Tom Dumont

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Tom Dumont
Dumont performing in 2005
Dumont performing in 2005
Background information
Birth name Thomas Martin Dumont
Born January 11, 1968 (1968-01-11) (age 40)

Los Angeles, California, United States
Origin Irvine, California, United States
Occupation(s) Guitarist, Producer, Audio engineer
Instrument(s) Guitar, Keyboard, Synthesizer
Associated acts Rising, No Doubt, Invincible Overlord
Website TomDumont.com

Tom Dumont is an American guitarist and producer. Dumont is a member of third wave ska band No Doubt, and during the band's hiatus, he began Invincible Overlord as a side project and produced Matt Costa's Songs We Sing.

Contents

[edit] Life and career

The Dumont family lived in Irvine, California. Tom was the only adopted child in his family and has two siblings.[1] Dumont's father, who played the piano, gave his son a guitar at age twelve. Dumont practiced by strumming folk songs by the likes of James Taylor. Dumont was influenced by heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and KISS.[2] Tom Dumont joined the Orange County metal band Rising, named after the Rainbow album. In 1988, Dumont left Rising for third wave ska band No Doubt. He has one sister named Gina and a brother named John.

Dumont studied music theory for five semesters at Orange Coast College.[2] When the band moved into a house on Beacon Avenue in Anaheim, he wrote a poem about being addicted to television. He took the poem to Eric Stefani, who put the poem to music and came up with the song "Trapped in a Box". The song was recorded for the band's self-titled debut album and was the album's only single.[3]

The band later self-released The Beacon Street Collection in March 1995. The same month, Dumont left his job as a file clerk at a mortgage company. He had "a good feeling" about having finished recording Tragic Kingdom and planned to fall back on promoting rock concerts if the album was not successful.[4] Tragic Kingdom became a commercial success, certified diamond in the United States[5] and selling sixteen million copies worldwide.[6] When Eric left the band, Tom took leadership in writing and composing responsibilities.

After the Tragic Kingdom tour, Tom returned to his home in Long Beach, California and started surfing in 1997.[7] Dumont is a member of The Surfrider Foundation, an environmental organization to preserve coastal life. Since Eric Stefani left, Tom Dumont, Tony Kanal and Gwen Stefani became No Doubt's primary songwriters.

During No Doubt's current hiatus, Dumont produced Matt Costa's 2005 debut album, titled Songs We Sing, after hearing a demo tape by Costa.[8]

[edit] Personal life

Dumont and his wife, Mieke have a child together, a son Ace Joseph Dumont, born April 6, 2006. According to the band's record label representative, the couple was married in October 2004.

On January 5, 2008 Tom posted that his wife, Mieke is expecting another child due in June.

According to his No Doubt band mates, when Dumont drinks enough alcohol he becomes an alter-ego doppelganger named "The Douche".[9]

[edit] Equipment

Though Dumont uses a wide variety of guitars, he is most commonly seen with a natural finish Hamer Guitars Standard, which is similar to a Gibson Explorer or a Hamer Vector, which is similar to a Gibson Flying V.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Strauss, Neil. "No Doubt's Anniversary Party". Rolling Stone. January 31, 2002. Retrieved April 14, 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Tom Dumont". TV.com. Retrieved January 18, 2007.
  3. ^ Bush, John. "No Doubt > Biography". All Music Guide. Retrieved January 18, 2007.
  4. ^ Kam, Nadine. "No doubt about it". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. April 30, 1998. Retrieved September 13, 2007.
  5. ^ "Linkin Park Moves Two Steps Closer". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 1, 2007.
  6. ^ Van Meter, Jonathan. "The First Lady of Rock". Vogue (April 2004). Retrieved from Style.com April 16, 2007.
  7. ^ Murphy, Chelsea. "Faces in the Line-Up". Making Waves. The Surfrider Foundation. October 2003: Volume 19, Number 5. Retrieved January 19, 2007.
  8. ^ Atizado, Roy. "Interview with Matt Costa". NowOnTour. Retrieved January 19, 2007.
  9. ^ "No Doubt's Anniversary Party". Rolling Stone. January 31, 2002.

[edit] External links

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No Doubt
Tom Dumont · Tony Kanal · Gwen Stefani · Adrian Young
John Spence · Eric Stefani
Touring band: Stephen Bradley · Gabrial McNair
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