TNT - Tony Mills


I first entered into the world of music around 14 years of age in 1976 singing for a punk band called The Rip-Offs with Richard Smith, Victor Tomlin and Rob Mascall, based south of Birmingham. It wasn't long before I moved into rock and around 1980-1982 I worked for three rock acts, 'Overdrive', 'Orion' and Enigma. These bands played many shows but never released any product, although Overdrive worked with Chas Chandler in his studios in Portland Place, London, the track was never released.

At the turn of 1983, I had started singing as a session vocalist for various acts around Birmingham, one of which was 'Ossirus', and another 'Trojan'. The sessions for Trojan earned them a record contract offer from Ebony Records in Hull, UK. Having split from Orion and Trojan sporting a contract, I was offered a permanent position within the band which they had now re-named SHY.

SHY Released an album through the label called 'Once Bitten, Twice...'
which received great reviews and heralded the onset of NWOBHM. (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal). SHY moved to RCA Records with a million pound contract in 1985 and released two more albums, 'Brave The Storm' and 'Excess All Areas', each receiving critical acclaim. Much touring promoted these products in Europe , with Bon Jovi, Gary Moore, Meatloaf, Magnum, Manowar, Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson.
In the States the band toured with Badlands, Gun, Enuff Z Nuff, The Sleez Beez and played many solo shows.

After a fourth disasterous album in 'Misspent Youth', produced by Roy Thomas Baker in Los Angeles, I returned home and left the band with a solo career waiting for me with MCA records. Some tracks were recorded with 'The Who' producer Andy Macpherson in Manchester, and session musicians from 10CC and Sad Cafe joined the recording. Some fine songs came out of that, but with management searching for more lucrative deals in te States, the MCA deal eventually fell through and the album remained unreleased for ten years.

In meeting Chris Ward Evans from Hellion, and Darren Horton, Andy Faulkner and Pano Moullaris, SIAM was formed in the Early 90's, touring with Crown Of Thorns in the UK and releasing two albums, 'The Language Of Menace' and 'Prayer'. Compared to the likes of Queensryche, the albums were pseudo politik and religious in their leanings, but the bands life had a short expectancy and faded in the late 90's.

I co-wrote a lot of songs with different people during this period and even sang for a Rush tribute band for a year named YYZ. (previously called Ossirus !!)

In 2000, SHY returned to me for two more albums, (Although many other albums had been released while I was away, in the form of live and compilation records etc) And 'Unfinshed Business' was released through Z Records in the UK. It was here that 'Cruiser' the aging solo album was resurrected and released through Z Records due to extended recording schedules with SHY and the product being late for release. MTM records picked up the second SHY album in this millennium and 'Sunset And Vine' was born. Both albums were pretty much middle of the road AOR records with lengthy solos and heavy accents on keys. Melodic, nevertheless.

After writing and releasing a soul / gospel album, 'Freeway To The Afterlife',in early 2006 (just for a change !) I joined the ranks of 'The Sweet' for a Danish tour. This was ill-fated, and inevitably so; we were very different people with diverse ideas about how things should be done and after six major shows, we went our seperate ways.

Literally a month later, the phone call came from TNT. We met at a show that remained outstanding for SHY in Berlin and we got on famously. The first time I met Ronni was in the hotel room in Berlin, and as I walked through the door, he just screamed, 'Welcome to the hell hole !!!!!' And I knew something had clicked.
Before long I found myself in Oslo and Toten rehearsing for forthcoming live shows and talking to reporters about what it was like to be the new vocalist for TNT. And of course, it was great.

Now, after 35 shows, a new album written in Spain and recorded in Toten, we look forward to a busy year promoting the new album and carving
'The New Territory' for ourselves.

It's nice to be here.

Tony Mills