Meet Hector Samuel Juan Tico Torres

Birth name: Hector Samuel Juan Tico Torres
Goes by: Tico Torres
Nickname(s): T, Tic, and Hitman
Height: 5'6
Birthday: October 7, 1953
Birth place: New York
Position: Drummer and percussionist
Years active: 1983 - present

Tico was born on October 7, 1953 in New York. His parents moved from Cuba to the US in 1949. Tico grew up knowing Spanish. He dropped it after a while but re-learned to talk to his grandparents in Cuba. He grew up in Woodbridge, New Jersey. He was a jazz fan in his youth and studied music with Joe Morello. He played drums for the psychodelic rock band Six Feet Under in 1969. Before joining Bon Jovi, he had already played live with Joe Cerisano, A.K.A. Silver Condor, in the New Jersey Rock circuit and in the studio with Frankie and the Knockouts, Pat Benatar, Chuck Berry, Cher, Alice Cooper, and Stevie Nicks, recording a total of 26 albums with these artists. Tico met Alec while playing in a band called Phantom's Opera. It was this friendship that led to him joining Bon Jovi. When Jon approached him, he was put off by the fact that Jon was 9 years younger than him. Despite that, he said that it was Jon's charismatic appearance and watching him perform that convinced him to join the band.

Before joining Bon Jovi, he had divorced his first wife. Tico discovered another talent: painting. He has been exhibiting his work since 1994. And might I say, they're really impressive! Who knew a drummer of a hard rock/hair/glam metal band from New York and grew up in New Jersey would be able to paint like that! Two years later, he married his second wife, Czech-born model Eva Herzigova. The ceremony was attended by close friends and family including Donald Trump and the band. The band serenaded the two with their song, "Always". The marriage ended two years later. Tico got married once again in September 2001 to Maria Alejandra. They have a son named Hector Alexander, who was born on January 9, 2004.

A little known fact about Tico is that he CAN sing. He has done backup vocals in "Born to be My Baby" and "Love for Sale". He did the lead vocals for "Only in My Dreams", which can be found on the 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong boxset. In one of the three videos for "Who Says You Can't Go Home", while everybody else is painting a wall a solid color, Tico is seen at the other end of the room painting an extravagent picture of a house surrounded by a multi-colored heart on the same wall.