Hard rockers gather to honor Tommy Kollman

Toledo native Jeff Kollman returns to Toledo to participate in a memorial concert for his brother Tommy who was killed last year in Florida.

Collaborator, producer, guitarist Jeff Kollman is coming to Toledo from Los Angeles to help organize this weekend's concerts.

Toledo’s hard rock royalty will gather this weekend to memorialize Tommy Kollman, their fellow musician, brother, and buddy who was shot and killed last year by a law enforcement officer in Fort Myers Beach, Fla.

Jeff Kollman, an in-demand session guitarist, solo artist and member of several bands will return from his Los Angeles home to help organize the memorial concerts Friday and Saturday.

The Kollman brothers lived in Toledo for about 28 years before moving away. Tommy Kollman played drums with Edwin Dare and Jeff is in the Bombastic Meatbats with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, and has a busy career as a solo artist and sideman.

He has just released a solo album called “Silence in the Corridor” and also plays in a version of the band Asia along with working with his own band Cosmosquad.

After Toledoans heard about Tommy’s death last year, Jeff Kollman said there were numerous requests to honor him.

“I’ve had such an outpouring of people who wanted to have some sort of get together and I’m always drawn to come back to Toledo and play,” he said in a telephone interview.

Tommy Kollman

Tommy Kollman, 48, was shot and killed by a Lee’s County sheriff’s deputy in the early morning hours of Dec. 15. 

A deputy pulled Kollman over and claimed that he had a pipe used to smoke crack cocaine and a gun. 

However, Kollman’s friends and brother said he wasn’t a drug user, nor did he carry a gun.

“The whole community is absolutely floored by the story that was fed to them,” Jeff Kollman said.

The incident is under investigation. There is a Facebook page titled “Justice For Tommy Kollman” and several rallies have been held in Fort Myers Beach seeking more facts about the case.

Jeff Kollman said he has visited Fort Myers Beach and is pushing authorities there to conduct an independent investigation of his brother’s death.

Shows will be Friday and Saturday at the Rocket Bar, 135 S. Byrne Rd. Kollman will play with Cosmosquad and special guests will play both nights, including members of the Toledo band Damien. There is a $15 cover charge both nights, but if someone attends Friday they can come back Saturday for $5. Doors open at 8 both nights and music starts at 9.

Contact Rod Lockwood atrlockwood@theblade.com or 419-724-6159.