Posts by Gordo

Great remix by Kevin Shirley. Bolin is front/centre in the mix. 2 Thumbs UP !!

G

Quote from willem

From the Highway Star:

A reissue of "RISES OVER JAPAN" does Tommy Bolin no favours whatsoever. I think the reason for the delay is that they are trying to get the "FULL SHOW" , especially if you could get the 2 better songs from the Japan show -- WILD DOGS and GETTING TIGHTER. How they ever edited this show down to 30 minutes is beyond comprehension. (Losing the Master to the FULL SHOW>) IF you add the better songs THAN this reissue would be worthy a purchase. OTHERWISE, it doesn't do Bolin any favours at all. The best song on the ORIGINAL is YOU KEEP ON MOVING. It won't sell in the original form, even with all the interviews, etc. Hopefully, they do find the extras or the FULL concert that they are digging for somewhere in a Japanese TV station near you. Wishing them well in this valid search. The Wild Dogs solo on video would be a very worthy moment , indeed. A stellar guitar solo.

Quote from David

Glenn just issued this statement regarding Greg's book, Touched By Magic: The Tommy Bolin Story...

I 'm a songwriter because of how Bolin's NAKED release impacted my musical journey.

Gordo
www.myspace.com/cupidville

10 Original song posted

Quote from wolfysmith

Here's the Tommy Bolin/Mk4 feature

Thank you for posting this GREAT article. Very cool.

G

Hughes is the Doctor of SOUL

I did a version Holyman on my CD "SOULJOINT".

I luv Glenn's Original Holyman off of Strombringer


Gordo

Thx for posting the info. It really sounds like the artiicle has fallen short of the mark. But it's better than no article at all.

Glad to see Glenn Hughes contribute to the article. Class act all the way.

G

REVIEW: Inside Deep Purple 1974 - 1976 DVD


Doogie White and Rob Corich on Tommy Bolin

Doogie White (Musician, Vocalist, Former Rainbow Lead Singer)
Was to the point, he thought CTTB album was a timeless piece of Rock N Roll. Really liked Tommy's guitar work on the album as well. He also alluded to having the privilage of seeing Tommy Bolin with DP in Glasgow (Mar 76) as a young teenager. He talked about how well Tommy Bolin 's stage presence went over at that gig. He loved Tommy's guitar licks and the way he played during that nite; He described how Tommy had his Cowboy hat and ULITIMATE tshirt ON and his legs spread apart and his attack during the whole evening. Glenn Hughes introduced "Tommy" before the guitar seque part as "The World 's greatest guitar player!!!!!) Which according to Dougie White, didn't help stop the CAT CALLS for Blackmore during the evening. But Doogie gave Tommy a THUMBS UP for CTTB and his live perfromance polish and hollywood antics in the front row. Tommy was marvellous according to Doogie and he had to put up with the Cat Calls for Blackmore the whole nite long but despite that Bolin put on a great performance. Doogie went record to say he knew his opinion of the gig and Tommy in DP would be unpopular with many but that 's how he felt about it.


Rob Corich: (Hybrid Producer) Amazing overview of Tommy Bolin's abilities in the studio and LIVE with DP. He adored the album CTTB and thought Tommy Bolin was stunningly awesome as a LIVE player with Deep Purple, at least the gig he went to during the DP tour with Tommy Bolin. He must know something in the fact that he produces bands (Gentle Giant, Uriah Heep and Nazareth ,,,,just to name a few) He liked Tommy 's approach to recognizing that he probably couldn't copy the Blackmore style and decided to put his own twist on the older MK II tunes. He enjoyed the Bolin energy at the DP gigs. Very cool and insightful, and yet honest comments about Tommy's up and downs. He also rated CTTB over Stormbringer and Burn.

REVIEW: Inside Deep Purple 1974 - 76

For the most part it's really a mixed bag of opinions and comments with live footage mixed into the opus of all things DP during this time period. The MK III footage features Blackmore playing a extend intro for Space Truckin. Very different, indeed. A few short clips of interviews of Coverdale, Blackmore and Lord ..... It appears to be from the Leeds gig.

The Critics Gallery Review:
TOMMY VANCE: The short historical verbage from Tommy Vance is the worst commentary I've ever had to stomach, pure garbage. And a man with the ego the size of London.

Bob Carruthers, at times seemed to be out of touch with why they picked Tommy Bolin, and clearly underestimates Tommy acumen as a artist, although he did give CTTB a thumbs up. Thought Last Concert in Japan was short of the mark as a DP album but if it was another band it was alright. But DP had a higher standard to be held up to ...... Apparantly he hadn't heard of the complete version either,,,, "THIS TIME AROUND". He pointed out the fact that Bolin was too inconsistant with the LIVE performances based on his listening to audio tapes of that era of DP.

Malcom Dome -- Very insightful, intelligent approach and understood Tommy 's talent and liked the album CTTB. A brillant scope of what was going on despite his lack of updated details on the "INSIDE" stuff of what was going down.

Doogie White (Musician, Vocalist, Former Rainbow Lead Singer)
Was to the point, he thought CTTB album was a timeless piece of Rock N Roll. Really liked Tommy's guitar work on the album as well. He also alluded to having the privilage of seeing Tommy Bolin with DP in Glasgow (Mar 76) as a young teenager. He talked about how well Tommy Bolin 's stage presence went over really well at that gig. He loved Tommy's guitar licks and the way he played during that nite; He described how Tommy had his Cowboy hat on and the ULITIMATE tshirt ON and his legs spread apart and his attack during the whole evening. Glenn Hughes introduced "Tommy" before the guitar seque part as "The World 's greatest guitar player!!!!!) Which according to Dougie White, didn't help stop the CAT CALLS for Blackmore during the evening. But Doogie gave Tommy a THUMBS UP for CTTB and his live perfromance polish and hollywood antics in the front row. Tommy was marvellous.

Rob Corich: Amazing overview of Tommy Bolin's abilities in the studio and LIVE with DP. He adored the album CTTB and though Tommy Bolin was stunningly awesome as a LIVE player with Deep Purple, at least the gig he went to during the DP tour with Tommy Bolin. He must know something in the fact that he produces bands (Gentle Giant, Uriah Heep and Nazareth ,,,,just to name a few) He liked Tommy 's approach to recognizing that he probably couldn't copy the Blackmore style and decided to put his own twist on the older MK II tunes. He enjoyed the Bolin energy at the DP gigs. Very cool and insightful, and yet honest comments about Tommy's up and downs. He also rated CTTB over Stormbringer and Burn.

Jerry Ewing: Liked CTTB and thought it was a solid album but really wasn't a DP album as it was more experimental. Tommy was good in the studio but he bought into the fact he felt Tommy didn't play LIVE that well with this band. He went on about Last Concert in Japan and how Martin Birch saved the day by editing the concert tape down to the best 30 minutes, ,,,,,,, I guess he hadn't really heard about the full release of "THIS TIME AROUND" with the full concert included. If he had he would perhaps at least walked away more educated.

Jerry Bloom: Liked CTTB ,,,,, just didn't feel that it was a DP album. Bought into the thingy of Bolin not being a great live performer with this band. Frankly, i was surprised at his lack of research for the Bolin lineup as he has bought in alot of the myths that surround this band without doing the prime research work that should come from an "Expert of all things DP". Stunningly short sighted from a lack of knowledge on this lineup. Jerry, you can get a hold of me thru John Herdt or just visit the History section of this site or the INTERVIEW section or the Articcles Section of this sight to get a quick update of all things DP with Bolin.

Lastly, it's unfortunate that they didn't go across the pond and get someone like John Herdt or Sal Serio to give a more balanced view in all things Tommy Bolin.
Thoroughly enjoyed Dougie White and Rob Corich's honest about Tommy Bolin wonderful talents as a live player in DP. They are a few on the panel that actually had the pleasure and truth of seeing MR Hollywood, The Kid, LIVE with DP. The other critics stuck to the myth of Last Concert in Japan, the myth of Liverpool. And felt compelled to not do the research that should have been done before they shot the video?? Perplexed?? You bet. What this DVD really needed was comments about Tommy Bolin from the members of the band at the time about TOMMY BOLIN. Never happened. What you are left with is really a mixed bag of opinions aside from the straight out truths of Rob Corich and Doogie White ,,,,, who just tell the truth about how wonderful Tommy Bolin was as an artist in DP.

You either loved Tommy in the UK tour or hated him. I compare the UK tour to the last Elvis tour. Elvis was a mess on drugs but could still sing wonderfully at times; comparatively, Tommy Bolin was messed up with the substance thingy but could still play the guitar ,, and on some nites ,, extremely well.

PS
The DVD footage shows a brief clip of DP and Bolin playing Stormbringer LIVE and much of the footage is taken from DP Rises Over Japan. Frankly the VHS over to DVD does clean up the footage a bit but it's dissappointing for sure.

Great Pix,,,, of Glenn and alot of other DPville folks. Thx U Ellis for SHARING these ...... A WOWville moment .....Especiailly the Pix of Tommy Bolin...... Looks like the second nite at Wembley ...... Some Pix I never seen before of Tommy Bolin.


Very cool

Gordo

RE: Who's really at the Liverpool Royal Infirmiary?? Memory and recollection verus and accurate account??

Quote from Keith Thompson

Hello Ian - I was at the last Purple gig in Liverpool 76. I did a review on Highway Star and scanned in my programme on ghpg.net. Email me at keith@effective-publicity.com if you need any info. Cheers.

keith,

It's great that you provided a detailed review of the gig. But I think I should point out to you that you lose alot of credibility when you write about songs that didn't appear on the setlist at all on that England tour. Namely, "You Keep on Moving". Was it real or a concert you want to remember in your head. We all know Tommy had problems but from the audio tape it's Glenn and David that present the biggest hurdles for the nite in question at Liverpool. Tommy 's problem that nite was the GOD like following Blackmore had in England and if you were in the front row you would have seen and heard the amount barracking that Jon Lord talks about that happened between Tommy and the Bristish fans throughout the tour ,,,,, that coupled with Bolin drug problems and substance abuse problem. It is the last show that Jon had to carry or force Glenn Hughes onstage more than once. Bolin's worst nite on the tour was the first gig at Wembley where he had to be carried onstage to play.

Keithville qoute from his review at Highwaystar.
"He still remains one of my heroes but it still chokes me to say that he should have been in Liverpool Royal Infirmiary that night. I think it was on "You Keep On Moving" (sung well enough as usual by Glenn), that Tommy stood almost motionless on the front of the stage with a little guitar synth which went "woingggggg" when he managed to find a decent note."" Endqoute.

In fact, that song never appeared on the setlist in Liverpool.

Cheers,


Gordo

"It's About Time" which was originally released on Glenn Hughes' "PLAY ME OUT " solo CD/Album. There were a few other tunes as well. But according to Glenn's own comments below it was rehearsed by the band but dropped at the last minute for the album CTTB. Hope this helps.

Glenn Hughes: "Tommy suggested that one of the songs, "It's About Time", should be recorded for the 'Come Taste the Band' album. We rehearsed it, but at the eleventh hour I decided I'd rather hold it for my solo album, so I sat down and wrote "This Time Around" for Purple instead"

** From the sleeve of Play Me Out CD.

Regards,

Gordo

Ian, thx for the honesty. I also thought that in parts Tommy really picked it up a notch. Was the 2nd nite at Wembley a good nite out for Bolin; Understandably, from what the reviews tell us the first nite at Wembley was not a good nite for anyone in the band??

Clearly, I wasn't there at the Liverpool gig, but the tape shows a pretty solid performance by a one Mr. Bolin,, which leaves me wondering why some folks wrote what they wrote when they were at the gig. Preplexed for sure. It's plainly obvious listening to the tape that the 2 real problems at the time were Hughes and Coverdale fighting over the vocal thing. God bless both Glenn and David today as they are doing WONDERFUL things with the music thingy. It's a shame that Tommy takes all the blame for the England tour. Lord's claim was that Tommy would be stellar one nite out of four,, you just didn't know who was going to show up some nites. From what I can tell Liverpool was a solid nite based on he audio,,, , AND assuming that it's the actual gig recorded in Liverpool. Lastly, I think must diehard DP fans wanted a more note for note approach to the record and songs by there hero's.

Thx Shirean for the sharing of Japan 1975 Tour DP Stuff

Wonderful pix of Glenn and the gang.

Cheers,

Gordo
:claphands:claphands

Kudo's to John H and David;;;;;;;;------)))))

Some of the guitar stuff was what Tommy used during his DP solo spots


Rare to see any Zepher Video stuff;;;;; He really looks in his element onstage.

Gordo

DPAS has listed that Jon Lord also played on the Teaser CD/Album. We know out of Jon Lord's own interviews that he was in and out of the studio to just drop in? But the DPAS new release says or has now listed Jon Lord in the DISKOG. Wonder which track he was on? Or was it a bit part or a whole song. I know Deep Purple played Wild Dogs, Homeward Strut and bits of Marching Powder LIVE with Bolin in the lineup.

I managed to get a copy ,,,, and I know this will smack dead against Keith's review. (Keith still thinks they played "You Keep On Moving" ) ( You might want to do a rewrite, Keith.) But I was expecting a complete dead performance from a one Tommy Bolin. (Probably not Tommy's best nite out but faraway from being a bad nite, either.) The worst of the evening appears between David and Glenn. As for the audience that was in the front row facing Tommy Bolin -- DIEHARD fans expecting someone called Blackmore or Hendrix?? A note for note mantra of classic solo standards from a one man in Black. Unfortunately it's not the best recordingwise that I've heard from Deep Purple. A proper soundboard tape might clear things up a bit.

The front row phrasing and bantering back and forth clearly shows a situation of indifference between an artist and it's audience. His solo spot you can tell he's pulling back a bit and having a go at the crowd. Short pauses but nothing made out to be from what I've read from other reviews. Getting Tighter is TOPS; Bolin solo on Highway Star is really cool. Lazy -- the tape fades in and out -- but Bolin plays it similar to what he normally did.

You had an audience, especally in the front row in most of the English cities that wasn't prepared to have a "IN YOUR FACE GUITARIST" like Tommy Bolin was -- to be accepted by a picky, albeit rude audience. Not the first time an English audience has boooed the ass of an American -- previous to Tommy Bolin -- England booed Robbie Robertson and JIMI -- as well. I take either guitarist over Blackmore. Hands down.

I think in Retrospect, a lot of MK II DP Fans overreacted and poor old Tommy Bolin had to deal with it. I think Jon Lord had it right, thusly he reflected on the situation in the front row and the problems Bolin had dealing with it.
England Tour – March 1976 ((JON LORD))

In Profile radio show: Taken off the www.ghpg.net audio file.

I was shocked and stunned that anyone would think we could replace Ritichie Blackmore. Then I met Tommy Bolin who was a delightful man , absolutely charming chap. I was very taken with him.. And I agreed to carry on. In retrospect, I don’t think it did Tommy any good whatsoever. I think he died as a result of it.

Tommy found it awfully difficult to deal with the constant barracking of the British audiences. Blackmore was a hero over here and he didn’t understand that. I tried to make him see the good side….in that he was going down well.. in that people were actually applauding his ability. And with very, very cruel hindsight people now of course write into the internet about what a wonderful man he was and what a great asset he was to the band. I wonder if some of those writing in were shouting for Blackmore at the time. It’s difficult to know.
Tommy found that awfully confusing. Along with the fact that he was confusing himself anyway with his drug problem.

It got to the last gig at the Liverpool Empire. I bumped into Ian Paice as we came onstage and said to Ian, It burst out of me "That it. I’ve had enough."

________________

Thanks for the front row seat, Jon Lord;;;;;; Posted at this very website.;;; Great info.

Live Butterfly Ball October 1975

The Butterfly Ball [live]

People involved:

Tony Ashton (vcl); Helen Chappelle (vcl); David Coverdale (vcl); Ian Gillan (vcl); Roger Glover (msc); John Goodison (vcl); John Gustafson (vcl); Jimmy Helms (vcl); Glenn Hughes (vcl); Earl Jordan (vcl); Judi Kuhl (vcl); Neil Lancaster (vcl); John Lawton (vcl); Jon Lord (kbr); Vincent Price (nrr); Mickey Lee Soule (vcl); Barry St John (vcl); Liza Strike (vcl); Twiggy (vcl); and some others.

I think the Butterfly Ball was Oct, 1975, as I had emailed Roger Glover about his first meeting Tommy Bolin during this period of time at the DP offices during the Butterfly Ball.

Excellent. Thx for posting it. Look forward to reading it. I think the guy doing the MK 4 piece had also attended a few gigs during that tour. And according to one guys review of the article Tommy was on fire in Houston. Great night out. But it's also great to see someone cover the good, the bad and the not so good about this lineup. But when they were ON they were a great band. It's also a testatment to where Glenn's has come from in the past to where he is today. WHAT A COMEBACK, GLENN. Keep up the good work and keep playing music and touring. Nice to know that Glenn had some good nights out with Tommy. Too bad there's no Boot of the Houston date?? Or a complet VHS of this great lineup. And although the MK 4 lineup had some bad moments ,,,,let's not forget the good moments, either. Does a Houston bootlet exist. And Glenn, BRO,,,,keep on playing and touring.

The Jon Lord comments about Tommy Bolin were nothing short of excellent. It really sounds like Jon tried to help Tommy alot during his stay in DP, as well as Tommy's problems in England with DP. Jon understood what Bolin was going thru. Thoroughly interesting interview. Jon's sage comments about Tommy are well placed. Excellent