93.3 WMMR promotion - Jim Hannum - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers

If you were listening to Jacky BamBam and 93.3 WMMR Philadelphia tonight, you heard the heartbeat of the Young Rumblers, drummer Jim Hannum—Jimmer!—promoting Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers opening for Mötley Crüe this weekend for two nights at Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena in Atlantic City! 🎸🎸🎸 

Link for TICKETS: Friday MAY 3 and Saturday MAY 4 

Audio Rumble · 93.3 WMMR promotion - Jim Hannum - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers - Jacky Bam Bam

WMMR ROCKS!!! Jimmer called into Jacky’s show for the Mummers 7th inning strut and did "Walkin’ on the Water" from the band’s first independent album. 

Pierre Robert - 35 Years with Philadelphia Radio and WMMR

Happy 35 years of radio in Philadelphia this month to WMMR's Pierre Robert! Here's one of Audio Rumble's favorite audio clips of Pierre Robert introducing Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers at the Spectrum in 1987.

Tommy Conwell's Young Rumblers - Live at Veterans Stadium 1986

Thirty years ago this month, Tommy Conwell's Young Rumblers (Tommy Conwell, Paul Slivka and Jim Hannum) perform in concert live via television simulcast on PRISM and WMMR radio from Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia on Labor Day, September 1, 1986. 

The event was also a celebration for PRISM's 10th Anniversary Birthday Bash! 

Included in the select video playlist is a pre-concert Tommy Conwell interview (with rehearsal footage) and interviews with Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian of The Hooters before the concert. 

Setlist:

- Workout
- Tonight's the Night
- It's Your Life
- I'm Home
- Do You Still Believe in Me
- I'm Not Your Man
- Walkin' on the Water
- Roadside
- Million Pretty Girls
- Dig the Possibilities
- Yeah Yeah Daddy

| Encore |
- Demolition Derby
- I Knew the Bride When She Used to Rock and Roll 

 

Rock With You (live) - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers

In what has now become a Young Rumblers tradition, singing duties on the song "Rock With You" in concert is split up by the band. You know this, right? Yeah, first it's Paul Slivka, then Rob Miller, and then it wraps up with Chris Day -  with Tommy sprinkled in here and there, of course!

This audio version is probably one of the first times the band performed this song and Tommy takes the full vocal lead. Also features some alternate lyrics. Rock on, Young Rumblers!

[December 18, 1987 at Empire Rock Club, Philadelphia, PA. Live on WMMR.]

WMMR - Tommy Conwell Special

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' Rumble. [July 8 - August 8]

WMMR aired the Tommy Conwell Special, hosted by Cyndy Drue, in August 1988, the night before the release of Rumble--the national debut album of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers on Columbia Records.

Cyndy Drue | #Rumble25

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' Rumble. [July 8 - August 8]

Thanks to Cyndy Drue, Philadelphia radio icon and television personality, photographer and voice-over artist for providing Audio Rumble a quote on the 25th anniversary of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' release of "Rumble." 

From 1983-1996, during her tenure at 93.3 FM WMMR, Cyndy Drue hosted and produced "Street Beat" an hour-long weekly show featuring new and original music from area artists. It was the first of its kind in Philadelphia and gave valuable radio exposure to many artists. 

Cyndy is quoted as saying that Tommy Conwell "... (was) the first Street Beat graduate to make a success of himself."

Reaching Out Through Music

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' Rumble. [July 9 - August 9]

For as long as I can remember, I've always had an intense passion for music.

When I first started listening to Tommy Conwell and his music, it brought me back to the great true foundation artists – as I call them – namely the founders of rock ‘n’ roll.

Back in 1988, I was a lifelong fan of Philly radio and especially WMMR. But I was too young to  attend all the hot Philly talent playing local venues like the Chestnut Cabaret - you had to be 21 years old to get into the clubs!

My love of Tommy Conwell started when I heard the song "I'm Not Your Man" – and the message and lyrics of the song were perfectly in sync with a relationship I was experiencing at that time. It never ceases to amaze me when an artist can capture how I'm feeling.

When I heard this song, I called WMMR immediately. The DJ gave me the scoop about Tommy and his Young Rumblers. And the station even aired my call because they said I was so enthusiastic!

Of course, there was no social media back then. I was an avid reader of Circus Magazine and part of a rock fan pen pal circle from all across the country. We would make mix tapes of our local bands and share them with others. Needless to say I was sending Tommy's music to people as far away as Hawaii, Colorado, Virginia, Washington, etc.

One of my best memories was the thrill I had in seeing Tommy appear on the American Music Awards in 1989! A lot of my pen pal circle at the time saw the performance as well – it led to a lifelong love of Tommy's music.

Life was a Cabaret!

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' Rumble. [July 9 - August 9]

Marc from Kennett Square is a long-time Young Rumbler "chronicler" with his website and photographs. Read more about his past work. He shares his memories about Rumble and what it meant for him to see his favorite band go national in 1988.

     Cheers to a GREAT band who left a lasting impression. Here is what I recall.....

     In 1988 I was a brash junior at Drexel and feeling good about life after returning from a semester abroad in London. I had money and energy to burn -- and there was nothing more exciting to me than live music with Philly bands like Dynagroove, Beru Revue, The Hooters, and of course my favorite, Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers.

I was a Rumbler FANATIC and went to countless gigs during that magical period after the local release of Walkin' on the Water and Rumble.

     Columbia Record's release of Rumble was a clear tipping point for this Philly kid. The album was released with a major national media blitz. There were album release parties, billboards, videos on MTV, WMMR radio broadcasts from Europe, David Letterman shows, and even Rolling Stone mentions. On one hand, it was surreal to see the Rumblers EXPLODE. However, this time period also turned into a real void as my weekend road trips to the Stone Pony, Stone Balloon, and Bottle and Cork came to an abrupt end. Life was no longer a cabaret! I imagine that we all moved on with our lives and careers.

     What do I like about Rumble? The art work was absolutely brilliant!  I think the cover photo of the band is one of the slickest rock and roll shots. It captures the interesting chemistry that was always evident amongst the Rumblers - Tommy, Paulie, Jimmer, Chris, and Rob. As far as the songs, "If We Never Meet Again" and "Gonna Breakdown" are my winners. "Breakdown" has great spirit and reeks of optimism. I always thought that was a real highlight in their live gigs. "Never" is simply timeless. The song was perfectly executed on the recording.

     The 1980's are long gone but Rumble left a lasting impression. I will never forget that exciting time period in Philadelphia.

Marc Pelletier
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Big Jet Plane (live) - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers perform "Big Jet Plane" live at The Spectrum in Philadelphia, February 20, 1987. Live television simulcast on PRISM | WMMR after the Philadelphia 76er's game.

Tommy Conwell Promotes Electric Factory Gig

Tommy Conwell was everywhere today in Philly - it's like the 80's all over again! Promoting the upcoming Black Friday gig at the Electric Factory - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers with opening act, Bricklin!

- An acoustic set on WMMR's Preston and Steve show - here's Tommy's interview.

- Tommy Conwell and Chris Day on CBS Philly. Again, thanks to Dallyn Pavey for the photos and videos posted to the tommy conwell and the young rumblers - fans remember when Facebook group page throughout the day.
 

- Tommy Conwell on 88.5 WXPN with an acoustic set and brief stories, performing Everything They Say Is True, I'm Home, Going Back to Philly and I'm Not Your Man.

WMMR Radio - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers, Live 1987

Audio of a WMMR radio spot featuring Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers opening for Bryan Adams at the Philadelphia Spectrum, recorded June 23, 1987. 

The clip includes interviews [at the end] with John Lilley and Rob Hyman of the Hooters, who discuss their tour with Bryan Adams, the Young Rumblers, and their new album - released in July 1987 - One Way Home. 

Also featuring WMMR DJs “Bubba" John Stevens and Pierre Robert. 

(Note: Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers screenshot images taken from their February 20, 1987 PRISM concert performance at the Spectrum.)

Interview with Tommy Conwell on PRISM - 1986

Interview with Tommy Conwell in 1986. Aired before Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers go onstage at Veteran's Stadium in Philadelphia for the PRISM 10th Anniversary Bash. Simulcast live on PRISM and WMMR. (Tommy cites some of his musical influences - Charlie Parker, Jimmie Vaughan.)

PRISM 10th Anniversary Birthday Bash in 1986

Video of a live television simulcast on PRISM and WMMR from Veterans Stadium on Labor Day, 1986.

It's PRISM's 10th Anniversary Birthday Bash!

Tommy Conwell's Young Rumblers -- because it's the 3-piece band -- perform Workout. From the Philadelphia Inquirer paper:

Phils, Fireworks and Rumblers

The Phillies are in town this weekend, playing San Francisco today through Sunday and San Diego Monday. The Labor Day encounter will be a real bash, and we aren't talking the long ball here. After the game, as part of Prism TV's 10th anniversary celebration, there'll be fireworks and a concert by the oh-so-up-and-coming rock band Tommy Conwell's Young Rumblers. The game starts at 7:35 p.m., and tickets cost $3 to $7.50.

"Celebrate Season's Last Hurrah In The City" by Alexis Moore Love, Inquirer Staff Writer Posted: August 29, 1986

WMMR Radio Interview with Tommy Conwell - 1990 Guitar Trouble

Here comes Guitar Trouble!

A radio interview from 1990 -- it's Tommy Conwell on WMMR 93.3' s Street Beat with Cyndy Drue. Promoting the release of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' sophomore release, Guitar Trouble.

Listen to Part 1.
 

Listen to Part 2.

Songs played during the interview but not included with this edit:

- Guitar Trouble
- Nice 'n Naughty
- I'm 17
- Let Me Love You Too
- Rock With You

Local TV Promotion - 1987 Spectrum

Promotional video of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers aired before concert featured on local Philadelphia TV in 1987 at the Spectrum. Interviews with local Philly DJ Joe Bonadonna and Tommy Conwell. And there's even footage of The Hooters singing Day by Day!

WMMR Gobblaroo 2008

Get ready to party in the town that rocked the nation - Phi- Philadelphia - PA!"

It's the concert of the year -- WMMR Gobblaroo 2008 featuring The Hooters with Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia.

Go to LiveNation.com and order your tickets. It’s gonna be a great show!

Get your party started early with some ‘old-school’ videos from The Hooters and Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers.