![\"4-Dec-1976](\"http:\/\/www.mrzeros.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/TBfest-2014-copy.jpg\")
<\/a>4-Dec-1976 “Don’t let your mind Post Toastee, From: Rik L. Schwinden’s book 1. Sioux City Iowa: 1951<\/strong> 2. Patch of Blue: 1965- 67<\/strong><\/em> 3. Zephyr: 1968- 1971<\/strong> 4. Energy: 1971- 73<\/strong><\/em> 5. Billy Cobahm: 1973<\/strong> 8. Moxy: 1975<\/strong><\/em> 9. Teaser: 1974- 75<\/strong> 10. Deep Purple: 1975- 76<\/strong><\/em> 11. Solo Band: 1975- 76<\/strong> 12. Death: 1976<\/strong><\/em> 13. Tommy Bolin Archives: 1996<\/strong> 14. My Book: “Post Toastee; Sioux City Blues” <\/strong><\/em>
Miami, FL<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n
\nlike a lot of my friends did”<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\u201cBUZZ\u201d Newspaper Article: Jul- Aug 2011 (#5-E)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\n Thomas Richard Micheal Bolin was born in Sioux City, Iowa on Wed. 1 August 1951 to Richard & Barbara Bolin and lived on 1113 Court Street Sioux City, Iowa Richard worked at the local meat packing plant, Barbara worked at her father’s corner market. There were 4 Bolin boys Tommy, Bobby in 1953, Johnnie 17 August 1954 & Rick “Pudge” in 1957. Tommy began performing at an early age as an Elvis imitator on the local TV show “Canyon Kid”. <\/p>\n
\n In 1963 Tommy was in a garage band \u2018The Miserlou’s\u2019 when he was discover by guitarist Roger Rothwell & Local Guitar Legend Bob Dawdy of \u2018The Velaires\u2019. Tommy was recommended to the Local band \u2018Denny and the Triumphs\u2019 in 1964 who soon broke up and became \u2018A Patch of Blue\u2019 in 1965, put together by the recently deceased George Larvick, this band of young high school kids performed all over the mid west area, until the band fired Tommy for being too loud. Tommy then went to Cincinnati sometime in 1967 and played with the band \u2018Ginger People\u2019 with John Ferris as well as sitting in with blues legend Lonnie Mack.<\/p>\n
\n In Fall 1967 Tommy left the band he was with as Keyboardist, \u2018The Chateau\u2019 from South Dakota and left for Denver which at that time the \u201cmid west\u201d answer to New York and San Francisco. The first band he was involved with was in \u2018Cross Town Bus\u2019 in 1967-68 where he met his girlfriend of the next 8 years, Karen U. Then Tommy formed a new band in late 1968 \u2018Ethereal Zephyr\u2019 later shorted to \u2018Zephyr\u2019 in 1969 they were signed to ABC-Probe Record Label & put out their first LP that same year. In 1970 \u2018Zephyr\u2019 added Drummer Bobby Berge, and in 1971 put out their 2nd LP “Going Back to Colorado” on Warner Bros. the band broke up in mid 1971 however did get back together from time to time in 1973 to play limited shows. There is a CD of a 1973 concert “Live at Art’s Bar & Grill” <\/p>\n
\n Tommy was quoted as saying when asked; “My favorite band I was in?, Energy” in 1971 after \u2018Zephyr\u2019 broke up Tommy went to New York, and played the local jazz scene with such greats as, Jeremy Stieg, Tony Williams, Don Alias & Gene Perla. Which lead to the formation of \u2018Energy\u2019 with former band mates Bobby Berge, Jeff Cook of \u2018Crosstown Bus\u2019 and Stan Sheldon & his Cousin Tom Stephenson. Touring where and when they could, unfortunately ‘Energy’ did not put out a record however there are 3 CDs available of this progressive jazz- blues band. (Pink Floyd fans should check these CDs out)<\/p>\n
\n In May 1973 Billy Cobham & Jan Hammer left the \u2018Mahavishnu Orchestra\u2019 to work on the LP “Spectrum” they needed a new ground breaking guitarist. Cobham had remembered Tommy from \u2018Zephyr\u2019 playing festivals together. So Billy called Tommy & asked “Would you like to do my solo record?” Tommy said “Who’s this again, I thought it was a joke” coincidentally this LP lead the way for Jeff Beck to go Instrumental Jazz Fusion & lead to Tommy’s audition for \u2018Deep Purple\u2019. The “Spectrum” LP came out on Atlantic in 1973 (Van Halen fans should listen to the song\u201dQuadrant 4\u201d).<\/p>\n
\n6. James Gang: 1973- 74<\/strong><\/em>
\n In August 1973 \u2018James Gang\u2019 was looking for a new guitarist as Joe Walsh had split sometime earlier & the 1st replacement was not working out. The guys in \u2018James Gang\u2019 asked Walsh if he knew of anyone who he could recommend. Walsh said “Yea, my friend Tommy Bolin, he just did the “Spectrum” record.” The band brought Tommy in and recorded “Bang” 1973 Atco Records Tommy co-wrote 8 of the 9 songs on the LP made up of unreleased \u2018Energy\u2019 material. Note for the album cover Tommy’s head is super imposed onto Dominic Troiano’s body. In 1974 saw the 2nd \u2018James Gang\u2019 album with Tommy “Miami” this time Tommy co-wrote the entire LP. By late 1974 Tommy had grown disillusioned with the band naming musical differences and egos as the problem Tommy split in Aug 1974.<\/p>\n
\n7. Alphonse Mouzon: 1975<\/strong>
\n In December 1974 Tommy teamed up with former \u2018Weather Report\u2019 Drummer Alphonse Mouzon To create what I personally feel is the greatest recorded album of all time “Mind Transplant” (Rush fans You Need To Hear This Record for the drumming) this is an unbelievable fusion jazz record it came out on Blue Note in 1975.<\/p>\n
\n While Tommy was recording demos for his 1st solo record that would eventually become “Teaser” he was asked to fill in for the recently departed guitarist from the Canadian Band \u2018Moxy\u2019 Tommy added is lead guitar work to 5 of the 8 tracks on the LP. “Moxy” came out on Mercury records in 1975.<\/p>\n
\n Since \u2018Energy\u2019 disbanded in 1972 Tommy had been working on songs for his 1st solo outing starting the project in July 1975. It would eventually come out on Nemporer Records in late 1975. Working with a host of guest musicians like: Prairie Prince, Carmine Appice, Glen Hughes, David Sanborn, Phil Collins etc. A stellar piece of work, originally Tommy wanted Side #1 to be Vocal and side #2 to be Instrumental. So unfortunately one of the best tracks was left of the LP “Crazed Fandango” \u2018Teaser\u2019 came out within a month of Tommy’s 1st LP with \u2018Deep Purple\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n Ritchie Blackmore had enough in 1974 with \u2018Deep Purple\u2019. So the newer members hungry to keep the band alive went in search of as new guitarist. David Coverdale had remembered a great guitar player form a record he liked “Spectrum” it just so happened Tommy lived up the street from one of \u2018Deep Purple’s\u2019 Roadies. So they brought Tommy in June 1975 and the band clicked with Tommy straight away. I asked Ian Paice about Tommy “He sure liked the camera didn’t he” Tommy really wanted to focus on his solo career but could not pass up the money the band offered, even though Tommy would have preferred the band take a new name, the band got to work right away & recorded “Come Taste The Band” in Switzerland it came out on Capitol Records in 1975. a 2nd LP was released with Tommy shortly after his death in 1977 “Last Concert in Japan” on Purple Records, this was from the 15 December 1975 show on the tour of Japan. I once asked David to do an interview on Tommy for my book, Coverdale to me “New book on Tommy, oh cool… no comment” \u2018Deep Purple\u2019 called it quits in March 1976.<\/p>\n
\n At last Tommy is free and established to pursue his solo career. So Tommy puts together the 1st \u2018Tommy Bolin Band\u2019 in April 1976, with Jan Hammer, Michael Narada Walden & Mark Stein of \u2018Vanilla Fudge\u2019 & set out on the road to promote \u2018Teaser\u2019 even though it was released a year earlier. Tommy has a revolving door of musicians in \u2018The Tommy Bolin Band\u2019 including his younger brother Johnnie Bolin, and the only main stay Norma Jean Bell on Saxophone. Tommy enters the studio to record his 2nd and final studio record “Private Eyes” in June 1976 comes out in August 1976.Tommy embarks on his 2nd solo tour landing the radio show “The King Biscuit Flower Hour” 19 September 1976 Tommy and the band are schedule to open for \u2018KISS\u2019 on the “Rock N Roll Over Tour” on 2 December 1976 when Tommy cancels due to health reasons. Tommy does land the opening slot for guitar contemporary Jeff Beck on 3 December 1976. At an after show party, then to his room at the Newport Hotel, Tommy seemed to be in okay, and in decent spirits and having a few drinks. <\/p>\n
\n On 4 December 1976 just after 7 A.M. Thomas Richard Micheal Bolin was pronounced \u201cdead\u201d in Miami, Florida from Alcohol, Barbiturates, & Opiates. The coroner\u2019s report shows fresh needle tracks, but not signs of long term usage. Tommy is buried in Sioux City, Iowa in Calvary Cemetery. Karen made sure Tommy was buried with a souvenir he had been given years earlier the very ring Jimi Hendrix was wearing when Jimi died. Tommy did have some songs written like “Faded Satin Lady” “Blues Gonna Take Me Away” & “Down In Dungeon” for what would have been his 3rd solo LP perhaps entitled “Whips and Roses” due out in early 1977.<\/p>\n
\n There have been about 36 CDs of material, Live, Demos & Out-takes, released of Tommy’s music since he passed away 4 December 1976 on various labels many through the Tommy Bolin Archives out of Denver, CO. The 5 most recent:
\n1. “Teaser Deluxe” 2011 Samson
\n2. “Come Taste The Band” by: Deep Purple 2010 EMI
\n3. “Mister Bolin’s Late Night Revue” 2010 Rainbow Foundation (I worked on the music video for the song “Jump Back” on this CD)
\n4. \u201cWhirlwind\u201d 2013 Cleopactra
\n5. \u201cZephyr: Boxset\u201d 2014 Purple Pyramid<\/p>\n
\nThis information is taken from my book with Johnnie Bolin, which is in progress on Tommy R. Bolin due out August 2016<\/p>\n