Pete Thomas began his career in the UK Pub Rock scene with bands like Ocean and Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers. He synthesized the frenetic bombast and intellectual prowess of his heroes Mitch Mitchell and Keith Moon into his own inimitable style; and in 1977, he joined Elvis Costello and The Attractions. His hummable, hook-laden beats propelled Elvis and The Attractions to critical acclaim and international success. Aside from his work with Elvis, Pete has remained in-demand for the past four decades, touring and recording with dozens of revered artists such as: Neil Finn, Elliott Smith, Suzanne Vega, Lucinda Williams, and Diamonda Galás.
When we spoke in Los Angeles, Pete told me about stalking Mitch Mitchell as a teenager, his working relationship with The Attractions, drinking for maximum enjoyment, getting arrested whilst dining and dashing, and the existential dread that plagues us all.
The Trap Set is a podcast about the lives of drummers. The show is produced in Los Angeles, CA. A new episode is released each Wednesday. You can SUBSCRIBE to the podcast for free, and you can also listen to episodes HERE
