use after all. After a few stops and starts with various local bands, in 1991 Tom joined Sheamus O’ Blivion and the Megadeth Morrismen, who played trad. British and Celtic tunes in a thrash-metal / AC/DC manner. Very popular on the bikers’ scene, they toured all over England, and Tom stayed with them until 2000 (occasionally still depping for them when necessary).

Due to his desire to actually make a living from music, Tom sold his soul to the devil in 2000 and joined Rockman Music theatre productions, who co-ordinated the Hellbound Express Band for various touring revues including Vampires Rock, The Meat Loaf Story, a tribute to The Four Tops and a C&W Favorites show. With them, Tom played over 1500 live concerts throughout the UK, Eire, Europe and Dubai, including at Glastonbury Festival, Donington Park and the London Palladium. In between touring, Tom's commitment to sharing his skills and knowledge inspired him to open his own dedicated drum teaching premises, the Tom Parratt Drum Studio in Nottingham, where he now holds regular one-to-one drumkit lessons. He has also devised & delivered courses on Music Performance and Drumkit in Further Education, led drumming workshops for young people and taught drumming in schools.

Finally tiring of a life of constant touring in covers bands, Tom left the Hellbound Express Band in early 2009, which left him perfectly placed to be snapped up by Wholesome Fish when their other sometime drummer, James Trickey, was unable to commit himself to their increasingly busy gig schedule. Having followed and loved the Fish and fast folky stuff for years, Tom was more than happy to jump onboard, being unable to envisage a time when he will tire of playing live and making people dance and enjoy themselves.