We'd never met before, even though we’ve lived in the same city and we both played frequently on the citys ”live circuit”. I mean, back then I’d heard of him, strange enough we’d never met. Could it be the fact that he’s 5 years older than me (hahaha…) If you go back 25-30 years, those years made a hell of a difference and today they mean nothing. Anyway, of course I’m talking about the TFK keyboard player Tomas (Don Tomasso) Bodin. The first time we'd hit the road together, we both sat in the backseat of the Chevy van, that we used to call “Chickelimojjen”. As soon as we left the town, he started to talk about his drinking days, scandals, living out on the street and so on. By the time we hit Denmark, 7 000 km’s later, I guess he’d come halfway through the story and I have to give it to him. That man has done a remarkable journey.
Today Tomas and me are both friends and colleagues in TFK. He’s been a sober alcoholic (just as Jonas) for it must be over 15 years now. He ‘s now moved out on he countryside (15 minutes by car from me) at the same time he took his drivers license, after he turned 40!!!! Compared to me and some other of my friends, he must still have a “pink” brain I guess, despite his drinking days. If it’s one thing I envy of him, it’s the fact that he’s still curious and he’s never satisfied. He can’t hardly finish one project, until he starts another one. One thing that really is a part of Tomas, is the way he’s driven by his emotions (for good or for bad). His strongest asset apart from being a great musician, is the fact that he’s very ambitious. One proof of that is his and the rest of the guys in Eggs and Dogs album “You are”. 3 years, 3 000 hours is what it took to record that bastard. If you’re talking money, it might not’ve been a good investment but when it comes to the music and the production, it paid off very well. If you ask me, that album is FANTASTIC!
I don’t know if Don will kill me for telling you this, but I’ll take the risk. Don has done many exceptional things during his time here on earth. It was actually quite a task to chose which story to tell, since there’s so many. This is one of them. The first time we toured with a “nightrider” didn’t exactly turn out a success for Tomas. When Lutz (the driver) welcomed us onboard, he said: There are 2 things you need to know, before we start this journey. First, there’s a code to the doors that you need to know and remember. Second, at the loo, you’re only supposed to do nr.1. nr.2 is heavily forbidden. After a long day in the bus, we all went to sleep. The morning after, I woke up pretty early so I was surprised to see Tomas awake, staring out the window with a miserable look on his face. What’s wrong? I asked him. You won’t believe what’s happened, he replied in a second. Then Tomas told me he woke up in the middle of the night, with 2 options. Nr.1. To do it in his underwear and probably also the entire inside of the bus. Nr.2. Use the forbidden toilet. He chose alternative nr.2. Why in Gods name didn’t you ask Lutz to stop the bus and do it on the road so to speak. Tomas answered, there was no time. I said you have to go and tell Lutz about this catastrophy, you’ll not be able to keep it a secret much longer, for obvious reasons. Amazing, one night and we’d already broke one out of two rules. From what I understand, Lutz took it like a man, he just looked a little sad. After a while, we stopped at a parking lot in central Utrecht (Holland). I went out for a walk and to try to find a shirt, to have on stage. All of a sudden as I was walking between the stores, an “explosive cocktail of fragrances” hit me. Lutz had dropped it on the parking lot! I was in chock, the whole city centre of Utrecht smelled like some kind of “chemichal warfare” was going on. First of all, couldn’t he have chosen a more proper place to “dump” it? Second, how will I be able to get onboard the bus, without embarrassing myself. After all this, I sincerely want to apologize the entire population of Utrecht. Keep on Rocking!
Today Tomas and me are both friends and colleagues in TFK. He’s been a sober alcoholic (just as Jonas) for it must be over 15 years now. He ‘s now moved out on he countryside (15 minutes by car from me) at the same time he took his drivers license, after he turned 40!!!! Compared to me and some other of my friends, he must still have a “pink” brain I guess, despite his drinking days. If it’s one thing I envy of him, it’s the fact that he’s still curious and he’s never satisfied. He can’t hardly finish one project, until he starts another one. One thing that really is a part of Tomas, is the way he’s driven by his emotions (for good or for bad). His strongest asset apart from being a great musician, is the fact that he’s very ambitious. One proof of that is his and the rest of the guys in Eggs and Dogs album “You are”. 3 years, 3 000 hours is what it took to record that bastard. If you’re talking money, it might not’ve been a good investment but when it comes to the music and the production, it paid off very well. If you ask me, that album is FANTASTIC!
I don’t know if Don will kill me for telling you this, but I’ll take the risk. Don has done many exceptional things during his time here on earth. It was actually quite a task to chose which story to tell, since there’s so many. This is one of them. The first time we toured with a “nightrider” didn’t exactly turn out a success for Tomas. When Lutz (the driver) welcomed us onboard, he said: There are 2 things you need to know, before we start this journey. First, there’s a code to the doors that you need to know and remember. Second, at the loo, you’re only supposed to do nr.1. nr.2 is heavily forbidden. After a long day in the bus, we all went to sleep. The morning after, I woke up pretty early so I was surprised to see Tomas awake, staring out the window with a miserable look on his face. What’s wrong? I asked him. You won’t believe what’s happened, he replied in a second. Then Tomas told me he woke up in the middle of the night, with 2 options. Nr.1. To do it in his underwear and probably also the entire inside of the bus. Nr.2. Use the forbidden toilet. He chose alternative nr.2. Why in Gods name didn’t you ask Lutz to stop the bus and do it on the road so to speak. Tomas answered, there was no time. I said you have to go and tell Lutz about this catastrophy, you’ll not be able to keep it a secret much longer, for obvious reasons. Amazing, one night and we’d already broke one out of two rules. From what I understand, Lutz took it like a man, he just looked a little sad. After a while, we stopped at a parking lot in central Utrecht (Holland). I went out for a walk and to try to find a shirt, to have on stage. All of a sudden as I was walking between the stores, an “explosive cocktail of fragrances” hit me. Lutz had dropped it on the parking lot! I was in chock, the whole city centre of Utrecht smelled like some kind of “chemichal warfare” was going on. First of all, couldn’t he have chosen a more proper place to “dump” it? Second, how will I be able to get onboard the bus, without embarrassing myself. After all this, I sincerely want to apologize the entire population of Utrecht. Keep on Rocking!