Tommy Gardner: On January 2, 2010 I will be making an appearance on the radio show Saturday Night Rocks w/ Mike-K at 11pm EST. To promote my new album release for Return to serenity. I'll more info later this week on how you can listen to the show.

12/11/2009: Well now that I'm back up and running I am proud to let you know that my new album Return to Serenity is now complete. New album art, and track listing. 1) Return to serenity 2) Cliffs in the sun 3) In your eyes 4) Power of one 5) Tears of the angels (Digitally remastered) 6) The path (Digitally remastered) 7) High in the sky 8) Grooved out 9) Moving up (LIVE) 10) Powergod (Digitally remastered) 11) A new beginning 12) Angel 13) Lift off 14) Rock a little 15) Someone like you 16) In the dark (Rerecorded & Digitally remastered) So there you go the songs are here, take a peek, and see which one you like best, and thanks for listening...

1/28/2009: I am releasing more info on my current project entitled "Return to serenity" it will have 11 tracks: "Screaming out loud" "Cold Gen" "Angels eyes" "Falling back up" "Hell and back" "In my dreams" "Our love" "Return to serenity" "Signal 12" "Things have changed" "What it is". I know that last year I gave a time frame that the new album would be released, however I will reframe from doing that. It turned out to be bad luck for me, so I will tell you this; it will be in 2009. So I hope that to my loyal fans, this will ease your mind. New site address: http://tomgardner.webs.com As some of you may know tjgardner.net went down, so this site is being put together so you can keep up to date on TJ Gardner. As more becomes available there will be more postings, so keep checking back and Rock on!

Hi everybody my name is TJ Gardner. There are quite a few people in here that know me, but for those who don't, I am an instrumental rock artist. I have recently added three new videos here on soundclick, a video for my song In the dark, Someone like you, and Powergod off my crush album. Please stop by and check them out at the video section here on Soundclick, and give your support. I hope you all enjoy them, also give some feedback on them as well. Until next rock on...

Valkir: Tommy, as the head of the instrumental genre, you have conducted quite a few interviews, and now, it's my pleasure to interview you and finally give the people here at Mixposure a glimpse into your background. Why don't we start with you telling me how you got started playing and when...? Tommy: I got started off playing as early as four years old, my parents got me a Muppet drum set for Christmas, man I beat the hell out of those things. Around the same age I can remember my dad had the old vinyl records such as the beach boys, Earth wind and fire, and the Beatles. He would sit in his room and listen to them, and I could hear it in my room. And the music would get to me somehow, made me wonder how they did it, and mostly how they got the music on those huge black discs. I played drums seriously for about ten years before picking up on a little piano, and moving on to guitar. I played in several bands growing up all local groups. Valkir: Who were your main influences back then and who are they now and how did they differ from then and now??? Tommy: I would say that they changed by the decades really, in the early 80's I loved bands such as survivor, police, and yes def leppard, hell I think I started listening to them as early as 1981. Then late 80's it was slayer, metal church, metallica, megadeth. Then going into the 90's I discovered Joe Satriani, and others like John Petrucci, Steve Vai, and it has stayed that way ever since. They all have influenced me in some way, just by being there for me to enjoy. Valkir: Who would you say are you favorite bands and guitarists are at the moment? Tommy: Pretty much the same as I stated above, but to break it down, I would say Eric Johnson, and more mellow stuff such as new age music although I can't name any body because I always fall to sleep while listening to it. Valkir: Let's talk about any projects you have going on...any CD's coming up or bands you are playing in??? Tommy: Right now I'm taking a break from recording as you know the next two months, but my current album project crush is nearly complete, and it will have 11 tracks, and two bonus tracks. But in all my material right now is a lot better than my live fire project from back in the 90's, sound quality wise. Although what is taking me so long is I have to mix everything, and I'm a beginner for that. I was working with a local producer for a while by the name of Randy Haylor, then early this year he moved to Germany, so his studio went unavailable. I have met other great music producers, who have showed interest in my music but who knows what will happen. The other project I'm in called stomp faction is a local metal group, of musicians who each of us have over 20 years in playing locally. Although we haven't been as active lately, with every-one busy lives. Valkir: For the gear heads, what kinds of gear do you run through, guitars, amps, recording gear? Tommy: I play a Variety of guitars Ibanez, Jackson, and Gibson I use Crate amps, and Yamaha soundboards. As far as strings in the past I have used Di'addario .9 gauge strings, and when I started using Jackson guitars I now use Ernie ball. When recording I use a Fostex VF80ex, Digitech, and boss effect pedals. Valkir: OK, let's talk about your association with M3...when the guys in M3 asked you to be a part of it, how did you feel about that...in particular...how did you feel about being associated with them, playing on a song with them, and just being friends with them (including myself I guess, LOL!) and what is your role with them at the moment. Tommy: When M3 asked me to be part of them, it was a great feeling, you know to go out and part of a group loca