Tommy "Mugs" Cain’s drumming has provided the heartbeat for some of the best American pop and rock music for over 2 decades. A dedicated master of his craft with a talent for rhythm and metronomic precision, Mugs has gigged his way up through the ranks, to play with a diverse selection of some of the biggest chart-topping names. To list a few:
Mugs completed the sold-out Australian Made tour with the Divinyls in 1987 featuring the band, INXS. "Australian Made was one of the most ambitious open air stadium concert tours ever staged in this country and the film stands as an impressive testimony to the maturity and growth of Australian music in the eighties." - Rolling Stone Magazine
Upon his return to the United States, Mugs was asked to play with Bonnie Bramlett and her band performing in front of 75,000 people as well as being televised nationally as a part of the "Farm Aid" benefit organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young. The concert was held to raise money for farmer's families in the U.S. and has since become a historical musical event that continues to help the agricultural community.
When rising star, Michael Bolton, needed a drummer who could lay down classic R&B grooves with perfect timing and precision yet still let loose with energetic and explosive drumming. Mugs’ smooth execution and musicality of playing style was the obvious best choice. "I grew up playing everything from the funky Motown classics, 60's pop inspired by the Beatles, and the heavy John Bonham drumming of Led Zeppelin. It was because of this inspiring music that Michael's gig came very natural to me", Mugs says. After recording the drums for The Hunger , the title track on Michael's first gold record, Mugs remained Bolton's drummer for 15 years, playing sold-out arenas all over the world resulting in the top highest grossing music tours during that time.
In 1996, Mugs released an album with his band "The Railbirds". Their song "It's A Good Thing" became a #1 hit in Sweden and was followed by a successful tour.
Jonathan Cain, Mugs’ brother, has developed a successful solo career during his breaks from writing and touring with Journey. Mugs was a band member on his first effort, "Windy City Breakdown", in addition to recording tracks on 4 other records: "Back To The Innocence," "Anthology," "Fantasies In Love", and "Where I Live". All records are available at www.JonathanCain.com.
He has enjoyed a career filled with multi-platinum success, global tours, a string of television appearances on major networks, music award shows, music videos aired on MTV and VH1, and numerous recording sessions. Mugs also added his compositional and performance skills to soundtracks for the hit movies "If Looks Could Kill" and "The Terminator".
Currently, Mugs is the Band Leader and Musical Director for the band, Mischief. Following a very successful year-run as the house band at the Agua Caliente Casino in Palm Springs, CA, Mischief continues to perform at the most popular casinos and nightclubs in Nevada, Arizona, and California, as well as many major corporate events.
