Thomas Such[1] (born 19 February 1963), known professionally as Tom Angelripper, is a German musician. He is the lead vocalist, bassist, main songwriter and only original remaining member of the thrash metal band Sodom and also a member of the bass guitar-focused side project Bassinvaders. He has also released solo albums under the name Onkel Tom.[1]
Tom Angelripper | |
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![]() Angelripper performing in 2018 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Thomas Such |
Also known as |
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Born | Gelsenkirchen, West Germany | 19 February 1963
Genres | Thrash metal |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, bass guitar |
Years active | 1981–present |
Biography
Thomas Such was born in Gelsenkirchen on 19 February 1963, from where he learned to play bass steadily whilst working in coal mines. He then went on, as Tom Angelripper, to be one of the founding members of the German thrash metal band Sodom. He originally started off as just the bassist, but ended up becoming the vocalist and has done both on every studio release.
In Sodom, Angelripper plays bass and sings.[2] Angelripper formed Sodom with guitarist Frank "Aggressor" Testegen and drummer Rainer "Bloody Monster" Focke in 1982, in a desperate bid to get out of work in the coal mines that the three had worked in.
Angelripper also founded a band called Onkel Tom Angelripper which plays metal versions of schlagers, drinking songs and Christmas carols. In addition, he worked with a side project of Sodom's touring guitarist Alex Kraft, called Desperados, which played spaghetti Western-themed heavy metal. The band later evolved independently under the name of Dezperadoz, but Angelripper still occasionally contributes.
He also plays in several other side projects, such as the German bands Bassinvaders and Die Knappen and has just guested on the brand new Warfare single the first for 27 years Cemetery Dirt (Plastic Head Music Download)
Discography
Studio albums:
- Ein schöner Tag... (1996)
- Ein Tröpfchen voller Glück (1998)
- Ein Strauß bunter Melodien (1999)
- Ich glaub' nicht an den Weihnachtsmann (2000)
- Nunc Est Bibendum (2011)
- H.E.L.D. (2014)
- Bier Ernst (2018)
Compilation albums:
- Das blaueste Album der Welt! (1999)
- Die volle Dröhnung (2003)
- Ich glaub' nicht an den Weihnachtsmann (2006)
With Dezperadoz
Studio albums:
- The Dawn of Dying (2000)
With Bassinvaders
Studio albums:
- Hellbassbeaters (2008)
With Sodom
Filmography
Actor
- Lunatics: Torture (Music Video 1990) - Chauffeur
- Onslaught Feat. Phil Campbell and Tom Angelripper: Bomber (Music Video 2010) - Himself
Writer
- Sodom: Silence is Consent (Short 1994) (writer)
Second Unit or Assistant Director
- Sodom: Lords of Depravity: Part I (2005) - (assistant director)
Composer
- Sodom: Silence is Consent (Short 1994) - (composer)
Soundtrack
- Klimbim (TV Series 1975) - (writer: "Caramba, Caracho, ein Whisky")
Self
- Sodom: Silence is Consent (Short 1994) - Himself
- Wacken Metal Overdrive (Video 2003) - Himself
- Sodom: Lords of Depravity: Part I (2005) - Himself
- Get Thrashed: The Story of Thrash Metal (2006) - Himself - Sodom
- Destruction: A Savage Symphony - The History of Annihilation (Video 2010) - Himself
- Schwarzes Gold - Musik im Ruhrgebiet (TV Movie 2010) - Himself
- Sodom: Lords of Depravity: Part II (Video 2010) - Himself
- Doro: 25 Years in Rock (Video 2010) - Himself
- Atrocity: Die gottlosen Jahre (Video 2012) - Himself
- Coroner: Rewind (Video 2016) - Himself
References
- ^ a b "Onkel Tom – Band". laut.de (in German). Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ Sodom Interview "I think that Slayer is the best band in the world, definitely."