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Enthusiastic, energetic, powerful and excited are only a few of the adjectives that describe Tony “Thunder” Smith . As the drummer for the future Rock n’ Roll Hall of famer Lou Reed, Tony has brought power and finesse to the musician’s stage for many years. As a Paiste artist, Tony has been in so many high profile gigs that any drummer would easily be jealous.



John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck, Jan Hammer, Lou Reed, Marianne Faithful, Pat Dinizio and Carlos Santana are just a small group of artists that have recorded or toured with Tony. In addition to his heavy touring schedule, film and commercial work, Tony also maintains a full teaching schedule at the prestigious Berklee College of Music.

As a teacher, Tony’s infectious excitement is seen as he teaches his students at Berklee. The chops he passes down are the tools that help many of his students continue to succeed in their own careers as musicians once they leave school. It is impossible to walk the halls of Berklee with Tony and not be stopped by a drummer asking a question or letting their teacher know how grateful they are for the lessons shared.



As the power behind Lou Reed’s ever evolving band, it is easy to hear the “Thunder”. Each night Tony is setting the tone for the performance and making sure to keep an eye on Lou. While the songs that the band plays are “pop-rock”, the band is never just going through the motions. Lou is always communicating with the band, changing the groove, feel and arrangements on a nightly basis. Tony is always there to shift the tone in any way that the band leader wants.



For 34 years, Tony has been making his musical mark with Paiste cymbals. We are proud to have Tony “Thunder” Smith as a valued member of the family!


Tony speaks about Paiste.

Why I love Paiste

“Paiste is my sound. Since 1976, when I first used Paiste at the Berliner Jazz Festival with Jan Hammer, I was hooked! This was the elusive sound that I had been searching for. As a drummer, it’s very difficult to find your overall sound. You can search for years with the hope of finding the right cymbals and that they will work for you. When you find them, you hold on to them for dear life! I have played many complex styles with many varied artists, and my choice in Paiste cymbals has always been the perfect one. Lou reed, whom I have played with for fifteen years once told me - “I hate cymbals, but I love the ones you play.” He even wanted a set for his own studio. Also, when I’m in a recording studio, many engineers have commented that they love my cymbals - they sound crystal clear and don’t have that horrible low overtone that engineers hate and have to get rid of.

Paiste cymbals have made it possible for me to have a musical pallet. On top of that, to have the opportunity to be endorsed by them is an honor and a privilege. This is a company whose word is truly their bond. Their love and support cannot be duplicated. I’ve had a relationship with Paiste that you usually have only with a family. For thirty-four years, anything I have ever needed -from cymbals to a kind word - Paiste has always been there for me. They are a company that’s smart, innovative, and that has the highest level of integrity - consistently producing cymbals of the utmost quality. Paiste is an integral part of my life and my career. Paiste truly is my sound and I’m very proud to be a part of the Paiste family.”

View Tony’s Paiste Artist Profile incl.Set-up and Bio!