Death of DeWolf

The news has reverberated through the local music community: Tommy DeWolf, beloved guitarist of the local hard rock band Drivin' Rain, has died.

At only 40 years old DeWolf (whose real name was Thomas Faron Johnson) was too young to die by anyone's standards, and when news of his death spread, shock was the result.

"We are all in shock, as this is the second member we've lost in three years," Drivin' Rain frontman Timexx Nasty wrote in an e-mail just after the news leaked out. The first member the band lost was its road manager, Cuz.

"Tommy was a big part of this band and my very best and oldest friend. I don't know what we'll do without him."

DeWolf was a key member of the band, there at its founding in 1994, one of Rain's principal songwriters, lead guitarist and man about town, familiar to all the nightlife people in Cape. His body was found in his home on April 17.

As soon as the word got out, posts were all over CapeScene lamenting Tommy's loss.

This post by J Sohn sums up the reaction nicely: "I have known Tommy for about 15 years. We have never been best friends or anything, but every time I ever saw him, we talked for a bit. He was always nice, kind, crazy and fun to be around. I remember him blowing fireballs with a lighter and vodka (I think) in the old Taco Bell parking lot drunk off his ass and just laughing about it. He will truly be missed."

And immediately, a benefit was being organized to raise money for Tommy's tombstone. The show, organized by TheBoneYard, will take place May 11 at Hillbillyz in Ellsinore, one of Rain's favorite spots to play. 10-49 and Aftermath are on the bill so far, with more on the way.

Rumors of drug abuse will always follow in a rocker's untimely death, but DeWolf's bandmates say his upbringing kept him from doing drugs. However, he did self-medicate with alcohol to relieve chronic pain from injuries received in a near-fatal car wreck a few years back.

Cape County Coroner John Clifton is awaiting test results to determine an exact cause of death, but foul play is not suspected. Next month OFF Magazine plans a tribute to DeWolf in words and pictures.

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He was always nice, kind, crazy and fun to be around.

-- CapeScene post from J Sohn

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Tribute to Tommy:

When: May 11

Where: Hillbillyz in Ellsinore

PLAYING: 10-49, Aftermath and more to be announced