Thom Mooney is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 drummer

Drummer

A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...

.

Strongly influenced by the British invasion during the sixties, he was a founding member of the East Coast rock group Nazz, along with guitarist Todd Rundgren

Todd Rundgren

Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...

, who later went on to have a successful solo career. With the release of the first album Nazz (the name derived from an old jazz expression as well as the Yardbirds hit "The Nazz Are Blue"), his group had a larger than life live show, touring with the then-nascent group Spirit

Spirit (band)

Spirit was an American jazz/hard rock/progressive rock/psychedelic band founded in 1967, based in Los Angeles, California.- The original lineup :...

, with a huge guitar-driven sound that was firmly propelled by Mooney's wildly energetic drumming style. Reviews were more than enthusiastic, but the group's demise, shortly after their return to the recording studio, was the result of growing pains and perhaps too much hype. Mooney went on to assist in the release of the second album Nazz Nazz

Nazz Nazz

Nazz Nazz is the second album by American rock band Nazz, released in April 1969 by SGC Records.- Recording :After a brief trip to England in October 1968, cut short by visa problems, Nazz recorded their second album, originally entitled Fungo Bat in Los Angeles in late 1968 and early 1969...

, and a posthumous third album Nazz III

Nazz III

Nazz III is the third album by American rock band Nazz, released in 1970, one year after the group disbanded. The songs on the album consisted of tracks recorded in late 1968 and early 1969 for an intended double album, to be titled Fungo Bat. When a single album was released instead, an album's...

, but then worked to become one of the most active rock drummers on the burgeoning 70s scene, eventually working as musical director and drummer for Rita Coolidge

Rita Coolidge

Rita Coolidge is a multiple Grammy Award-winning American vocalist. During the 1970s and 1980s, she charted hits on Billboard's Pop, Country, Adult Contemporary and Jazz charts.-Career:...

, as well as session work and writing with Men at Work

Men at Work

Men at Work are an Australian rock band who achieved international success in the 1980s. They are the only Australian artists to have a simultaneous #1 album and #1 single in the United States . They achieved the same distinction of a simultaneous #1 album and #1 single in the United Kingdom...

's Colin Hay

Colin Hay

Colin James Hay is a Scottish-Australian musician, who made his mark during the 1980s as lead vocalist of the Australian band Men at Work, and later as a solo artist.- Early life and Men at Work :...

, John Hiatt

John Hiatt

John Hiatt is an American rock guitarist, pianist, singer, and songwriter. He has played a variety of musical styles on his albums, including New Wave, blues and country. Hiatt has been nominated for several Grammy Awards - although he has never won- and has been awarded a variety of other...

, tours with Roger McGuinn

Roger McGuinn

James Roger McGuinn is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for being the lead singer and lead guitarist on many of The Byrds' records...

, and many others. As well as Nazz, he has drummed with Fuse

Fuse (band)

Fuse was an American rock band, formed in Rockford, Illinois in 1967, when Rick Nielsen proposed the merging of two local bands: 'The Grim Reapers' headed up by him with Joe Sundberg and 'Toast and Jam' consisting of Chip Greenman, Craig Myers and Tom Peterson later known as Tom Petersson...

, Paris

Paris (band)

Paris was an American rock music power trio formed in 1975 by guitarist and vocalist Bob Welch, who had just left Fleetwood Mac, bass player Glenn Cornick, formerly of Jethro Tull, and drummer Thom Mooney who had been a member of Nazz with Todd Rundgren. The group released two albums for Capitol...

 (with Bob Welch

Bob Welch (musician)

Robert Lawrence "Bob" Welch, Jr. is a former member of Fleetwood Mac, who had a briefly successful solo career in the late 1970s. His singles included "Hot Love, Cold World", "Ebony Eyes", "Precious Love", and "Sentimental Lady"....

), the Curtis Brothers and Tattoo (with Wally Bryson). At present, Mooney lives on the West Coast, and still active in music.