THE ORIGINS
Picture this: 1990, the Rock and Roll Cafe on Bleeker St in Greenwich Village, and Four Sticks bringing Zeppelin to life for sold out shows every Monday night for five straight years. Four Sticks, originally formed by drummer Tom Major while in NYC, was composed of guitarist Nunzio Signore and bassist Jack Dailey, similarly to Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, were all journeyman session musicians. With singer Rob Malave they began to play their now legendary Monday night residency in Greenwich Village at The Rock and Roll Cafe. Sharing a deep love for the music of Led Zeppelin, they brought the energy, vibe, and raw power of early Zeppelin to life. While most Zeppelin tribute acts focused on the “look”, Four Sticks focused on the music, with a goal to recreate the sound of the early days. Their talent and extended jams attracted the City’s pro musicians and soon Four Sticks Monday night shows became a “scene.”
Fast forward to 2018, missing the electricity of Zeppelin, Tom decided to reform Four Sticks in Berkshire County Ma, with local musicians, singer Chris Merenda, bassist Glenn Jubelii and guitarist Rob Sanzone. After quickly establishing a loyal following selling out their shows, the recreated Four Sticks began a monthly residency at The Egremont Barn,. In late 2020, after guitarist Sanzone moved to Maine, Tom called on Nunzio, his original guitar player from the 90’s, to come up to play the Berkshire shows. After a 25 year hiatus (and no rehearsal) Tom and Nunzio’s reunion instantly recreated the old magic they had from the Four Sticks Bleeker Street days. The obvious chemistry between them was infectious. This led to the idea of expanding beyond the Berkshires and taking the band out on the road as a unique “Led Zeppelin Tribute”.
Tom and Nunzio looking to take Four Sticks on the road, recruited the multi-talented bassist/keyboardist/vocalist Kevin Humphris to join them. Singer extraordinaire Ron Iglesias then stepped in, easily hitting those signature Robert Plant high notes with soul and an intensity matching the bands energy. The line up was complete. With the addition of the keyboards, Four Sticks now recreates not only the early blues jamming days of Led Zeppelin, but now can cover the later, more epic keyboard heavy tunes like Kashmir as well. With the entire Zeppelin catalog now available to them, Four Sticks still focuses on the musicianship and creative improvisation that made a Led Zeppelin live show such a powerful force. While there are many good Led Zeppelin tributes on the scene today, few compare to the raw energy, deep groove and spirit Four Sticks brings to recreating the music.
MEET THE BAND
TOM MAJOR
Tom Major, drummer/producer, has been passionate about playing drums his entire life. The son of a jazz drummer, after studying at Berklee College of Music, he moved back to his native New York City and enjoyed a successful career with touring, TV appearances and recording with many artists. Among them are Southside Johnny, Carly Simon, Blood Sweat and Tears, Mick Taylor and Chuck Berry. Tom was also Bo Diddley’s drummer for 6 years and recorded his “40th Anniversary” star studded Warner Bros album “A Man Amongst Men”.
While living in NYC he founded the popular Led Zeppelin tribute band “Four Sticks”, which played most every Monday for five years at The Rock n Roll Cafe to sell out crowds.
Tom founded his own original group “Entrain” on Martha’s Vineyard in the summer of 1993 while still working and touring with Bo Diddley. Mixing world influenced rhythms, pop song writing, and a positive upbeat vibe, Entrain was an instant hit and has been thrilling critics and fans for nearly 3 decades. They won a “Boston Music Award” for Best Live Act, and Tom was nominated for Best Drummer that same year.
Recently, Tom and original Four Sticks guitarist extraordinaire Nunzio Signore, finding they both still have a passion for Led Zeppelin’s music, decided the time was right to reignite their musical chemistry and magic of “Four Sticks”.
The beat goes on….
Tom Major is a longtime Vic Firth and Zildjian endorsee.
Nunzio Signore
Nunzio Signore, has spent the last 30 years as a session guitarist in New York City. After a stint at the Berklee College of Music, he moved out to Los Angeles prior to moving back to the east Coast to pursue a studio career. During this time, he has played on recordings and toured live with some of the biggest acts in Pop /R&B music. Among them are Billy Squire, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Taylor Dayne, Brian McNight, and the great Bo Diddley, touring with and playing on his 40th anniversary album “A Man Amongst Men” alongside fellow 4 sticks drummer Tom Major.
After moving to NYC, he joined the popular Led Zeppelin tribute band “Four Sticks” as one of the founding members which playing every Monday for five years at The Rock n Roll Cafe to sellout crowds.
Nunzio also founded his original project 40 Days alongside 4 sticks bassist Kevin Humphris and the band Jim Crow who signed a record deal and toured the country with White Zombie.
Nunzio is an endorsee of D’Addario strings.
Kevin Humphris has been playing bass and singing since the age of 12. By age 13, he was playing professionally in venues such as The Stone Pony & The Bitter End in NYC. He is sought out as a bassist/singer for hire in the northern NJ and NY City area. These musicians include members of Def Leppard, Trixter and Billy Joel.
He has toured the country with members of Boston, Survivor and the nationally hailed Van Halen tribute “Completely Unchained”.
In 1988 his band “New York Tears” was discovered by MTV’s Adam Curry and after that joined the hard rock/pop band “40 days” with fellow 4 Sticks guitarist Nunzio Signore as the bands bassist and lead singer.
Kevin’s ability to also play keyboards adds to the authenticity of the original Zeppelin line up where all instruments are played by the 4 members. There are no additional musicians to try to “carry the load” …
Kevin Humphris
Ron englasias
Ron Iglesias, originally from Bayonne, NJ, has been singing for about 15 years. He sang for the metal act Toxik with whom he’s toured North America and Europe.