05 Jul Recent article in Wharf Life
Tom’s Guitar Shop offers everything from starter kits to rarities…
Greenwich Market store selling Fenders, Gibsons and more, opened by Leogun singer songwriter Tom Smith is turning two. Read more>
“My parents weren’t musical, but they were both very passionate about music – they’d cry over tracks that would move them – and that emotional connection was normal from a very young age for me,” said Tom Smith, founder of Tom’s Guitar Shop in Greenwich Market.
“One day, my mum was playing some Led Zeppelin at home and I told her I wanted to be in the band – I was about seven, so I didn’t really understand that wasn’t a thing you could do.
“But she listened and said she’d better get me a guitar.
“For three years I had classical lessons, but it wasn’t what I’d signed up for. I wanted to be in Led Zeppelin – to plug in, play loud and to have long hair.
“Sitting and playing Spanish Lullaby was not what I’d had in mind, although a part of me knew it was a necessary step.”
Having got into grammar school, Tom decided to put music aside and knuckle down to his studies.
This lasted two terms before he picked up the guitar again. Then the internet arrived and with it videos of Jimmy Page and Robert Plant doing their thing.
“I bought a book of their music and set to work,” said Tom.
“By the time I was 12 or 13 I was in bands and playing live shows.
“Mum would drop us off, we’d play a show to a bunch of older men who were smoking and drinking and then she’d pick us up.”
Having gigged extensively in south-east London at the likes of the Amersham Arms, The Birds Nest and the Montague Arms to build a local following, Tom went networking on behalf of his band Leogun.
Blagging his way backstage at gigs, he managed to secure a meeting with Rocket Music – Elton John’s management company.
Musical networking success
“He came to one of our gigs and then introduced us to the Yamaha Entertainment Group label and they invited us to Nashville to record an album,” said Tom.
“People say we just exploded out of nowhere, but then I tell them about the 200-odd gigs a year for half a decade and that tells a different story.
“We were a cut above most garage, college, school bands at that time but then we landed in Nashville and realised we needed to sharpen everything up really quickly.
“It was amazing to be around some of those incredible players and to see them through 22 and 23-year-old eyes.
“We only released music in the States, but we did well, going on three US tours with the likes of Kiss and Lynyrd Skynyrd, so I got to share the stage with some of my heroes.
“We played in 35 states overall and drove to most of the rest, so we really did America.
“I was expected to be the lead singer, songwriter, performer and representative of the band.
“I wasn’t very adept at social media, however – never have been – and a big part of being an artist these days is also being an influencer.
“I didn’t mind documenting what Leogun were doing musically, but I didn’t enjoy the influencing.
“One of the great things about Led Zeppelin, was their mystique, the lack of interviews.
“I found myself relating to my life less and less – so I decided to return to the UK to do some recordings.
“Officially I moved back in 2023 – the goalposts felt like they were getting closer and closer together – I just wanted to regain some autonomy, but I didn’t want to turn my back on music.”