ToJa die Band

Since the age of 14 Thomas is used to be on the stage as a rock singer. He was born in 1958 and raised in Mühlheim on Main/Germany. Tommy, like friends call him, fronted bands like APRIL, DEEP THROAT and SYDER.

This brought attention outside the Frankfurt area where they played different venues like open air concerts but even Hafenbahn or Batschkapp supporting Sinner and other pro-bands.
An absolute highlight was to play „Frankfurt Alte Oper“ in front of 1500 people as part of a beneficial event set up to support the local „LOBBY“, an organisation to help and support the “poor and homeless people in Frankfurt”.

Tommy said farewell to stage-life in 1997.

His pipes still provide 4 Octaves and where developed in the “Scuola del Belcanto” by Maestro Appiani. Beside his “big love” singing he loves to play bass and guitar sometimes which can be heard on the album as well in places.

His roots lie in the ‘70s and ‘80s - Uriah Heep, Pink Floyd, Saxon, Judas Priest and especially Rob Halford are his favorites.

In the recent past also bands like Edguy, Nightwish and Cornerstone were given a listen once time allowed.

Since November 2002 Tommy is married to Sabine and lives in Mühlheim together with his sons Tommy jr. and Andreas.

His slogan:

“Keep on rocking .. just take me the way I am – I won’t change”.

Born near Frankfurt on Main in 1966, JJ played in various local Bands before he joined Syder in 1994.

The educated audio-engineer and Multi-Instrumentalist played Keyboards, Guitar and did some Backing-Vocals. He’s also an educated violinist and loves to play drums. He first teamed up with Tommy in Syder. His musical roots lie in the ‘70s and ‘80s, Deep Purple is his favourite band since then – until today.

Unfortunately due to business and family related reasons he had to quit work in the band. Later on he met Tommy and they decided to set up the ToJA project. Jan is married to Syke and has two little daughters called Zoe and Luna.

His slogan for Rock’nRoll:

Life’s too short to just hang around, make your way, enjoy life – make the best out of it.

Born in 1963 in Frankfurt on Main little Berny he was at the tender age of four when he received drum lessons from his older brother and his father.
After four years practicing on everything that was available including pillows, pots, Dasch drums etc. research began on other instruments. Following that he took classical flute lessons on different flutes. Later on he gained his first keyboard experience on a harmonium.
Until then, finally, the first guitar was required.
Impressed and influenced by bands like Sweet, Slade, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin he played until his fingers bled.

After playing in several school bands and bands in the Frankfurt area the first record deal with West Side Records was signed in the early 80s. Single shots were made with bands like Axodry, The S-Sence and Talla ..

Subsequently he became a guitarist in an English-German-American outfit and went to England for a tour.
Ripped off by the then current tour manager, he went back to good old Germany. Various studio jobs and assignments in local bands followed. One of the biggest events and a real highlight was to play Mannheim Maimarkt in front of more than 20.000 people.

In 1989 Berny founded his own outfit Syder. First demo tapes and gigs across the border of Frankfurt followed. Syder opened for Sinner, benefit concerts in the Alte Oper Frankfurt took place .. in the Ball Room. Among other bands he played with Hans Hartz, Klaus Lage, Joy Flemming and many more.

Production jobs and help on the first AWAKE CD followed. 1998 SYDER released their CD "May Night" which is a classic item today. 2001 he joined the Hans Hartz band as guitarist and recorded his latest album “ Echt Hartzig “.

To date he is a full-blooded musician by passion and now the latest member of ToJa – playing again with his companions from early "SYDER" days.

His Motto:

If it doesn’t rock, it's for the ass.