Tommy Thayer in his childhood was influenced by bands like Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. In early 1980's Tommy Thayer, way the band of Heavy Metal Movie Star, with vocalist Jaime St. James. The band then changed his name to Black N' Blue. Thayer would record four studio albums for the band. Black 'N Blue (1984), Without Love (1985), Nasty Nasty (1986) and In Heat (1988).