Date of Birth - 9/18/54
Instruments Played - bass
Favorite Beatle - Paul
Favorite Beatles Album - Magical Mystery Tour
First Concert Experience - Frankie Vali & The Four Seasons at Steel Pier, Atlantic City, NJ in 1963
First "Meaningful" Concert Experience - Yes at Kutztown University, PA in 1971
Previous Bands in which he's performed:
    - Patty Ann & The Rambling Men (1974)
    - Tiger Rose (1975-76)
    - Euphoria (1976-77)
    - Blazing Saddles (1979-84)
    - Flashback (1989-98)

Personal Bio
    In 1973, a group of friends set out to start a rock and roll band, but they needed a bass player.  Enter Tommy Freese, 19 year old would-be bass player.  He actually began playing Beatles tunes, but concentrated on writing original material.  By age 25, though, his dreams of making it big as a rock star were over.  He says jokingly, "I got married and had three kids!  But now," says the 45-year-old bass player extrordinaire, "I concentrate on playing music and having fun.  I get the most enjoyment from entertaining people."  And if you've seen Number Nine in action, Tom is one entertaining guy!  He's also very consistent and attune to the bass stylings of one Mr. Paul McCartney.  "I try to play Paul's parts as closely as possible, which is a real challenge, because Paul tended to play very different, non-symmetrical bass parts.  He was always changing his lines, which makes it very difficult to mimic his parts."  It's obvious that Paul has been a huge influence on Tom, as well as his favorite Beatle, as he lists "Penny Lane," "We Can Work It Out" and "Good Day Sunshine" as three of his favorite Beatles songs.  He also lists "I've Got a Feeling," "I'm So Tired" and side two of Abbey Road as favorites.  "Abbey Road has one of the greatest 'side twos' of any album...ever!"  He does listen to other music, though, and sites Yes, Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin, The Who and early Chicago as major influences.  "Another big influence in the 70s was progressive jazz and fusion...Jaco Pastorius was incredible!  He opened a lot of doors for bass players to follow.  As a matter of fact, I just saw Victor Wooten with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.  I thought there was nothing else a person could do on the bass...then I saw Victor.  He took what Jaco did to a whole new level!"
    Aside from the bass, Tom also steps up to the mic on occasion to provide the screaming, more throaty McCartney numbers in the band's repertoire, including "Helter Skelter" and "Got to Get You Into My Life."  As John always says, you can "feel the Gs of Tommy Freese."  "Singing in a band was always a dream of mine...I always wanted to get up on the mic and sing."  Well, now he's got his chance!
Life-Changing Beatle Experience
    "Until 1965," Tom says, "I thought music was just something you heard on the car radio.  Then one day I heard the Beatles' Revolver album, and suddenly I became aware that there was something called music!  The next day, I went out and bought Revolver and Rubber Soul...and then Sgt. Pepper came along.  Me and my friend George listened to what we called 'the Big Three'..."Sgt. Pepper," "With a Little Help From My Friends" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds".  We listened to these three songs over...and over...and over!  Needless to say, I became a complete Beatle freak!"