Tommy Ardolino, NRBQ drummer, RIP

January 7, 2012 8:19 PM

If you ever caught NRBQ live, you were most likely treated to some raucous, pounding and undeniably joyful roadhouse revelry that made you wanna drink another beer (at least) and bask in the divine glory of Rock. And. Roll. But it is with a sad heart that I relay the news to you today that the hard-hitting, deeply grooving powerhouse behind the drums, the man who drove America's Best Bar Band to ever more delirious heights of cathartic oneness with the Universe, has left us. RIP, Tommy Ardolino.

And one more link, folks, one of my favorites, actually, with NRBQ's wonderful goofiness in full effect:
She Got the House

posted by flapjax at midnite (27 comments total)

Aw, fuck...
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posted by 2N2222 at 8:23 PM on January 7

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posted by holdkris99 at 8:23 PM on January 7

Fuck. I ran sound for them once. It was loud, crazy, and good.

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posted by eriko at 8:35 PM on January 7

One of the best "unknown" bands of all time. RIP, and ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhpKYbRWls8
posted by milnak at 8:40 PM on January 7

nrbq.com
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:41 PM on January 7

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posted by KingEdRa at 8:50 PM on January 7

Glad he had a part in that shake all over, foot stompin', feel good music! May he resonate in rhythm with the universe.
posted by nickyskye at 8:53 PM on January 7

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posted by agog at 9:07 PM on January 7

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posted by joe lisboa at 9:10 PM on January 7

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posted by From Bklyn at 9:24 PM on January 7

They really were a crazy, crazy band whose greatness was never fully, or even partially recognized. In some ways I think they contained all of punk and heavy metal in their genetic seed. If there is a bar band in heaven, or hell, it will be NRBQ.
posted by unSane at 9:42 PM on January 7 [1 favorite]

God's speed you bangin' mother.
posted by a shrill fucking shitstripe at 9:52 PM on January 7

I don't have enough dots........
posted by sfts2 at 9:55 PM on January 7

ahhh, shucks
only the good die young.
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posted by quazichimp at 10:03 PM on January 7

The traps in Heaven have a new beater tonight.

Meee-ow!

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posted by Kinbote at 10:13 PM on January 7

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posted by alfanut at 10:34 PM on January 7

Ah crap. I love NRBQ. Saw them live about 10 times. Great drunken shows. Such great shows that on the way out of one of our divorce attorney's offices, my now ex-wife turned to me and said, "Remember that NRBQ show at Biddy Mulligan's? That was fun." Live at Yankee Stadium is one of my top 5 albums of all time. Greatest bar band of all time. (Skip Castro is the 2nd best btw for all you Charlottesville folks.)

Ain't no free.

RIP

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posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:40 PM on January 7 [3 favorites]

Too bad about Tommy. The first time I saw NRBQ, I phoned my bandmates to say, "Get over here right now. There's something you have to hear."
posted by Jode at 12:46 AM on January 8

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posted by oneironaut at 4:43 AM on January 8

As my friend Jad posted to his facebook wall yesterday, "The world's best drummer and such a nice guy. The last time I saw Tom a young kid recognized him from being on the Simpsons. Tom was pleased by that".

Very sad news.
posted by item at 5:15 AM on January 8

We just groove takin' in the sights

Too young.
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posted by readery at 6:13 AM on January 8

A good friend of mine plays with Terry Adams now, he turned me on to NRBQ many years ago. What a great band.

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posted by Sailormom at 6:24 AM on January 8

Last May, I commented on the blue that I thought NRBQ was "the most criminally neglected band ever". I stand by that.

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posted by Benny Andajetz at 6:37 AM on January 8 [1 favorite]

Aw, fuck indeed. At least he never became a grownup.
posted by Splificator at 7:23 AM on January 8

doctorfinedoctorhowarddoctorfine
doctorfinedoctorhowarddoctorfine

Just so good at so much music.

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posted by Spatch at 9:16 AM on January 8 [1 favorite]

Aw, RIP. NRBQ was so much fun. I still think about them every time I'm ridin' in my car.
posted by headnsouth at 9:10 PM on January 8

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posted by Gelatin at 10:37 AM on January 9