Tommy Clufetos was born in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Rochester Adams High School in Rochester, Michigan. He began playing drums around the age of six.
Clufetos previously played drums for Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper, and Rob Zombie. He played on Rob Zombie's 2006 album Educated Horses, on Zombie's first live release, 2007's Zombie Live, and on 2010's Hellbilly Deluxe 2.
In 2008 Tommy Clufetos featured in his own IMV drum instructional DVD from the Behind The Player series. He also makes an appearance in the John 5 Behind The Player DVD contributing to the backing drums.
In March 2010 it was announced that Clufetos had quit Rob Zombie to join Ozzy Osbourne replacing drummer Mike Bordin. As of May 2012 Clufetos played with Black Sabbath, filling in for original drummer Bill Ward. However, he did not perform on their latest album, 13, as Brad Wilk ended up behind the kit during the recording sessions. But Clufetos returned to playing with Black Sabbath in April 2013 as the drummer for their North America tour, starting with the opening show in Houston on July 25, 2013. Tommy is also the cousin to little-known mixed martial artist Dan 'The Wolfman' Theodore.

Tommy Clufetos is following in the footsteps of legendary drummers like Tommy Aldridge and Carmine Appice. Not only literaly by touring with the Motor City Madman Ted Nugent at age twenty, but also figurative speaking by blowing any audience away with his energy and performance.



Tommy Clufetos got his first drum kit when he was 7 years old. He would listen to the tunes of his dad's band while they were riding around in his car and he would always be banging away on his legs or banging away on something else. On classicrockrevisited.com Tommy Clufetos reveils:

"I stared playing with my Dad’s group in Detroit when I was 11. We backed up all of the old rock n’ roll groups like Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis. I was doing these gigs at 11, 12 & 13 years of age. I would have to learn 40 songs in only a couple of nights and had to learn to read these big ass charts. It really helped me for what I am doing now because nothing is a big deal. I had to back 8 acts in a show when I was 12 so it really prepped me. I got a lot of experience at an early age."

At age eleven he was playing clubs and concerts five nights a week in his father’s band. All while trying to stay awake in his junior high school classes. Tommy recollects on those early invaluable experiences.

"It was the greatest training ground, one night I would play a wedding, and the next night I would be playing ”Johnny B. Goode” behind the actual Chuck Berry. I played in every situation imaginable."

Also, at the age of fourteen Tommy began a year long touring engagement with 60’s soulful singing icons Little Anthony & The Imperials. Next, Tommy Clufetos began playing with Detroit rock legend Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, touring across the country. By age eighteen he was a seasoned pro with hundreds & hundreds of gigs under his belt.



And if there is one thing he has learned, it's that playing is not the only ingredient to a successful working career in music. Tommy adds

"It's the showing up on time, getting along with people, having an upbeat attitude, and you must maintain a strong work ethic. You have to be willing to go to any length to be the best you can be."

Tommy first met Ted Nugent while recording tracks for the Jeff Daniels (Dumb & Dumber) produced movie "Escanaba in Da Moonlight" with Alto Reed (Bob Seger Saxman) producing the session. Two weeks later Tommy joined Ted on his 2001 World Tour.



In 2002, Tommy Clufetos played on his critically acclaimed album "Craveman" with the Craveman tour following. He is also featured on Ted's first dvd release "Full Bluntal Nugity."



The year 2003 was a busy one for Tommy on the Ted Nugent "Shock and Awe" tour. A good portion of this tour was spent with legendary rockers ZZ Top. Other shows included Alice Cooper, David Lee Roth (formerly of Van Halen) and Aerosmith.



April 2004 saw Tommy Clufetos replace Eric Singer (who had gone to rejoin Kiss) on the Alice Cooper 2004 world tour beginning in early June.



Tommy Clufetos is featued on Ozzy Osbourne’s 2010 album 'Scream'.