom acquired a severe addictions from substances and alcohol. However, music was his main vector, and for its sake he managed to overcome his destructive passions.

Having decided to devote himself fully to music, Tom told his mother that he intended to quit school. But the woman wanted her son to get at least some education, so she made a trick: she promised that if Tom graduated from school, she would give him a present Gibson Les Paul. Actually - their deal was made, and the future rocker received a cherished gift.

The charisma that defeated Jon Bon Jovi.

Group Cinderella was co-founded by Tom with his good friend and bassist Eric Brittinghamwho, by the way, our hero met on Halloween night in 1980! Despite his modesty, Keifer took on the role of vocalist because "they couldn't find anyone more suitable". The musician later recalled:

"I didn't feel very comfortable in this role, I was not used to singing instead of acting. Just with the microphone in my hands, it was like I was naked in front of the audience!"

"Cinderella." (as the band's name translates) quickly gained fans, and even knocked out some already famous rock stars, including Gene Simmons и Jon Bon Jovi. It was the latter that got Cinderella signed. From the memoirs of the leader of Bon Jovi:

"I saw Tom performing some pretty nifty growling vocals on stage. I was stunned! Then he grabbed this Les Paul and started extracting some amazing sounds... This guy immediately impressed me. He was a star!"

Childhood influences

As a child, Keifer listened to a lot of different music, but the music that inspired him the most was blues and rock bands that dabbled in it. So, when asked what his favourite album from his childhood was, Tom said:

"Rolling Stones' "It's Only Rock 'n Roll" from 1974. In fact, for me, it could be all Rolling Stones albums. This band changed my life. Their music is a phenomenal classic!"

In addition to this, it was revealed that the Cinderella frontman has always been fascinated by the artwork of the Led Zeppelin!

"I don't think there's a rock musician of my generation who wouldn't say that Led Zeppelin had a colossal influence on him! They're a very, very important band, extremely inventive... They've always inspired me, and the album 'Physical Graffiti' was the first record of theirs in my collection that I got for Christmas!"

Personal tragedies

After touring in support of the album. "Heartbreak Station" (1990) Keifer lost his voice. After several unsuccessful operations, it turned out that the singer had neurological problems. The fact that Tom's mother died at the same time added to the gloomy colours....

"Any rock 'n' roll singer is always at risk of hurting himself. Your voice is always under a lot of pressure, especially on tour. I have more tension in my voice because there's a congenital weakness... It's a neurological problem, so it's incurable. I try to take very good care of myself, my health in general. I think - so far it's under control."

After dealing with depression and going through rehab, Tom was forced to learn to sing from scratch. Luckily - he managed to get back in shape and even presented a few solo albums to the public.

On the breakup of Cinderella and his commitment to the cause

After the group disintegrated, Keifer told reporters:

"Cinderella's wheels had been falling off for a few years now. There was a point in my life where I wanted to keep doing music, but I was looking for something new... I wanted to start again."

The musician also adds:

"I've always been honest with the audience. I've always felt that when I go on stage, I should give my best to the fans... Even going back to the early tours with Cinderella, I've always been completely sober on stage. I enjoy what I'm doing too much. It's a high to walk on stage knowing you're performing at your best. It's a high for me to know that you can walk off stage and say, "I did my best and this is what I gave to the audience."