Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton’s new band, Close Enemies, kicks off its first-ever tour with a show tonight (January 8) at the City Winery in Philadelphia. The hard-rock group also is gearing up to release its debut single, “Sound of a Train,” on Friday, January 17.
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In a new interview with the Defenders of the Faith website, Hamilton shared details about the formation of Close Enemies, the story of how the band got its name, and information about the group’s first single and some of its other original tunes.
Hamilton explained that he began jamming with some of the new band’s members a couple of years back, but at that time, his main focus was still Aerosmith, which had been plotting to mount its Peace Out farewell tour.
Tom then noted that guitarists Trace Foster and Peter Stroud and drummer Tony Brock, and lyricist Gary Stier had started “writing songs and making demos during 2023 and early 2024.”
Hamilton revealed that when Aerosmith’s tour got canceled, “Trace called me and invited me to check out what they had been up to and possibly join up.” Tom added, “Trace was actually my bass tech, but he happens to be a great guitarist and songwriter.”
Hamilton said he listened to the demos and “was knocked out” by the material. He then started playing with the other band members at Stroud’s house in Atlanta.
Working on New Material with the Band
Hamilton told the website that he and the other band members immediately began writing new songs together.
“That first day, we came up with a song that’s now called ‘Wink and a Feather,’” Tom shared. “They’re all great guys and fun to work with, along with being excellent musicians. I had a rough demo of a song I had been working on, so one day I played it for the guys. By the end of the day, we had a track. That one’s now called ‘More Than I Could Ever Need.’”
As for the sound of Close Enemies, Hamilton admitted that it bears some similarities to Aerosmith.
“We all come from a love of rocking out,” he shared. “I remember what it felt like to listen to Led Zeppelin or The Yardbirds or The [Rolling] Stones when they first came out. That feeling got printed onto my heart and soul, and is still there. We’re very song oriented, which is similar to Aerosmith.”
He added, “It’s not good enough to just play loud and fast. There has to be a melodic aspect that completes the picture. There has to be lyrics that you want to sing to. None of the songs were meant to be Aerosmith songs, but when I recorded my bass tracks, there was no way to hide my Aerosmith DNA!”
Regarding lead single “Sound of a Train,” Tom said, “[The song] has all of the elements I just mentioned. It’s a guitar song with a solid vocal and a lonely atmosphere that pulls you in.”
“Sound of a Train” can be pre-ordered now. Following the single’s release, Close Enemies are planning to put out a debut album sometime later in 2025.
On the Origin of the Band’s Name
Meanwhile, Hamilton pointed out that coming up with a name for the band, which he described as “a comedy of creativity,” turned out to be a challenge.
“Every time someone had a good idea, we went on Spotify or Google and found other people who had already used it,” he said. “It went on and on like this for a while.”
Eventually, inspiration came from one of the all-time great movies.
“[O]ne day, Peter and his wife, Lynn, were watching The Godfather and there’s a line that goes: ‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,’” Tom told the website. “Lynn suggested using Close Enemies for a band name and we all went for it.”
More About Close Enemies’ Members
As mentioned earlier, Foster is Hamilton’s longtime bass tech. Stroud has played with Sheryl Crow for 25 years. Brock is a founding member of The Babys, and also toured and recorded with Rod Stewart for many years.
Round out Close Enemies is frontman Chasen Hampton, an actor and singer who was a Mickey Mouse Club cast member from 1989 to 1991. He also co-hosted the show in 1994. Later, he was a member of a band called The Party, and he also established a solo career.
Close Enemies’ 2025 Tour Dates
Close Enemies’ 2025 tour currently features eight confirmed concerts. The trek is mapped out through a January 29 show in St. Louis. Six of the concerts will take place at City Winery venues, including in New York City, Boston, Nashville, Chicago, and the aforementioned Philadelphia and St. Louis.
The other two shows will be held at The Rex Theater in Manchester, New Hampshire, and the Daryl’s House Club in Pawling, New York.
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