Tom Broeske / Bassist

Brings back memories. Amazing what you can find when Googgling! It's been years, but so glad to see that you are still making music. I think back to Slink Rand, Combo Audio, Last Gentleman and Nix 86! I still have a few tapes around--but glad to know I can find some of that fun music on CDs. Those were great musical years in Champaign. Hope you are doing well.

Hi Tom! I just found you on the net after I picked up your old Lakland Scheff fretless (JS10). I just got it today and I expect to become good friends with it this weekend and beyond. I play in an original instrumental jazz band here on Cape Cod. I have been looking for a great fretless for awhile and this one seemed perfect. I would like to learn some history of it from your point of view if you can spare the time. I also wondered if any of the songs available on your site would have used this bass?? Thanks in advance!

Greg in MA

Funny how we all end up here. Glad to read that you still have the passion. I'm in Appleton and will check the blog for Madison dates - hope to see you play.

Cheers - Tim

Tom!

Somehow I found myself here after hangin' at Jim Hewitt's page, which I do regularly. Was watching Nix 86 videos which gave me a real rush, and one thing led to another...Combo Audio...Elvis Brothers...and of course, some Last Gents stuffs, too.

I'm SO glad to see/hear you're playing again. Last we were west of the state to see you, I think you'd taken a bit of a hiatus. The music scene needed you--you're a bass god.

I also got a kick out of perusing the emails which came before mine--MANY familiar C-U names. Nothing like that Mabel's rock scene of the 80's. There was an amazing density of talent in that time/place. I miss it.

Hope the family is well, including your not-so-little-anymore Griffin (a teenager by now??????). Mine will be turning 8 in two weeks and his brother Oliver just reached 6. Wow, amazing, eh?

Anyway, take care and stay in touch, will you? All the best,

Nancy (Krueger) Robjohns


Hi Nancy-

Yes, Grif will turn 13 TOMORROW!
I'm thinkin' we need to beat the bushes for Brian and have a reunion. All the best to you and family (and birds).

Hi Tom -- I was Googling some names from my childhood and your site came up. If you are the Tom Broeske who lived for a time on Cardinal Drive, then we played together for a couple of years. We used to play with toy soldiers and tanks, and your salamander on your picnic table in your garage. You were a a couple of years older and moved on at some point. Pleased to see that you are highly regarded in the music world. I enjoyed reading your site. Best regards, Charles


Chuck Yuen! Yes, it's me, the kid with the salamander! You lived on the corner, white house.
Believe it or not, I still have pets like tortoises and lizards. Chickens, too. I haven't changed that much. You never know what a Google will get you. Thanks for dropping a note, all the best to you.
TB

Yo Tom, Steve Scariano here. How are you old buddy? I've been meaning to say hi here, as I check your site regularly and have it linked on my own blog. Anyway, I'm alive and very well and living in St. Louis, and would you believe at my age I'm in three(!) very cool bands? Finn's Motel (Cheap Trick meets Guided By Voices meets Quadrophenia), the Love Experts (Roxy Music meets the Byrds), and Prisonshake (The Dictators meet Sonic Youth). We just can't get the rock out of our lives, can we? :)

I recently acquired a Waterstone Indra short scale, and thought you might like to check out the photos I've posted of it on my blog:
www.rollawaythestone.blogspot.com
It's a great little bass!

Take care, keep up the good work, and drop me a line sometime...steve

P.S.-Way to go Wisconsin by bringing it home for Obama! We're almost there...

Hi Tom, Your website is cool!!!!
Greetings from Verona, Italy.

Hey, Tom - This is Cat Kane, a fellow Bassist who always loved hearing your play around Champaign.
I took lesson from ol'Peter Bailey and dear A.T.

Just wanted you to know that I always considered you just about the best bassist around. Glad to hear you are still laying down the bottoms.

I live out in the lovely Pacific Northwest now...cool Eugene, to be exact. Doing a bunch of music stuff and still rockin on.

Also...can't access your email section...that damn Cheney - don't worry; he'll be OUT of here soon.

Keep up the great work....is that bunny smokin a 'Dubie'??? Rock on.

Dear Mr. Cat Kane,

Thanks for the kind words, it's nice to know that others remember that time as special too. I swear I'm gonna post some old stuff soon...Props to you for keepin' on.
TB

PS That bunnie smokes whatever he wants.

Dear Bewildered,

Apparently Cheney considers you a terrorist organization and has blocked all access. His poeple are getting back to me, we'll try it again.

Perplexed


Dear Perplexed,
I,myself,am most perplexed as well,too.My mail seems to be working otherwise.I'll try to see what's up.

Signed,
Bewildered

O Paul-

Can't get through to you, emails bounce back as 'undeliverable'. Do you have another email address?

Signed,

Perplexed


Hi there Tom. Sent you an email a week or two ago but not sure if it was your current address. Anyway...found you here and good to see you're doing well.We should catch up. Ooh..the stories I could tell ya!
Great site!

Tom,

It was great to find your blog tonight. I'm glad to see you're still a gearhead. By the way, do you know of a good support group for gearheads?? If so I may need to join too.

Take care,

Jim

Hey Tom,
Hope all is well with you. I have some old Combo Audio live tapes that you might be interested in. Those were great times. Email me and we'll talk. I think I also have some old photos and newspaper clippings. Glad to see your still playing. Talk to you soon
Dave Roesch(rushco)

Hey Tom! Greetings from Ernie and Cynthia in C-U. Delighted to find this spot and catch up with you. You can track our lives a bit if at my blog: wwww.thesandwichlife.com

take care....

Tom,

I think this bass you sold me may not be entirely in tune. However, our guitar player will not tell me which string is the culprit.

Is it by chance still under warranty?

Best,
Don
___________________________________________

Don-Rigthty Tighty-Lefty Loosey.

Your Customer Support Team

Tom, OMG--how long has it been? Seems that you are doing well and you got that whole "hair" thing straightened out....as did I. Had dinner with Brad last week and LuAnn and Connie were here (C-U) over the summer. Graham moved to L.A., Rob to FL and Lori got divorced. You've hardly missed a thing.

I loved Combo Audio. Where have all the guys gone? What have they been doing since the band disappeared? Where are the guys? Is there any way to obtain a copy of the ep in digital format? I had the ep vinyl but lost it in a divorce. I love Combo Audio's music. They were talented enough to make it big, what happened?

Hi Christine,

Thanks for your note on my web site.
Everyone in the band is still alive, mostly well, and musical in one way or another. This past year has seen a re-connecting of band and fans. There is a new website created by John K. that will answer some of your questions...
www.comboaudio.com

Photos, videos and downloads expected soon.

Take care,

Tom

Hay Tom. BEE careful what U wish for. I'm wishing that your next journal entry might soon say "It finally STOPPED raining here." Your fancy indoor plumbing fixture pixture has been flushing all that cheeseland flood water down into our Sucker State streams. And, goll, they's awreddy overflowin! So far, today's best soundtrack is Stevie Ray's Texas Flood, but I'll keep lookin for U to post a new rockin bass solo: Wisconsin Flood. Better keep it acoustic tho. And stay outa the basement. Gotta go, the salamander rescue squad needs volunteers again.

Hiya Tom,

Nice website, and thanks for telling me about squarespace. I will definately check it out as a marketing option!

Talk soon?
Adam Michie

the past is here to stay.
watched a rough and tumble video of early combo audio last night--fun--back when i sometimes played with the band. iffy sound--old vhs dubbed to DVD but interesting nonetheless.

your name lovingly comes up in conversation, as I work with John Kellogg. i also just did a giant drum circle and performance at millennium park in chicago with Rick Neuhaus (who survived a heart attack this year).
it's a funny old world.

cheers,
rocky

Lookin' for you and Greg still wants to out do you in an eating contest at Lil' Porgy's (I've been seeing Greg and will be at his wedding in September). Talk to Michael every now and then, run into Jim Hewitt on-line frequently as well, but can't seem to get ahold of Mr. Garza. I've talked to you since the last time I talked to Tommy, but that was back when I was still working at Rolling Stone and making a record with Bob and Adam. Look forward to talking to you soon, there's lots to tell and I'm sure you've got lot too.

Be well and hope to talk to you soon. Brian