Well when i first heard this Elvis Costello tune it was the oh so cool drumming that attracted me to this song. Thomas had a way, a swagger that so suited Costello's style and as this groove shows he knew how to augment or should i say embelish a song. Thomas was recruited as a member of Costello's backing band The Attractions in 1977. Elvis Costello & The Attractions would spend the next decade touring the world, and recording nine albums, including Get Happy!! (1980), and Blood and Chocolate (1986).

Although Costello split with The Attractions between 1987 and 1993, he continued to work regularly with Thomas during this period. Thomas played drums on the albums Spike (1989), Mighty Like a Rose (1991), and Kojak Variety (recorded in 1990 but not released until 1995) and was a member of Costello's 1989-1991 touring band, The Rude 5.

Costello reunited with The Attractions for the albums Brutal Youth (1994) and All This Useless Beauty (1996).

In 2001 Costello recruited Thomas, Faragher, and fellow Attraction Steve Nieve to record the album that became When I Was Cruel (2002). Elvis Costello & The Imposters, as they were subsequently named, have gone on to tour extensively, and recorded the album The Delivery Man (2004).

Thomas lives in Los Angeles, with his wife Judy. Their daughter Tennessee is drummer for the band The Like. In 2003 Pete Thomas was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Elvis Costello & The Attractions.
[edit] Studio work

Over the years Pete Thomas has been an in demand session musician. Among his many credits include, drums for Graham Parker's 1991 album Struck By Lightning and 1992 album Burning Questions.

After Costello split with The Attractions for a second time, Thomas worked for the next few years primarily as a session drummer, recording with such artists as Suzanne Vega, Neil Finn, Vonda Shepard, Sheryl Crow, Fito Páez, Joaquín Sabina, Los Lobos, Wild Colonials, Matt Brown of 3 lb. Thrill, and John Paul Jones.

In 1993 Thomas joined the band Squeeze for their album Some Fantastic Place replacing Gilson Lavis on drums. He was not a part of that band after the one album.

In 1994, Thomas was part of a trio that included vocalist/avant garde opera diva, Diamanda Galás, and former Led Zeppelin bassist/multi-instrumentalist John Paul Jones, who recorded the album, The Sporting Life.