b. 13 January 1947, Perivale, Middlesex, UK. This highly-regarded producer was originally a member of obscure UK 60s group Second Chance, which included in its ranks Patrick Campbell-Lyons, later of Nirvana and Speedy Keen, subsequently of Thunderclap Newman. After joining George Martin’s AIR production company, he contributed to the Beatles’ self-titled double album, playing keyboards on several tracks. Four albums with the Climax Chicago Blues Band followed before Thomas moved on to Procol Harum. He worked on all their albums from Home to Exotic Birds And Fruit and won a reputation as a firm and punctilious producer. A particularly intense working period in the early 70s saw him produce two albums by the Mick Abrahams Band, John Cale’s 1919, three albums by Badfinger, plus mixing duties on Eno’s Here Come The Warm Jets and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon. A long stint at the controls for Roxy Music resulted in For Your Pleasure, Stranded, Siren and Viva! Roxy Music and for a time, there were even rumours that Thomas would collaborate with Bryan Ferry as a writing partner, but they came to nothing. 1976 was a year of change in the music business and Thomas was caught in the maelstrom after being selected to produce the Sex Pistols. He recalls one particular afternoon when they cut ‘EMI’, ‘Pretty Vacant’ and ‘God Save The Queen’ in a single session. Amid the punk explosion, Thomas still returned to the old guard, producing Paul McCartney on Wings’ Back To The Egg. As well as brief tie-ups with Frankie Miller and Tom Robinson, Thomas oversaw the beginning of a very promising career when he produced the first two albums by the Pretenders. Equally at home with new wave acts and established artists, Thomas later worked with Pete Townshend, Elton John and the Human League. Thomas has often managed to stay in the vanguard of quality rock and pop, his productions associated with only the highest quality of acts.