Tommy Bolin A Sad Anniversary, 33 yrs ago today

[yngwie308]

It has been 33 years ago today that Tommy Bolin left this earth in a Miami hotel room..in some ways it feels like so long ago and in another sense it doesn't seem that long ago at all.

There is a good chance the newer generations aren't familiar with Tommy's work.

Born is Sioux City, Iowa, August 1, 1951, Tommy was influenced by Elvis, the Beach Boys and the Beatles, the many jazz artists such as Django Reinhardt, Wes Montgomery and blues artists like Albert King, whom his band Energy backed on many occasions.

Tommy moved to Colorado to find success in the music business, quickly making a name for himself, with his flair for the ability to play so many different styles and crossover seamlessly between them.

The band Zephyr with lead singer Candy Givens, was Tommy's first successful band, though he yearned to express himself as a musician in a greater role.

Upon the advice of his band mate in Energy, flautist Jeremy Steig, Tommy moved to New York City to seek further development of an already bright career. He met keyboardist Jan Hammer and drummer Billy Cobham and soon was asked to contribute to Billy's groundbreaking first solo album "Spectrum".

Though unable to read music, he was encouraged to be the guitarist, replacing a guitarist of the quality of John McLaughlin, whom Cobham and Hammer had just played with and was a huge influence on Tommy.

With the chords written out, Tommy in two days made one of the most astounding contributions to the new genre of jazz-rock fusion, virtually setting the bar so high, it has practically never been surpassed.

Particularly the track "Quadrant Four", Tommy took what was based on a 12 bar blues, but played up-tempo, at 212, and just ran with it.

His brilliant juxtaposition of Echoplex EP-3 and sustained notes, supplying an excitement and energy of a rock performance, to the playing of these jazz legends, mixing in pentatonic licks, Chuck Berry style double stops, and all the time intertwining with the fluid keyboard dynamics of Jan Hammer.

In fact later on, many couldn't tell when the guitar or keyboard started or stopped! Tommy ends with some incredible wah pedal techniques.

This particular track got the attention of people like Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Joe Walsh and practically every guitarist at the time.

Jeff's "Blow By Blow" and "Wired", were directly influenced by Becks own admission, by the spark delivered by this young player from Iowa.

Upon the recommendation of Joe Walsh, Tommy was picked to fill his shoes in The James Gang. in 1973.

Tommy supplied the majority of the material for their first album Bang, in fact Tommy's head was superimposed on the body of the previous guitarist in the cover photo, which had already been shot!

Tommy stayed with the Gang through 1974, completing one more album for them, the ominously titled Miami complete with its all black cover.

Tommy had started contributing lead vocals by this time and his voice was warm and emotive, adding yet another strong dimension, to the force to be reckoned with, the triple threat, songwriter, vocalist and killer guitarist.

The songs "Alexis" and "Spanish Lover", were two showcases for Tommy's new found vocal confidence.

In December 1974 he played on sessions for the drummer of Weather Report drummer Alphonse Mouzon, for the LP "Mind Transplant", "Golden Rainbows" and "Nitroglycerin" being the two outstanding tracks, with Tommy using his trademark Echoplex fills, with the addition of Tommy's brilliant slide guitar playing.

During negotiations for Tommy's first solo project, which would end up being the incomparable "Teaser", in April 1975, Ritchie Blackmore had left Deep Purple MK III. At the insistence of vocalist David Coverdale, Tommy who lived close by Coverdale, was brought in for an amazing audition, where the seasoned players of Deep Purple, Ian Paice and John Lord, were stunned by Tommy's energy and endless ideas for songs, right during the rehearsals.

Then it was off to Musicland Studios in Germany for the August recording of the debut album and only album of the MK IV lineup "Come Taste The Band".

Then Tommy was at Trident studios in London mixing Teaser.

The Deep Purple experience started out brilliantly, the first few gigs containing versions of the album tunes, that were in many cases, superior to the recorded versions. As the various legs of the tour developed, the cries for Blackmore and the outright hostility of the DP fans, particularly in the UK, caused Coverdale to resign after the Liverpool show, effectively bringing the sluggish behemoth that Purple had become, down to the ground, with a kill shot.

After the disbanding in the summer of 1976, Tommy started his favorite band according to the liner notes for the different sounding second solo album Private Eyes.

Tommy came to Miami3 days before his first gig of an exciting tour as support to the Jeff Beck Group, featuring Jan Hammer and Fernando Saunders.

There continues to be much speculation about what happened after the show at the Jai Alai Auditorium on December 3rd, but Tommy had a great show and was on stage with Jeff Beck, probably one of the highlights of Tommy's life.

Sadly there weren't many hours left for Tommy to live, I have heard all the versions of those who were there and still the only true fact is that everyone in his band/crew abandoned his body at the motel, leaving the police to find his body in suspicious circumstances.Tommy was only 25 years old.

That Tommy had severe issues with alcohol and laterally drugs, was common knowledge to all those in his circle, yet even with a 'bodyguard' appointed by his management, the inevitable happened.

I have recently been re-researching Tommy's music and career and have been even more acutely aware of the tragedy that need not have happened.

Such a trailblazer, one who played on the musical edge, like his hero Jimi Hendrix, Tommy clearly worked without a net and created music that will live on indefinitely. He had such a great sense of rhythm and melody and a unique style of guitar playing that has not been equaled in my opinion.

God Bless you Tommy, play on brother...

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g219/dav...in/4bda9c2c.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g219/dav...in/5fc61a39.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g219/dav...in/4dc01c3c.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g219/dav...in/4848120d.jpg

yngwie308

[specialk]

Thank you for this, yngwie.

I can't believe it's been so long. Wow, what a lost talent. I'm a very big fan of Private Eyes and Teaser, but I didn't know he played on Spectrum. I haven't listened to that in decades, now I'll have to go find a copy. What a work that album was.

RIP, Tommy.

[Steve Haynie]

For those who admire Tommy Bolin's tone:

Tommy Bolin Fuzz Pedal

[Scottcrud]

Shake the Devil is a complete ASS-Kicker. I loved Tommy Bolins playing.

[HSB0531]

Thanks Yngwie.

[Ethan]

RIP I listen to the "Spectrum" album all the time.

[Len]

R.I.P. TB Thanks for the thread Dave ....

[Hamertoe]

My heart sunk on the morning of Dec. 6, '76 as I was walking out the door to go to work Rona Barrett was reporting his death on Good Morning America. I came to know Tommy from Bang & Miami James Gang albums. I looked forward to Teaser and bought it on it's release day. I couldn't wait to get home & spin that record and it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up because I was so moved from start to finish.

I was thrilled with it and knew more good music would come from him. Private Eyes was good, so were all his Moxy/Zephyr/Cobham outings previously but realizing that he passed and his catalog ended right there was astonishing for me and I'm sure many others. Sad, sad times but he's left a fantastic load of chops that are enjoyed to this day. We're blessed to have had him at all. Thanks for posting, I always remember when his anniversary comes around but it's nice to have others to reminisce with. RIP Tommy.

[santellavision]

It is a sad day. I was lucky enough to own one of his Strats. It was one of his backup instruments. I got it about 20 years ago out in Boulder. Its now back with his brother Johnnie. Pretty cool guitar. It was a black '70 Strat with '50's pickups, sanded neck and a bent tuner. Tommy's old tech, Dave Brown came over and remembered it as soon as he saw it. (David lived about 15 min away in Evergreen, CO) It was Tommy's, so Johnnie & I worked out a deal to get it back to the family. Here's a pic for you fans.

[ajay315]

RIP Tommy.

One of my favorite players. He could play write and sing with the best of them.

[marcnorth]

He was great with James Gang and anyone else he played with.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK8Uu-_hmTQ

[BruceM]

Thanks for all the info. I was a big fan of the two solo albums back in the day. I also used to have the DP Come Taste the Band CD, but I can't find it anymore.

Great stuff from Tommy.

[yngwie308]

Thanks for the picture of one of Tommy's Strat's!

Tommy has always been one of my biggest influences, just listen to Teaser again or the cuts from Spectrum particularly Quadrant 4, musically to me it is the equivalent of that guy walking the tightrope between the poor unfortunate World Trade Towers...

http://s57.photobucket.com/albums/g219/dav.../Tommy%20Bolin/

As far as recreations of Tommy's tone, this one gets my vote:

I used to have an EP-3, which I bought as a direct result of listening to Tommy, he was a master of using one live and with his brilliant slide work, he was a major force in music.

Jol has told the story of how he gave Tommy his Ultimate t-shirt and Tommy had a Hamer, yes !

These are my faded clipping from Rolling Stone magazine, that I saved:

This clip is all I had heard from the MK IV lineup for many years, Tommy isn't even there on stage, I bought the album on import from Japan called "Last Concert in Japan", I was very disappointed, but if you listen to the rehearsals of the MK IV lineup and the first few California gigs, Tommy was brilliant!!

Here is some Teaser material:

The Don Kirshner's Rock Concert show from 1974, the dynamics of the band are sadly evident in these clips, Tommy had just come off playing in Spectrum and could have gone in a much different direction, though Bang by the Gang is mostly Tommy's material:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO3l8pdOjsA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsRkBokQH2E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6k9wEsqgho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpiuYqLvLZw

The funny thing about these clips is how blind Tommy was without his glasses, as related by the other members of the James Gang!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRj02qk1K0o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USnlDY7dCik...feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5MdUS-MOLw

Possibly the earliest solo of Tommy on video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJToq2y8x-4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO3U9_zEkJE...feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfTkWna8swA...feature=related

This is from the MK IV's best live performance at Long Beach:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOr0tq5j4KQ...feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sbc6Y7F6lFE...feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_-i3v5TrR0...feature=related

Here is a mega rare version of Red Skies, which Tommy used on the "Miami" album, but this was a song from back in the Energy days, with a poorly mixed vocal from Tommy, but rare, what guitar playing!!!

I will post the scan of the Hamer!

Dave

[GaryT]

It is a sad day. I was lucky enough to own one of his Strats. It was one of his backup instruments. I got it about 20 years ago out in Boulder. Its now back with his brother Johnnie. Pretty cool guitar. It was a black '70 Strat with '50's pickups, sanded neck and a bent tuner. Tommy's old tech, Dave Brown came over and remembered it as soon as he saw it. (David lived about 15 min away in Evergreen, CO) It was Tommy's, so Johnnie & I worked out a deal to get it back to the family. Here's a pic for you fans.

Interesting story about the guitar and the info on his life. First time I heard the story about what actually happened to him.

Sounds to me, like the couple guys he went into the bathroom with, probly gave him the Dope that overdosed him. Sounds like he was OK to that point? And I doubt they knew anything about the drugs he already had in him.

[yngwie308]

Here is Tommy's Hamer..

As far as what happened that fateful night/morning, two guys from LA came out to Florida with cocaine and heroin..because Tommy had no money to cop in Miami, these two guys even showed up at his funeral..unbelievable.

Tommy had a huge alcohol level on board, had been partying for the three days prior to the show and according to the recent book on Tommy, his 'friends' who were him, found him in a different position with a needle sticking out of his arm and it appeared that someone else had shot up Tommy causing the last overdose, he had already overdosed at least twice that evening, no one would call for help as his career would be ruined and as for the 'bodyguard' he held the others at gunpoint, not allowing them to call for medical help??

The whole thing is a horrible end and a story that I find all to familiar with these hangers on and 'friends'.

That they all took off, including Dave Brown and left his body to be found alone.

I don't want to honor this thread with all the sordid details, it was intended as a tribute to Tommy's life, sure he burned it at both ends, I partied the same way, sans needles myself, the only reason I am still alive is that I had quit drinking and during my heavy cocaine use, I rode it out without the anesthetic of alcohol or downs to slow down my heart..clean and sober since 2001.

How he could play so incredibly well while drinking or high, is testament to his incredible ability, so was Jimi able to do so..

I had been researching some of Tommy's gear and received no reply from Greg Hampton and that crew, maybe someone could put me in touch with Dave Brown or his brother?

yngwie308

[yngwie308]

The last player to jam with Tommy on that fateful night and one of Jeff's strongest influences, this is Stratus from Billy Cobham's Spectrum album:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiOG6_A6GWQ...feature=related

yngwie308