30/06/2025
Gutted and extremely sad to learn of the passing of one of my best friends, the inestimable Tom Hailey. I've known Tom since the mid '90s, and we've only gotten closer over the years. This was made easier when I moved to Greensboro in 2011 and was able to spend a lot more time with him. I got to see Tom a lot this past year, especially, and now he's gone. There's a void in my life that will never be filled. And that's okay. Tom is worth that pain.
Tom was the best friend any animal could have, and that's what I admired about him most. He and his wife, Cathy, exclusively adopted only the most un-adoptable cats, and they toiled, daily, with nothing but love, to make sure their babies had the most wonderful life possible.
Tom was also one of my favorite people to discuss music with... Judas Priest, The Chameleons, Everything Everything, Thin Lizzy, Nuclear Death, Fates Warning, Blasphemy, Morrissey, Crimson Glory, Dokken, Morbid Angel, Hawkwind, Split Enz, The Champs, Kiss, Bathory and what became the triumvirate for us and our friendship: Die Kreuzen, Trouble and Voivod. And others...the list is a very long one.
I'm gonna miss Tom Hailey so much. I loved him and always will. I wish his amazing wife Cathy and his other family members a whole lot of peace, love and support through this.
If you knew Tom, please leave a remembrance here. If you didn't know Tom, well...your loss.
Hail Hailey!
