Thomas Richard Christy Jr. (born April 1, 1974) is an American drummer, musician, comedian, and radio personality, best known for being the former drummer for several heavy metal bands since the early 1990s, most notably Death, and his tenure on The Howard Stern Show. Born and raised in Kansas, Christy took an interest in rock and heavy metal music in his youth, and started playing the drums at age ten. He played in several bands while at school.

Christy's music career began in 1992 when he joined the Springfield, Missouri group Public Assassin, and also worked as an electrician. In 1996, Christy formed Burning Inside and relocated to Orlando, Florida, where he joined and toured with several popular heavy metal bands until 2004, including Acheron, Death, Control Denied, Iced Earth, and Leash Law.

In 2004, Christy took a break from music and relocated to New York City to join The Howard Stern Show. He has written, directed, and acted in several home made independent films and has performed as a stand-up comedian. He returned to music in 2009 when he formed his own metal band, Charred Walls of the Damned.

Early life

Thomas Richard Christy was born in Fort Scott, Kansas on April 1, 1974. His father is a Vietnam veteran. Christy grew up in the nearby town of Redfield, His elder neighbor, a fan of heavy metal music, introduced him to Metal Health (1983) by Quiet Riot which had a considerable effect on Christy. He recalled, "I heard those drums and that music and was just blown away. I was new to that whole sound ... Quiet Riot felt like the next step up in terms of heaviness". He proceeded to save up his pocket money to purchase the album on audio cassette. His parents had no issue with his decision, and to this day, they remain supportive of his career. When he turned ten, his parents bought him his first drum pad and sticks, practicing on it before they purchased his first full professional kit at a junkyard for $100. Christy bought instructional videos to improve his technique, including tapes from Terry Bozzio.

Career

Music

In 1992, the 18-year-old Christy decided to pursue music in college in Kansas. In the week before he was set to begin, he heard one of his favorite bands, Public Assassin from Springfield, Missouri, were looking for a new drummer. After a successful audition in August 1992, he chose to join them rather than study. He then moved from his Fort Scott home and into "an old warehouse" in Springfield, band Burning Inside with new recruits Jamie Prim on vocals/bass and, later on, Michael Estes on guitar. They toured, recorded songs for five metal tribute albums, and produced a six-song demo tape of new material released as The Eve of the Entities (2000). Christy stayed in Florida for eight years. His income from music and electric work was limited, so he could only afford accommodation in a storage unit where he also kept and practiced his drums Christy joined local metal group Acheron, touring and playing on Anti-God, Anti-Christ (1996) and Necromanteion Communion (1998). His boss at his electrical company allowed him to spend time away to record and tour with his bands. with only Schuldiner and himself present. playing festivals of up to 20,000 people in attendance. "A Favor House Atlantic" with Coheed and Cambria, Tiwanaku, Rick Renstrom, and Wykked Wytch.

Sometime after 2011, Christy put together music that featured his three guinea pigs. Three of the songs were released under the band name Boar Glue as part of a split EP with Hatebeak, another band that features an African grey parrot.

The Howard Stern Show

Christy became an avid listener of The Howard Stern Show in 1996 when he moved to Florida, After he obtained the number to reach the show's answering machine from the Internet, he began to submit comical voicemail messages in 1999,

Following the departure of "Stuttering John" Melendez in February 2004, Stern announced the Get John's Job contest a month later, pitting ten listeners who had contributed to the show against each other in competition for the vacated position. Each contestant was given a week to display their talents they could bring to the show, after which the listeners voted online for their favorite. Christy produced a required demo CD of his bits, and was selected to compete for the prize of an initial three-month contract and $25,000. On July 1, 2004, Christy won the contest with 30% of the vote; Sal Governale was second with 24%. By September 2004, both had joined the show as full-time staff members. vomited on guests, and painted his genitals. From 2005, Christy performed nationwide as a stand-up comedian as part of the Killers of Comedy Tour with other show cast members. He has been a fan of horror films since his youth, and rates Halloween (1978) as his "faaavorite". "200 of which was spent on beer". The film premiered at a Missouri hotel, In 2007, Christy appeared in Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay playing the role of a Ku Klux Klansman named Kenny. In the same year, he landed his first television role on Rescue Me, portraying a "really creepy guy at end of bar". In 2009, he appeared as Caleb in the horror film Albino Farm. Also in 2009, Christy and Governale appeared in the 2009 horror novel Castaways, written by horror and crime novelist Brian Keene. Christy has recorded voiceovers for the Adult Swim shows Metalocalypse and Rick and Morty. He guest appeared on the Cartoon Network series Uncle Grandpa, playing Ric. He appeared in the 2014 comedy horror Jersey Shore Massacre. Christy later made a cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as a character simply named "Down There!"

Christy has written articles for Decibel magazine about his love for horror films, named "Richard Christy's Horrorscope". They have one son, Carson Cain Christy, born in 2017, and affectionately known as "Bubby". Carson is named after former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz. The Eagles are Kristin's favorite team. If they have another son, they plan to name him Patrick after Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs are Richard's favorite team. Prior to Super Bowl LIV, on the Howard Stern Wrap Up Show, Christy met Patrick Mahomes and tearfully told him that he loved him and explained his intention to name his next son after him. He later named his second son Cameron instead. He is also a Kansas City Royals fan and attended the 2015 World Series between the Royals and New York Mets with fellow Howard Stern Show co-worker Gary Dell'Abate (who is an avid Mets fan).

Discography

;With Acheron

  • Anti-God, Anti-Christ (1996)
  • Necromanteion Communion/Raise the Dead (1998)

;With Death

  • The Sound of Perseverance (1998)
  • Live in Eindhoven (1998)
  • Live in L.A. (Death & Raw) (1999)

;With Control Denied

  • The Fragile Art of Existence (1999)
  • When Man and Machine Collide (unreleased)

;With Burning Inside

  • The Eve of the Entities (2000)
  • Apparition (2001)

;With Iced Earth

  • Horror Show (2001)
  • Tribute to the Gods (2002)
  • The Glorious Burden (2004)

;With Leash Law

  • Dogface (2003)
  • Cunninglinguistics (2007)

;With Charred Walls of the Damned

  • Charred Walls of the Damned (2010)
  • Cold Winds on Timeless Days (2011)
  • Creatures Watching Over the Dead (2016)

;With Boar Glue

  • Glue 'Em All (2018) split with Hatebeak

References