Tommy joined No Hot Ashes in 1987, filling the sizeable shoes of Eamon Nancarrow, until the band split in 1990. He recorded the one and only No Hot Ashes album in a number of top London Studios, before returning home to Belfast to spend more time with his young family.
He continued to gig with bands like Paper Club and Upright Men until he co-founded Power of Ten in 1992, back playing with some of his ex No Hot Ashes friends, with whom he played until 1994. Tommy also performed at the Song for Ireland competition coming second with his vocal abilities singing a song by Tony Adams, and continued playing in a number of bands until forming Graffiti with the original four members of Power of Ten.