Tom Sturm, 51, of Easthampton, has been playing music since he was 12. Playing and fronting a variety of Valley bands, with names like Birthmark, Antihero and Big Ugly Wrench, Sturm says he has played more genres of music than he can name. But things changed when he had a child, who is now 9 years old. Evenings that he once spent playing out were spent at home parenting, and he looked for a way to combine music and family.
He came up with becoming a children’s musician, and the result was Snackbeard, the only pirate with a beard made out of Cheetos, pretzels and other salty treats.
A former writer and editor for the Valley Advocate from 2006 to 2013, Sturm says writing for the album he released as Snackbeard just involved probing his imagination for what the pirate’s life might be like.
The album, which came out in 2018, is available at snackbeard.bandcamp.com/releases. Here are his answers to our probing questions — in the voice of Snackbeard, of course.
Full Name: William Fritosworth Snackington III
People Know You As: Snackbeard
Place of Birth: London Slum
Town of Residence: Easthampton
Favorite Thing About Where You Live: The water!
Job: Singing Pirate (snack-themed)
Favorite Book: Moby Stick (tale of the great white pretzel)
Song You Know Front to Back: Hundreds!
First Concert: The Meltdown!
Favorite Place You Performed At: Forbes Library! Always packed and they’re so nice.
Favorite Items of Clothing to Pair: Earrings and my superbly intricate trench coat.
Favorite Meal: Salmagundi
Best Advice a Family Member Gave You: Drop out of law school
If You Could Vacation Anywhere…: Tortuga
If You Could Live Anywhere…: Port Royal
Favorite Sea Creature: KRAKEN
Best Gift You Ever Received: An amazing ship’s wheel I got from Frankie at Sassy Pants Vintage after playing a splendid “grownup” birthday party! It comes to all me gigs now.
Favorite Television Show: Game of Scones
Favorite Movie: Jaws 3 (in 3D)
Favorite Broadway Play: The Pirates of Penzance
Hidden Talent: Parkour
Bad Habits: Rum, carousing, excess sodium
Favorite Smell: See above
Best Teacher You Ever Had: Captain Adderly
Favorite Holiday: Talk Like a Pirate Day!
Dream Car: Stingray
Favorite Snack: Pirate Booty!
If You Could Converse With Anyone Alive…: All of ye!
If You Could Converse With Anyone Dead…: Davey Jones
Favorite Fast Food Restaurant: Mako Bell
Favorite Color: Black
Favorite Fashion Trend Ever: Cummerbunds
Up Late or Up Early: Yes
Best Way to Start the Morning: Flavor-blasted Goldfish
Best Place to People Watch: Port Royal
Favorite Season: Salt. (Okay that’s more of a seasoning than a season).
Least Favorite State in the U.S.: Sober.
Dave Eisenstadter contributed to this story.