T. M. Stevens
T.M. Stevens wearing black clothing, a variety of jewelry, and black sunglasses, standing onstage in front of a drum kit, playing bass guitar with mouth open
T.M. Stevens performing with Stevie Salas in 2010
Background information
Birth nameThomas Michael Stevens
Also known asShaka Zulu
Born (1951-07-28) July 28, 1951
New York City, US
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Bass guitar
Formerly of
  • Space Cadets
  • the Pretenders
  • Vai
  • Out of Control
  • Illegal Aliens
  • The Boombasstics
  • Temple of Soul

Thomas Michael "T. M." Stevens (born July 28, 1951) is an American bass guitarist from New York City.[1] He has recorded and toured with an array of rock, R&B, and pop acts as a session musician and also worked as a solo performer.

Career

Early recordings and solo work

Stevens, who sometimes goes by the name Shaka Zulu, began his career playing bass in the group Space Cadets, with whom he released a self-titled album in 1981. Between 1986 and 1987, he was a member of the Pretenders, recording the album Get Close with them in 1986. In 1993, he joined Vai, a short-lived group formed by Steve Vai to record and promote his third studio album, Sex & Religion. The group also included Devin Townsend on vocals and Terry Bozzio on drums. In 1995, Stevens began recording his own material with the backing band Out of Control and released two albums, Boom (1995) and Sticky Wicked (1996). In 1997, he produced and arranged the album Black Night – Deep Purple Tribute According to New York, performing on seven of its eleven tracks. In 2000, Stevens recorded the album International Telephone with German drummer Marco Minnemann's group Illegal Aliens. The same year, he released Boomparty 2000 with the Boombasstics and in 2008, he issued Brothers in Arms with the group Temple of Soul.[2]

Session work and touring

Stevens has recorded and toured with many artists, including Yoshiaki Masuo, James Brown, Nona Hendryx, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Little Steven, Tina Turner, Narada Michael Walden, Taylor Dayne, Stevie Salas, and Billy Joel.[1][3]

Personal life

On September 16, 2017, Stevens' fellow musician and friend Ronny Drayton announced on his Facebook page that Stevens had advanced dementia and was living in a nursing home.[3]

Discography

Solo

Albums

  • Boom (with Out of Control, 1995)
  • Sticky Wicked (with Out of Control, 1996)
  • Black Night – Deep Purple Tribute According to New York (1997)
  • Radioactive (1999)
  • Shocka Zooloo (2001)
  • Limousine Drive (Original Soundtrack) (2001)
  • Africans in the Snow (2007)

with Space Cadets

  • Space Cadets (1981)

with the Pretenders

with Vai

with Illegal Aliens

  • International Telephone (2000)

with The Boombasstics

  • Boomparty 2000 (2000)

with Temple of Soul

  • Brothers in Arms (2008)

Other

Selected recordings with other artists

References

  1. 1 2 "Interview: TM Stevens". thelastmiles.com. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  2. ↑ "T.M. Stevens of Shocka Zooloo and Temple of Soul". bassplayer.com. Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "T.M. Stevens leidet an Demenz!" [TM Stevens suffers from dementia!]. bonedo.de (in German). September 17, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2023.

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