[2] Following early work with Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers and John Stewart, Thomas was recruited as a member of Costello's backing band the Attractions in 1977.

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.

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,[3] Neil Finn, Richard Thompson, Vonda Shepard, Mikel Erentxun, Sheryl Crow,[5] Fito Páez, Joaquín Sabina, Los Lobos,[5] Wild Colonials, Matt Brown of 3 lb.

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.

[3] Thomas currently plays local Los Angeles gigs with bassist Davey Faragher and guitarist Val McCallum, under the band name Jackshit.

[3] The band described him as "saving the day" when their usual drummer Matt Helders broke his hand after punching a wall while drunk during recording sessions for the album.

In 2015, Thomas played drums and percussion on award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Leeroy Stagger's critically acclaimed album Love Versus.

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