“The impact of the music of the Hippie Generation was enormous. It changed the way we think asindividuals and as a culture - even today. It brought more meaning to the lyrics than prior music like old R&R. It made people think about new ideas and new possibilities. It is true that, as a culture, we have gone back to old ways - mainly fueled by money and the need to feel safe but at least we know that there are other alternatives.“

Tom 'The Suit' Forst: Back To The Blues

Tom Forst is a renowned blues/rock guitarist and Hall of Fame recording artist known for his soulful sounds and electrifying performances. A finalist in the King Of The Blues contest and Blues Society awards, Tom has in the past also judged the prestigious yearly International Blues Challenge in Memphis. 'The Suit' has has performed with musicians ranging from Better Than Ezra, The Stephen Colbert Show Band, Roy Buchanan, Jose Feliciano, Joe Cocker, Robert Palmer, The Saturday Night Live Band, and The Dickey Betts Band; and has shared the stage with legendary acts like 3 Dog Night, Styx, and Marshall Tucker Band. With a massive following and over 600,000 views on YouTube, Tom 'The Suit' Forst continues to tour globally, from Memphis to Maine and Asia, leaving a trail of bluesy magic wherever he goes. Prolific guitarist Tom 'The Suit' Forst and Beyond 1969 drop their exciting video "Comin' Back To The Blues" on March 1, a musical prequel to the group's upcoming live in-studio, all-original album, Back To The Blues (Release Date: April 25, 2026).

(Photo: Tom 'The Suit' Forst)

“This video, like the album, is live -- we wanted to create a sound that was authentic and dynamic, which only a live presentation can deliver," explains Forst.  "We decided to record the title track of our upcoming album, Back To The Blues.  This song is a good example of what can be heard on this rock/blues album -- an all-original, ten-song recording in the spirit of Johnny Winter and Joe Bonammassa, live/in-studio!" Beyond 1969 was created to celebrate the best music of the iconic years of the hippie generation. The band has revisited and re- imagined the best songs of the era. Keeping true to the Woodstock years, Beyond 1969 also writes, records and performs original material. The group's  next, highly-awaited album arrives in 2026. Titled Back To The Blues, recorded at Connecticut’s #1 award-winning studio, Horizon Studios, under the watchful eye of owner/producer, Vic Steffens.

Interview by Michael Limnios                             Special Thanks: Doug Deutsch

How has the Rock Counterculture of the 1960s influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your life the most?

I grew up in a time when we were sure we could change the world. Although we had some impact - I’m afraid it has gone back to the focus it has always had - MONEY. I do believe the murder of Kennedy and King had the most impact on me because I realized that we kill good people who want to change. I know that sounds negative but it is also a reality that impacts my writing - and that is a good thing. I have written many songs over the yearsthat were preachy but have since learned that people make decisions that I might notunderstand but it is not my place to judge. Now I write songs that mostly allow the listener to decide on issues stated in the lyrics or decide on their side of the story. If you listen to my songs Goin’ Down or even Back To the Blues you will see that I write stories and bring up situations that happen to all of us. I believe those hippie years gave an understanding of human nature - the good the bad and the ugly. Some say my writing is dark and that’s true but, I feel that is reality too. Life is hard and it is good to know that so we can make wise decisions and more forward in a positive manner. I hope my lyrics reflect that feeling. Blues may seem to be negative and whinny but it is actually positive - saying that are bad now but we have HOPE.

“Music in general today leaves me uninspired. It is formulaic and lacks emotion. Technology like autotune takes centerstage with over produced songs. Lyrics seem to have taken a backseat to the beat. I miss the spontaneity of yesterday’s music where painting pictures through lyrics, dynamics and instrumentation came together as an impactful art form.” (Photo: Tom 'The Suit' Forst)

Currently you’ve one blues release titled “Back To The Blues”. How did your relationship with the Blues come about? What does the blues mean to you?

Growing up in the ‘60s and ‘70s I was listening to many genres of music - folk, psychedelic, country, rock, Motown, funk and of course, the foundations for all music - Blues. I was somewhat interested in traditional blues but felt disingenuous singing aboutpicking cotton. The original blues icons were singing about their real lives, experiencing hardships we could never comprehend today. I needed to hear the music from a modernframe of mind. This is one reason that I started writing my own lyrics to tell the stories of my contemporaries. We have different problems today that are not less important than they were at the beginning of the blues.

I really got enamored with the blues when electric blues came about. One of my favorite albums was ELECTRIC FLAG. Their music just grabbed me in a way that no other form had. I loved the power and emotion of Mike Bloomfield’s playing and felt that I needed to be an emotional player as well. As blues morphed into harder blues based music bandslike Led Zeppelin, Cream, Johnny Winter and, of course, Hendrix - I was hooked. I try every day take what they started and to build upon it.

Do you have any interesting stories about the making of the new album Back To The Blues? Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues?

The creative process to me is a stressful one. Unlike many of my fellow artists I tend to make the process hard on myself and maybe others. I strive for perfectionknowing that it is an impossible goal. The band: Tony Delisio, Jeff Caudle, Bryan Caudle have been great helps to make the process more enjoyable and more layback, not tomention more creative. We tended to take my basic arrangements and make them better during our practice sessions.

We had a great time at Horizon Studios under the watchful eye of Vic Steffens. On our second visit we set up and had trouble with our Headphone mixes. It gets a little testy when you think the other guy is too loud or not loud enough.

Because we were all in the same room we had to deal with ambient noise of the instruments - especially the drums, guitar and bass. Singing live was also a challenge.Man, we got on each other’s nerves demanding a headphone mix adjustment which took over an hour until we were satisfied. To add to the pressure - our drummer, Bryan fell going to his set and really hurt his back! He could barely move so we were going to reschedule and argued about it but decided to press ahead. That day we finished five songs! We owe it to the commitment of each person in the band, and Vic, because of ourcollectiveneed to create an album that we believe in.

“Growing up in the ‘60s and ‘70s I was listening to many genres of music - folk, psychedelic, country, rock, Motown, funk and of course, the foundations for all music - Blues. I was somewhat interested in traditional blues but felt disingenuous singing aboutpicking cotton. The original blues icons were singing about their real lives, experiencing hardships we could never comprehend today.” (Photo: Tom 'The Suit' Forst, a renowned blues/rock guitarist and Hall of Fame recording artist)

What do you personally consider to be the incisive moments and pieces in your work and/or career?

When I was 17 I was in a relationship with “the love of my life”. To my surprise I was accepted into a college (I was a terrible student) so I was making plans to go away to school. I realized that life was going to change for meand was excited to start a new chapter. That also meant meeting new girls! I was conflicted but decided that I needed to break of our relationship. I felt very guilty about it (still do) so, at that point I wrote a song called EVERYTHING IS FALLING. It was pure depressed emotion. The song was dormant for decades but, while doing my album WORLD OF BROKEN HEARTS I decided to resurrect it and recorded it with Saturday Night Live vocalist Christine Ohlman. It is different from the original but still has the emotional impact for me - and hopefully others. Our Youtube video of the song reached 265,000 views!

I have had an interesting life. Upon graduation I hit the road with a band and toured the US. I did that for about a year but realized that, although the world of drugs, sex and rockand roll was exciting it was also a killer. I decided to go back home - got married and went back to college to get a teaching degree. Then I was a 1st, 2nd and 4th grade teacherfor five years. I loved the kids but didn’t like the lack of freedom of the pay so I quit and went directly in to the business world. At first I was a failure and almost lost my house. I did eventually become successful in the Television advertising world and did that for about 20 years.

During these times I always played professionally and continued to write music - always with the hope that someday I could return full-time to music. That day came came 17 years ago on theday that we payed our last kid’s college tuition payment.

I quit my position and immediately went full-time working mainly in NYC - unbelievably, in HIPHOP Bands! I did that for years and then decided to turn my attention to my own music. I have several songs that reflect my life and decisions, tryingto interject parts of my experience into every lyric. For example, I am obsessed with trying to worship the song and to be more melodic when many guitarist are trying to beas fast as possible. A song that explains that need is PLAY LIKE THE KING from my last album - ON FIRE. It reminds the listener that the KINGS of the blues didn’t play fast they played with deep feeling.

DARKEST BEFORE DAWN - (co-written by Tony Delisio and myself) on this BACKTO THE BLUES album says that no matter how bad things look, the dawn will come and things will work out.

“Many musicians today want to show off their technical skills rather than make the song all that it can be. We decided not to use any outside musicians on BACK TO THE BLUES. We wanted the recording to be true to the musical communication and inspiration that each one of us brought to the recording session.” (Photo: Tom 'The Suit' Forst and Beyond 1969, celebrate the music of the hippie generation)

What is the impact of music and the Hippie Generation on socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

The impact of the music of the Hippie Generation was enormous. It changed the way we think asindividuals and as a culture - even today. It brought more meaning to the lyrics than prior music like old R&R. It made people think about new ideas and new possibilities. It is true that, as a culture, we have gone back to old ways - mainly fueled by money and the need to feel safe but at least we know that there are other alternatives. Our new album wants to explore alternatives and wants the listener to take from the messages what they deem to be important and useable. Many of our songs are about relationships but somehave political underpinnings. For example, IF I STAY WITH YOU TONIGHT initially can be perceived as a relationship song but has political undertones. Another great song on the album was written by Tony Delisio - WHEN IT ALL FALLS DOWN also has deep meaning. All the songs on the album hopefully will make the listener think.

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

Music in general today leaves me uninspired. It is formulaic and lacks emotion. Technology like autotune takes centerstage with over produced songs. Lyrics seem to have taken a backseat to the beat. I miss the spontaneity of yesterday’s music where painting pictures through lyrics, dynamics and instrumentation came together as an impactful art form.

I am very lucky to work with four amazing musicians: Tony Delisio, Jeff Bousfield and Bryan Caudle who understand that they play for the song. Many musicians today want to show off their technical skills rather than make the song all that it can be. We decided not to use any outside musicians on BACK TO THE BLUES. We wanted the recording to be true to the musical communication and inspiration that each one of us brought to the recording session. One of the reasons we wanted to perform the songs live/in-studio was to create that spontaneity in our music - warts and all. Our band name Beyond 1969 was named as a tribute to the iconic ‘60s and I hope that listeners feel the meeting of the past and present in our music!

“I have had an interesting life. Upon graduation I hit the road with a band and toured the US. I did that for about a year but realized that, although the world of drugs, sex and rockand roll was exciting it was also a killer. I decided to go back home - got married and went back to college to get a teaching degree.” (Photo: Tom 'The Suit' Forst)

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

The creative process and the music business take a boat load of patience. Everyone has heard about the overnight success who actually had been working themselves to death trying to quote, MAKE IT for decades! It is a known fact that some of the best and most proficient musicians out there will never be famous and will never be able to make a living in music. I am 74 and don’t think I will be asked to join a boy band anytime soon. My goals are less grandiose than some and (I hope) more likely to come about. I simply want people to hear my original music. I don’t want to be seen as a great guitarist or vocalist but hope that people talk about, and are inspired by, the songwriting. I have learned to make my goals and that of the band manageable so that we can focus on those goals. Jeff, Tony and Bryan are (thank God) normal and reasonable professionals who want the same thing out or music - to be heard by an appreciate audience who understand and get something worthwhile out of our music and performance.

How can a band/musician truly turn the blues and the 60s music into a commercial and popular genre of music for the today's audience?

I don’t have the magic sauce to give an absolute answer to the question. I do have some ideas though. I see hope from people like Joe Bonamassa who are extremely successful in the blues/rock arena. He is a wonderful marketer (and a wonderful performer) - which is paramount for success today. The days of playing some smokey club and waiting to be discovered by a record company are gone. With few exceptions, record companies bring little to the table except for their marketing and distribution power. Most musicians today do it all; marketing, promotion, recording - you name it. There are some successes like Joe that we focus on to glean from his strategies. This is a business that has, as its product, the creation of music. To get people to hear it you have to be a businessperson as well as an artist. Beyond 1969 spends a great deal of time and money on promotion and hiring professionals like Doug Deutsch to aid us in the marketing and promotion process. We believe that we can’t do it alone through social media and the like. Blues/rock needs to continue to change and evolve to be appreciated by younger ears. The subject matter and, likely the music, has to continually change to resonate with the next generations to stay alive and to be relevant. I don’t think that will happen with the rehash of traditional blues.

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(Photo: Tom 'The Suit' Forst)