Draft:Tom Dunham

Tom Edward Dunham (born August 10, 1983) is a British heavy metal band promoter, media influencer and actor from the West Midlands in the United Kingdom who promoted heavy metal music and nu-metal music and their respective bands using Radio and coordinated public and pre-recorded stunts for TV and home video. He is best known for his support in promoting the launch of Kerrang Radio in the United Kingdom predominantly around the city of Birmingham and it's surrounding counties. He is a star and co-creator of Bilious - The DVD between 2002 and 2005 helping to promote local bands and achieve them better recognition using controversial public Stunts and pranks. He is the son of Ian Dunham who was a car rally competitor during the 1980s.

Tom Dunham
Tom in 2006 at Kerrang radio launch party
Born	1983 (age 42–43) Birmingham, United Kingdom
Other names	Dunny, Dun, Dunem, Murdock
Occupations	Music promoter, Actor
Years active	1996–present

Career

Early Career

From 1996, Dunham found appreciation of the skills of his friends in Comedy, Music or Extreme sports. Wanting to record a combination of his friends natural skills, using his love for early video cameras and camcorders, it would result in his first home movie production. During 1997, Tom had produced a low budget music video for his friends band, and also a small comedy production which included skating and mountain biking.

Between 2000-2004 he would work as a sales representative for Currys and PC World.

Starting a promotion

Dunham would start to promote local Heavy metal bands around the West Midlands. By offering bands a chance to have him produce a music video free of charge. The music videos were often simple live recordings taken from various venues around the West midlands. In receipt, Tom would receive the right of use for the respective songs so they can be used in other promotions at his discretion wether the band would see recognition, recording contracts or more.

Bilious and the productions alongside

From 2002 until 2005, combining the ability to use local unsigned acts and their music, Comedy, Pranks and Sketches, Dunham co-produced a low budget DVD home video with other cast members in order to further push both his own and the other cast members and their affiliated bands to further recognition. This resulted in 3 bands being approached by bigger media outlets and even resulted in a small scale distribution. He became locally known for his controversial public Stunts which were similar to those shown on MTV's Jackass and MTV's Viva La Bam which eventually resulted in a cease and desist warning from MTV.

Kerrang Radio promotions

In 2002, Dunham had already helped promote a handful of local unsigned music talent of which previously did not have an outlet. Using local music venues hosting special events and local tours, it was soon recognised by producers of the new and upcoming launch of Kerrang! Radio, a new radio station which would show attention to the Rock and Heavy metal music genres. Tom would go on to help unsigned talent be able to be heard on the radio for their first time as a part of the 'Ugly Phil breakfast show' and their 'Late night and unsigned' segments.

During the launch of the Radio Station, Dunham worked closely with management for other already worldwide known bands such as HIM, Stone Sour, Slipknot, CKY, Funeral for a Friend, Amen, and Metalicca which resulted in unsigned bands to step in as support acts for their UK tours and dates.

Tom also continued to promote local acts and talent such as Godsize, Adrenalin Kick, VOID, The Fight and various other bands.

In early 2005, Dunham was featured on Kerrang Radio several times to speak about local unsigned talent, and have their music heard, and to promote their upcoming shows.

Slipknot Tribute Band

In 2006, After quitting the promotion scene and making any further productions, Dunham would join a successful Slipknot Tribute band 'Slip-Not' with ex-members of Adrenalin Kick. The band would perform at various venues in the UK and were further recognised by members of Slipknot.

The band would no longer perform after 2012, and should not be confused with a newer tribute band with the same name.

Video game level designer

During his career, Dunham would seldom spend time developing PC games and would be a keen member of various modding communities.

In 2006 until 2007, he participated heavily in the development of level designs for Battlefield 2.

In 2003, He was further known for 'TomDoom', a modification for DOOM.

Personal Life

In 2003, Dunham sustained a knee injury during a Mountain bike accident which prevented his participation in any extreme sport or activity for 12 months.

From 2015, he migrated to France with his partner and his step son, to spend time with his mother, sister and his father Ian Dunham who had been diagnosed with Dementia who then passed away in 2018.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2001	Large	Young boy in the swimming pool	Extra
2004	Bilious the DVD	Himself	Co-star
2005	Up to our necks	Himself	N/A

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2002	Slipknot Disasterpiece	Photographer	As himself
2004	Coronation Street	Station attendant	Extra
2004	Adrenalin Kick	Equinox	Music Video

References

Tom Dunham on IMDB

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/oct/02/citynews.radio