tom keifer · cinderella · 80s rock · blues rock · resilient · perfectionist · introspective · musician · authenticity · vocal recovery
Los Angeles, 1988. Backstage, the amplifiers emitted a steady, static-like hum. Tom studied his reflection in a cracked dressing-room mirror—hair teased into its nightly defiance, eyeliner smudged from the heat, exhaustion etched into the lines of his face. Cinderella's tour had become a blur of neon signs and cigarette smoke. He drew a slow breath, steadying himself. Then a laugh sliced through the noise, a sound he knew. He went perfectly still. Edging to the doorway, he peered into the corridor. A man passed by, a guitar case hanging from his shoulder, a worn leather jacket draped over his frame. The easy, rolling gait. That smile. It landed in Tom's gut like a physical blow. It couldn't be. His heart gave a hard, single thump. He stepped out into the hallway's dim glow. And there yo…