Thomas Pridgen
| Thomas Pridgen | |
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Thomas Pridgen performing in St. Paul, MN with The Mars Volta in 2008
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Thomas Armon Pridgen |
| Also known as | "Thomas 'Perpetual Solo' Pridgen" |
| Born | November 23, 1983 |
| Origin | El Cerrito, California, United States |
| Genres | Jazz, gospel, experimental, fusion, progressive rock, hard rock, hardcore punk |
| Occupation(s) | Drummer |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Years active | 1999-present |
| Associated acts | The Memorials, The Mars Volta, Christian Scott, Wicked Wisdom, Keyshia Cole, Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, Trash Talk, Pinnick Gales Pridgen, Suicidal Tendencies, Chiodos, Eros Ramazzotti |
| Website | www |
Thomas Armon Pridgen (born November 23, 1983, Alameda County, California, United States) is an American drummer, best known for his role as the drummer of The Mars Volta from October 31, 2006, until October 23, 2009. He is currently the drummer for his own project The Memorials. On 14 May 2013, it was officially announced via Twitter that Thomas Pridgen would be joining the California hardcore band, Trash Talk.
Pridgen won the Guitar Center Drum-Off at age 9 and at age 10 was the youngest recipient for a Zildjian endorsement in the nearly 40-year history of the company. Pridgen is also naturally left-handed, but plays the drum kit as if he is a right-hander with his kit set-up right-handed. Thomas has studied with David Garibaldi, Walfredo Reyes, Sr., Troy Lucketta, and Curtis Nutall. He endorses DW Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, Audix Microphones, and ProMark Drumsticks. Thomas was also the recipient of a 4-year scholarship to Berklee College of Music in 1999 at the age of 15; he was the youngest musician to ever receive this scholarship. He has played in clinics with Walfredo Reyes, Jr. and Dennis Chambers. By his teenage years he had already done studio sessions with many Bay Area Gospel artists.
Thomas's first non-gospel touring experience was as the drummer for The Coup, who he worked with in 2001 and 2002.
In 2006, Pridgen received a call from Omar Rodríguez-López of The Mars Volta:
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