Tom Abella & D-Mind
Tom Abella's debut as an electric guitar artist was in the 1st Rock-Guitar Festival in Bogota, back in 1994, a performing contest in which he was awarded the First Place.
After playing in many different Rock and Metal bands, he releases his own compositions in the first Rock al Parque festival (1995). Rock al Parque is considered the most important open rock festival in the Americas.
Back on those days, his band was integrated by Ernesto Fernandez (Drums) and Esteban SantamarÃa (Bass Guitar).
In 1997 Abella releases his first demo recording -in tape format- RAKNAROK. Such recording spoted Abella as a respected artist in Bogotá and other cities of Colombia. Since then he has invested part of his time in his own guitar school.
In 1999 he was hired to be Professor of Electric Guitar at the Universidad Pedagogica Nacional. By the end of that year he releases his first album, NACIDOS PARA LA BATALLA, which was the first CD of the genre recorded in Colombia.
In the year of 2002 Abella was elected as BEST ROCK COMPOSER in the SHOCK magazine; in 2004 he was chosen as BEST ROCK GUITARIST from Colombia in the MTRES.NET online opinion poll (www.mtres.net). MTRES.NET is a Colombian rock music website.
During 2003, 2004 and 2005 Abella composes and records his second album, TINITUS, which was released on November 25, 2005. Along with TINITUS was released his first instructional DVD, GUITAR SKILLS, the first interactive guitar educational video produced in Colombia.
His style influences include artists such as VAN HALEN, JASON BECKER, FRANK ZAPPA. GARY MOORE, JEFF BECK and bands such as LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT, RUSH, TRIBAL TECH and PLANET X.
Nowadays, Tom Abella is Professor of Electric Guitar at the Universidad Distrital (ASAB or Academia Superior de Artes de Bogotá) and the School of Audio and Music FERNANDO SOR. He complements his educative exertion with guitar workshops all around Colombia.
