TOMISLAV MILICEVIC BIOGRAPHY
He was born...
Tomislav Miličević aka Tomo is born September 3, 1979 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, He is currently the lead guitarist in the L.A.-based alternative rock band 30 Seconds to Mars. Tomo has a brother, Filip Miličević, and their sister is actress Ivana Milicevic
Tomo practiced to become a concert violinist, he started to play when he was 3 years old until he turned 19. Then he discovered heavy metal. He told his father that he wanted to play the guitar, so they made one together. His uncle, Željko “Bill” Miličević, is a virtuoso violinist and orchestra teacher at Farmington High School in Farmington, Michigan. Tomo has been playing guitar professionally for years. He started writing his own music by the age of 17.
Tomo practiced to become a concert violinist, he started to play when he was 3 years old until he turned 19. Then he discovered heavy metal. He told his father that he wanted to play the guitar, so they made one together. His uncle, Željko “Bill” Miličević, is a virtuoso violinist and orchestra teacher at Farmington High School in Farmington, Michigan. Tomo has been playing guitar professionally for years. He started writing his own music by the age of 17.
He went to culinary school and finally graduated as an executive and pastry chef, but music stayed his true passion. He played for a time with a local band from Michigan, called Morphic.
He decided then to definitively leave the music business and to sell all his instruments. It is at that time that Shannon Leto, told him about an audition for 30 Seconds to Mars, because Solon Bixler left the band. Tomo was already one of their biggest fans since the beginning. He was selected amongst 200 musicians, first for his talent, but also for his kindness and personality. Five days later, 3. February 2003, he played with Jared Leto, Shannon Leto and Matt Wachter on the The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn.
He decided then to definitively leave the music business and to sell all his instruments. It is at that time that Shannon Leto, told him about an audition for 30 Seconds to Mars, because Solon Bixler left the band. Tomo was already one of their biggest fans since the beginning. He was selected amongst 200 musicians, first for his talent, but also for his kindness and personality. Five days later, 3. February 2003, he played with Jared Leto, Shannon Leto and Matt Wachter on the The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn.
Tomo and 30 seconds To Mars...
Tomo : " I was a huge fan of the band before I joined and when the oppportunity came up to audition for the band came up, I really couldn't believe it to be honest and I wasn't really sure if it was actually in the room playing with the guys and I couldn't believe it. It was what i wanted more than anything, and i wasn't going to let anyone stop me from getting it... so I worked really hard, I mean to describe 30 Seconds to Mars you have to realize that it’s so much more than a band or just music. Music is just one part of what 30 Seconds to Mars is all about and it took me a long time to really get what Jared and Shannon were trying to do, you know obviously I wasn’t there for the beginning of the band or the creation of the idea of the band. So it took me a really long time to realize what they were trying to accomplish with this. And what it is it’s a community, 30 Seconds to Mars is all about a shared experience. It’s all about having a shared experience and creating this world where we can all escape to for at least a short time. I really feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world because I love Jared’s songwriting and music and the vibe that he creates in the studio, it’s something that I could never have done on my own and it took me a long time to realize that. I feel really lucky that I got to be part of it, I feel really grateful. 30 Seconds to Mars is all about community and a shared experience and visual art, music, and just kind of sharing this ride with everyone that’s interested in participating."
Tomo uses...
- Guitars: Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony, Fender Jazzmaster (He is left-handed, but plays guitar right-handed)
- Pickups: 490R Alnico magnet humbucker, 498T Alnico magnet humbucker
- Tuners: Grover Keystone
- Amps: Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier with Mesa Boogie Cabinet
- Pedals: Boss Super Chorus SC1, Digitech Whammy, Boss DD20 Giga Delay, Boss FZ5 Fuzz Pedal, Digitech Bad Monkey, Boss Chromatic Tuner, Boss BF3 Flanger, Ernie Ball Volume Pedal, Boss RC20XL
- Apron, Rolling Pin, Spatula, Hand mixer