Chris Simmons

Chris Simmons will make you feel his emotion and heart in every note he plays. His career began at 15, touring the southeast playing southern rock and blues in bars and house parties. In 2001, Chris moved to Austin, Texas and played the legendary venues there with his band Ultrasonic. After a move to Los Angeles he joined Leon Russell's band, touring the world as his lead guitarist for five years. Chris is now back in Alabama, making his home in Lacey's Springs. He has released four solo albums - Old News To Me, Hallelujah Man, Set Me On Free, and The Blues Days Of Christmas. He continues the tradition of Alabama blues, rock, and soul in the Paul Thorn Band and we are delighted to have him!
Photo by Jeff Insel

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Dr. Love

Also known as Michael Graham, The Doctor is an accomplished musician (guitar, keyboards, and probably other stuff we don’t know about), audio engineer, and bon vivant who hails from New Albany, Mississippi. When he is not on the road playing a variety of Nord keyboards with the Paul Thorn Band, he is in the studio engineering and editing records, podcasts, DVDs, and all other things audio. As a matter of fact, Michael has engineered most of Paul's audio and video projects. In addition to being a super-talented individual, Dr. Love is the organization’s resident expert.

Scott Esbeck

Edvard Scott Esbeck plays bass and is the newest member of the Paul Thorn Band. He is about to celebrate his two-year anniversary, having successfully survived the band's rigorous 18-month probationary period. Scott currently resides in Des Moines, Iowa, having recently returned to his home state after lengthy stints in Nashville, Austin, and most recently California. He first crossed paths with the members of the Paul Thorn Band back in the late 1900s while playing with Charlie Robison and the Enablers. Over the years, Scott has shared stages with Bruce Robison, Kelly Willis, Reckless Kelly, and literally dozens of bands you’ve never heard of - and a few you probably have, though you might not recognize him because he no longer performs in a Mexican wrestling mask. When he’s not touring with PTB or cruising the high seas, Scott enjoys boating, riding anything with two wheels (pedaled or powered), and repairing his house and collection of vintage family automobiles - again, and again, and again.
Photo by Jeff Insel

Jeffrey Perkins

Jeffrey Perkins has held the drum seat for the Paul Thorn Band since 1997. He was born in Chicago, Illinois and grew up playing football and drumming in several bands before moving to Nashville. Jeffrey's 30-plus year career includes stints with a diverse group of notable acts such as The Dusters, Billy Joe Shaver, Rayon City Quartet, Etta and Bob Britt, John Jorgenson (guitarist with Elton John), and Hank Williams Jr, along with numerous other singer/songwriters and bands. All of this has resulted in logging many hours on the road, in the studio, on radio and TV shows, and to this moment, non-stop merriment with Paul and the fellows. Jeffrey is an endorser of Innovative Percussion drumsticks, Paiste cymbals, and Evans drumheads. He owns five drum kits (anchored by his Slingerland Radio Kings), countless snare drums, and all sorts of other percussive foolishness.