In a recent interview with Dr. Music’s Scott Itter, Frank Hannon of Tesla discussed the possibility of reuniting with former Tesla members Troy Luccketta and Tommy Skeoch. When asked about the potential of performing together for a one-off gig in the future, Hannon said he was open to the idea under certain circumstances. However, he clarified that his willingness to reunite is limited to a one-time event and does not extend to an ongoing commitment like touring.
Describing their possible one last concert as a ‘big ending party’ Hannon said:
“If we planned the final show, like the last one night — this is gonna be it; this is the big ending party — personally, I’d probably be open to that. But going on the road, living on a bus and trying to rely on somebody for more than one show, I’m not… It’s like being married and once you get divorced, you don’t wanna be living with that divorced person again.”
Uncertain about the details, Hannon also humorously predicted that the media, especially Blabbermouth, could sensationalize his comments. He continued:
“I love those guys, man. I mean, they’re great musicians and we’ve had many great experiences in the past. But, like I said, if there’s like an event that’s the grand finale 10 years from now, maybe, but I don’t know. And I think Blabbermouth‘s gonna fucking have a field day with it.”
Troy Luccketta’s Break
His short break appears to have lasted a little longer than expected. In September 2021, Troy Luccketta announced that he would be ‘taking some time off the road’ to spend time with family and friends. Since then, Tesla’s gigs have been replaced by Steve Brown, the younger brother of former Dokken drummer Mick Brown.
In a September 2022 interview with Tulsa Music Stream, Troy Luccketta discussed his absence from the band’s concerts. Luccketta elaborated on his decision, explaining that his personal life and family commitments were factors in this choice. He stated that the nature of the band’s work, which presumably involves intensive touring and time away from home, is not conducive to family life. He said:
“I am. I’m on a bit of a break. Personally, there’s a lot of things going on in my life that I’m… This thing that we do doesn’t cater to families. So at the time that this had gone down and COVID and everything, it just really gave me some time to step back and kind of look at things.”
He continued by stating that he is not on bad terms with Tesla members:
“I’d been running hard with the band for 36 years. And I love the guys and I love the band. I’m a fan and always will be. I’ve got nothing but praise for them. They gave me a great life and I think we all share in that.”
Tommy Skeoch’s Absence
Unlike Luccketta, Tommy Skeoch did not leave Tesla on good terms, as he was fired. After his dismissal in 2006, Skeoch began treatment for substance abuse problems. He has since been replaced by Dave Rude. In 2021, in an interview on SiriusXM’s ‘Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk,’ Tommy Skeoch talked about his departure from the band in 2006. Skeoch openly admitted that he was fired from the band due to problems with substance abuse. He said:
“I was fired. I was getting fucked up and I was definitely in the wrong about a lot of stuff, and they put up with it for a long time. But at the same time, none of us were angels, and we put up with a lot of stuff from the other guys for a long time too, and they’re still there. Basically, I was fired. I was getting fucked up, and I kept fucking up, and I kept telling ’em I wouldn’t, and I just couldn’t stop.”
Frank Hannon Once Said Tesla Would Not ‘Go Back’
Hannon spoke differently in 2020 than in his recent interview with Dr. Music. Unlike the likeliness of a ‘big ending party’ he mentioned, he stated that there was no possibility of a full-time comeback for Tommy. In an interview with Detroit’s WRIF radio station in September 2021, Frank Hannon gave a firm no to the possibility of Tesla returning to his old line-up. He said:
“I don’t see that Tesla will ever go back, because we love Dave Rude, and Dave has really been a great addition to the band. And it would be disrespectful to him to go backwards to a toxic thing, a relationship that really got very toxic.”
You can watch Frank Hannon’s recent interview with Dr Music’s Scott Itter below.
