Thomas Yearsley

Years ago I had the pleasure of seeing Thomas Yearsley perform with the Paladins up-close and personal at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.  The cat can play the bass.  Incidentally, he is also an accomplished pedal steel player and songwriter.  Check out his brilliant post-Paladins work with his combo Exotiki.  Great stuff!  See Exotiki here…Exotiki – Smokey’s Speed Shop on YouTube.

Thomas sang a couple of train songs for the Paladins.  One is called “Right Track” on the Paladin’s second album Years Since Yesterday.  The other is on the same album and is called “Good Lovin'”, the first verse of which goes like this:

Well I’m down here at the station standin’ on the railroad track

Yes, I’m down here at the station standin’ on the railroad track

I just got the news my baby ain’t comin’ back

In some grand irony, I was shocked to hear the following news tonight.  Good luck to you, Thomas…

Help Thomas Yearsley

Thomas Yearsley, longtime bass player of The Paladins was hit by a train on the evening of Aug 16th while trying to save his dog from the same. He was Life-Flighted away to Scripps Hospital in La Jolla, CA, although he should be discharged as of Thursday the 19th. He suffered a broken leg and other injuries, unfortunately his dog Swango didn’t survive. Latest article here.

The biggest portion of the costs will be the Life-Flight trip, a 3-day hospital stay, and the work that he will lose for the next few weeks. Like most musicians Thomas is without insurance. Please help out with a donation if you can. Any amount will help.

Thomas and The Paladins toured for around 20 years playing the biggest blues & rockabilly festivals in the world and were the backing band for many heavy-hitters like Barbara Lynn, Katie Webster, Charlie Musselwhite, Hollywood Fats, and countless others. Thomas was formerly married to blues diva Candye Kane.