By Paul Salfen, Christine Thompson for AMFM Magazine
In the great state of Texas, where the crowds know how to rock and the barbecue is legendary, Tommy James and the Shondells rolled into Arlington Music Hall for a night that delivered pure, high-octane nostalgia with a fresh twist. At 60 years into a career that’s defined generations of American rock ’n’ roll, the man behind timeless anthems like “Hanky Panky,” “Mony Mony,” “I Think We’re Alone Now,” and “Crimson and Clover” sat down with AMFM’s Paul Salfen ahead of the show. The conversation was equal parts heartfelt reflection, behind-the-scenes stories, and forward-looking excitement — proof that rock ’n’ roll really does keep you young.
“Rock and roll keeps you young. It is the truth.”
James lights up when talking about Texas. “Coming down to Texas is a big thrill for all of us,” he says. “I love the rock fans in Texas — they know how to rock.” After decades of hits that have soundtracked everything from sock hops to summer blockbusters, choosing a setlist is no small feat. The band sticks to the biggest hits, of course, but they’re also slipping in something new: a slow, acoustic version of “I Think We’re Alone Now.”
That reimagined track closes both the upcoming film adaptation of James’s bestselling autobiography Me, the Mob, and the Music and the live show in Arlington. “The last song in the movie is going to be this very different kind of version,” James explains. “It changes from being a teenybopper love song like it was in ’67 to a very somber moment… and the amazing part is that the lyrics fit both.” The film, now being developed as an episodic series for streaming, tells the wild story of his Roulette Records days — a tale so wild it could only come from real life.
The Hits, the Fans, and the Magic
When asked about his favorite part of the set, James doesn’t hesitate. “It’s a toss-up between ‘Crystal Blue Persuasion’ and ‘Mony Mony,’” he says, noting that “Mony Mony” is the show-closer that leaves the room oxygen-deprived. But the real highlight? The fans. “These people have put food on my table and a roof over my head for 60 years,” he reflects. “I look out and see three generations… and we’re able to communicate with them on equal terms.” James loves stepping into the crowd, shaking hands, and soaking up the energy that’s kept the Shondells on the road for six decades.
That connection extends to advice for the next generation of rockers. In today’s streaming-driven music business, James is blunt: “Write your own music. That’s an absolute must.” He recommends demoing a dozen strong songs and approaching a publishing company first — Sony, Universal, EMI, whoever will listen. “Publishing is where the action is and it’s where the money is,” he says. “If you have to give up half your song or even all of it to have a partner with that kind of clout, it’s worth doing it.” It’s practical wisdom from a man who lived the dream — and the nightmare — of the old record business.
The Hail Mary That Changed Everything
James’s own “Hail Mary” moment is straight out of a movie. Back in 1963, as an 18-year-old in Niles, Michigan, he recorded “Hanky Panky” with his high-school band the Shondells for a tiny local label. It was a regional hit that faded fast — until two years later, when a Pittsburgh DJ unearthed a copy and the song exploded to No. 1 in that city. James was playing a dive bar in Janesville, Wisconsin, when the IRS shut the place down mid-gig. He went home broke and discouraged… only to get the life-changing call that the record was blowing up.
The rest is rock history. The band scrambled to New York, shopped the track to every major label, and got enthusiastic yeses — until Roulette Records’ notorious head Morris Levy stepped in. “Morris Levy called all the other labels and scared the hell out of them,” James recalls with a laugh. “Jerry Wexler at Atlantic leveled with us and said, ‘This is my friggin’ record. Back off.’” Roulette turned out to be a front for the Genovese crime family, a detail James explores in depth in his book. Yet the label did take “Hanky Panky” to No. 1 nationwide — and launched a string of hits that followed.
From Singles to Album Rock — and Beyond
“Crimson and Clover” was the game-changer. Released as the band’s 10th single, it catapulted them from AM Top 40 to FM progressive rock. “It allowed us to make the jump… in one shot like that,” James says. Hits like “Sweet Cherry Wine” and “Crystal Blue Persuasion” followed, and the group even turned down songs from George Harrison because they were already evolving their sound. They were invited to Woodstock (James was in Hawaii at the time and famously told the secretary, “If I’m not there, start without us!”).
By the early ’70s, the pressures of the business — and the mob ties — nearly ended it all. James survived a near-fatal overdose in 1970, stepped back, and eventually went solo. He left Roulette in 1974 after years of unpaid royalties (he estimates the label owed him $30–40 million). But the music endured. Covers by Joan Jett, Tiffany, and Billy Idol kept the songs alive for new generations, and James has since reclaimed his catalog and started his own label.
Faith, Family, and the Future
What keeps him going after all these years? “Of course it is my faith,” James says. “But it’s also the fans.” He hosts the long-running SiriusXM show Gettin’ Together with Tommy James on ’60s Gold, tours relentlessly, and continues writing and recording new music. The book Me, the Mob, and the Music (co-written with Martin Fitzpatrick) became a bestseller, and the film project — now reimagined as a multi-episode series — is moving forward.
In Texas, James was looking forward to the fans, the handshakes, the autographs — and, yes, a little barbecue if time allows. “We’re very blessed to be doing it this long,” he says. “Your market is the whole planet now… and I’m just thankful.”
For anyone who grew up hearing those unmistakable opening guitar riffs or who discovered the Shondells through a classic-rock station, the Arlington Music Hall show is more than a concert — it’s a celebration of a career that refuses to fade. Sixty years in, Tommy James is still delivering the goods, still connecting across generations, and still proving that the spirit of rock ’n’ roll is alive and well.
Catch Tommy James & The Shondells live — and don’t miss the new acoustic “I Think We’re Alone Now” that’s bound to give you chills.
