TOM'S BIRTHDAY

Thomas Oliver Taylor Chaplin, was born in East Sussex, England in March 8, 1979.

• Tom's Life and Career

David Chaplin and Sally Taylor, had a baby on March 8,1979, with a name. A few weeks before Tim Rice Oxley's brother, also called Tom. He started a beautiful friendship with both that remains today.
His father was Vinehall School's headmaster in Robertsbridge, so both friends studied there.
With Rice-Oxley, Tom attended Tonbridge School.Here they met Richard Hughes and Dominic Scott (an original member who left the band in 2001).During his time at Vinehall School, Tom acted in several school plays and was part of the school's choral group.
In 1995,Tim, Richard and Dominic started their first band "The Lotus Eaters". It was a cover band that played U2,Oasis and Beatles at Sussex pubs.

• Keane

Tom was invited to join the band by Tim in 1997, when the name "The Lotus Eaters" was changed to "Cherry Keane". Later "Cherry" was removed from the name. The name was used to represent eternal friendship since the band members all knew who Cherry Keane was.

In July 1997, Tom went to South Africa for his gap year, during the rest of the band were preparing themselves for a gig. When Richard went to take Tom a year later, on July 3 1998, his first words were, "We've got a gig in ten days." This would be the band's first performance at the Hope & Anchor pub on July 13 1998. Chaplin then began studying for a degree in art history at the University of Edinburgh, before leaving to pursue his music career in London.

Tom shared a flat with Tim in Stoke Newington and they tried to get money for rehearsal time. Tom worked at a publishing company where his chief responsibility was to carry boxes.

With Scott in the line-up as the lead guitarist, Chaplin had to play the acoustic guitar. Since Scott left in 2001, he primarily takes lead vocal, but also plays the organ on "Hamburg Song" during some live gigs, as well as a distorted piano for newer songs on their second album. He also took part in Band Aid 20's re-recording of Do They Know It's Christmas? in November of 2004 doing a solo on the line "feed the world", something that hadn't been done on previous versions where all artists sang.

• Drug rehabilitation

On August 22 2006, Tom Chaplin revealed that he was receiving treatment for alcohol and drug abuse problems. He left the Priory Clinic in London on October 6 but is still receiving treatment.

• Equipment

Chaplin uses a Hammond MK2 organ for "Hamburg Song" and "Nothing in My Way". Since May 2006 a Yamaha CP60M for the distortion piano riffs on "A Bad Dream", "The Frog Prince" and "Crystal Ball", is used.

He also has been playing the acoustic guitar in songs like "Your Eyes Open" since the 2006 UK tour, and during 2007 an acoustic solo of "Broken Toy".

• Known Compositions

"Call Me What You Like"
"Closer Now"
"The Silence Of An Alien"

• Keane Songs Dedicated to him

"Hamburg Song" : About Rice-Oxley's hopes to be still a friend for Chaplin.
"Broken Toy" : About Chaplin's indifference.
"Thin Air" : Though not declared, strong lyrics make it obvious.
"Maybe I Can Change" : Written by Rice-Oxley with forgiveness lyrics for Chaplin and one of the songs written the latter.

SPECIAL EDITION:
'WHY TOM MAKES US SO HOT?' http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=DQsvtNtP9gY

Happy Birthday Tom!