Tommy Bolin & Jim Fox of the James Gang | Interviewed by Bob Harris The Old Grey Whistle Test
Вставка
- Опубліковано 3 вер 2018
- Tommy Bolin w Jim Fox of the James Gang. Early 70s Interview from The Whistle Test group in regards to Tommy Playing in the James Gang & Why Joe Walsh Left.
Thomas Richard Bolin (August 1, 1951 - December 4, 1976) was an American guitarist and songwriter who played with Zephyr (from 1969 to 1971), James Gang (from 1973 through 1974), and Deep Purple (from 1975 to 1976), in addition to maintaining a notable career as a solo artist and session musician.
Tommy Bolin was born in Sioux City, Iowa and began playing with a band called The Miserlous before he was asked to join another band called Denny and The Triumphs, in 1964 at the young age of thirteen. The band included Dave Stokes on lead vocals, Brad Miller on guitar and vocals, Tommy Bolin on lead guitar, Steve Bridenbaugh on organ and vocals and finally Denny Foote on bass & Brad Larvick on drums. They played a blend of rock and roll, R&B and the pop hits of the moment, and when bassist Denny Foote left the band to be replaced by the drummer's brother George Larvick Jr, they changed their name and became A Patch of Blue. An album was released in 1999, Patch of Blue Live! from two 1967 concerts in Correctionville, Iowa and in Sioux City. In 1999, the band was inducted in the Iowa Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Tommy moved to Boulder, Colorado in his late teens and then played in a band called American Standard (with future songwriting collaborator Jeff Cook) before joining Ethereal Zephyr, a band named after a train that ran between Denver and Chicago. When record companies became interested, the name was shortened to Zephyr. This band included Bolin on lead guitar, David Givens on bass, and Givens' wife Candy Givens on vocals. The band had begun to do larger venues, opening for more established acts such as Led Zeppelin. Their second album, entitled Going Back to Colorado, featured a new drummer, Bobby Berge, who would pop up from time to time in musician credits in album liner notes from Bolin's later projects.
In 1972, the 20-year old Bolin formed the fusion jazz-rock-blues band Energy. Unable to secure a record contract, the band never released an album during Bolin's lifetime. However, several recordings have been released posthumously. Bolin briefly reunited with David and Candy Givens in a band called the 4-Nikators, after which he took nearly a year off from music. During this time, he wrote close to a hundred songs.
Go Visit the Tommy Bolins site below put together by John Herdt, who has done Amazing Work of Passion bringing Tommy Bolins Legacy to the Internet
www.tommybolin.com/
All rights go to their respective owners! -----Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
My Link tommygallagher.net/
Tommy was my distant cousin. His family lived a couple of miles from me. He was born to play the guitar 🎸 He was a genius and it still hurts today to see his life cut so early.
😔🙏🏽🎸✝️
Ditto...I'm up here in Sioux Falls.
Such a beautiful and sensitive soul
I think I saw Tommy and Deep Purple play on a river boat on Lake Okoboji when I was 6-7 years old. I remember smoke on the water.
Very sad situation, Tommy was a shooting star. Absolute genius.
A huge inspiration to us young Iowa boys learning to play guitar in the mid-70s. Gone much, much to soon.
He was still an inspiration to young Iowa boys in the early 2000's
He is still a hero now!
Tommy Bolin seems like such a humble person - I became a big fan of his shortly after he died and have never seen him in an interview. It's really sad that his life was cut so short.
Tommy was the reason one of my bands back then was named _Sweet Burgandy_ . We went with the "andy" so that it wouldn't be exactly the same. His "Post Toastee" from the *Private Eyes* LP has been cranked around here every time I've lost an old bandmate. There have been far too many. Up until around 2000 it was mostly due the either excess due to moving up to levels that, for one reason or another, they weren't an easy fit. These days it is more the attrition that comes with waking up on your birthday every year. My first moneymaking band was in '67 (I am now 68 years old).
I particularly enjoyed this video because of how Tommy was portrayed in "Touched by Magic: The Tommy Bolin Story" by Greg Prato. While things may have soured later on, this shows what a high note his time with the started. Jim's description of why Walsh left the band doesn't sound all that different from why Tommy eventually left. Sometimes context is everything and it sure doesn't sound like Tommy felt as if he felt the James Gang was a step down or "beneath" someone of his caliber.
Well Said
I'm 68 myself lucky to still be alive so many of my friends have died of overdose and the result of the lifestyle that went with it ☮️
Always loved Post Toasty. Born in Sioux City, Iowa, probably their only claim to rock and roll fame.
@@markhunter8554 have you heard the black oak Arkansas version of poast tostee Tommy's brother johnny bolin was the drummer in boa at the time they covered their favorite songs from every great band between them and pretty decent cover of it southern rock style
He was. I knew him in Boulder when he was with Zephyr. He was shy and humble. He never felt or presented himself as a star. He was easy to know.
I had the pleasure of seeing Tommy play on the "Come Taste the band" tour for Deep Purple,he had just taken Richie Blackmore's place and he was the talk of the town. It was at the Omni in Atlanta,Ga. approx 1974/1975. We had great tickets and he really was an asset to the band. Besides his wicked licks what I remember most was a swave good looking guy in stacks with a long scarf hanging off his neck as he swung the scarf around with his body as he played. Anyway I feel lucky to have seen him in his brief life. His two solo albums were great as well.....
I was (am) a huge Blackmore /DP fan, but Bolin blew me away too!
His two solo albums still are great! Teaser and Private Eyes. Tommy may have died, but his music will live forever.
Saw that tour too. Nazareth was the opening act. Great show
I had the pleasure of not knowing a thing about Tommy Bolan my whole life.
@@Frip36 ?
It just makes you want to cry about how incredibly humble and talented Tommy was, and that his life was cut so short. A musicians musician.
Tommy Bolin is the Goat
God bless your soul Tommy Bolin. You are deeply missed.
Lots of comments about Tommy being underrated...all very true...absolutely brilliant, but I want to say the same about Jim Fox. On the albums, he played exactly what the song required, but listen to James Gang Live with Joe Walsh and you'll hear Jim showing his amazing chops. Smart, humble and an amazing drummer.
Probably the most underrated guitar player in rock history
Would totally agree.
His musical intuitiveness was like a bottomless well. And his fluidity on the guitar was absolutely incredible. Had he lived a few more years, I think Bolin would have easily become a household name recognized by everyone.
He and Paul Kossoff.
A guitarists guitarist!
Couldn't agree more. By the time he passed at only 25, his body of work showed what he was capable of - this guy was clearly on a level with Hendrix and Beck. Not to mention his excellent songwriting, vocals and stage presence. He had it all.
One of my favorite guitar players and one of the most underrated guitar players ever
For sure . Music industry idiots ,missed out on his legacy , fans never will ! RIP Tommy
Jim, Tommy and Whispering Bob are so respectful of everyone and everything in this interview
Discovered Tommy B in High School about a year before he passed. Searched for anything TB started finding all sorts of different players he jamed with and looked at those. TOMMY BOLEN WAS WAY BEFORE HIS TIME 👋
THis is Priceless!! Whispering Bill Harris interview with Tommy and Jim. Huge fan of Bolin, and i love those James Gang albums with him. A young Tommy, the earliest interview ive seen. I went to Sioux City to visit his gravesite and pay my respect about 20 years ago. True legend.
his name whispering bill Harris, I was too young when this came out. I don't even know if ole grey whistle test aired in America. I doubt it. Judas priest was underground during the 70s. I had older friends used too tell me they found sad wings of destiny in miscellanious sections at tower records along with 'in trance' by 'scorpians'. They bought the albums because those album covers in particular are cool. Also sounded powerful like the artwork on album covers.sadwings was considered acid metal according too long haired stoners of 76 crust
It's very satisfying to hear how articulate and intelligent these guys were. They weren't all full of themselves and had excellent vocabularies as as well.
Assolutamente. Tommy sembra un Angelo. È così dolce e intelligente ❤❤😢
Been a Tommy fan for decades, but pretty sure this is the first time I've seen him in an interview and actually heard him talk. Very soft spoken, very humble. And damn, the guy was cute!
Just hearing Bob Harris say 'gang bang' in his soft, posh English accent makes this a great interview. James Fox in his license plate inspired hat makes it better.
What a cool and gentle soul. RIP brother Tommy
Tommy Bolin was a prodigy. His solo albums were masterpieces, and still very listenable. His own overdose suicide compounds the tragedy. Some of Dave Sanborn's best sax playing may have been on "People People."
That's My favourite 😍
One of my main influences. Tommy had a major impact in my life at the young age of ten...many years before even picking up the guitar. This interview truly shows his passion, humble attitude, love of music. Thanks for posting this great interview.
Tommy was a really special person and guitarist. Unbelievable talent.
So cool to see and hear Tommy , what a treasure this is, Thanks for putting this up.
This is only the second Tommy Bolin interview I've seen. He'll be missed. I saw his last-ever performance in Miami in 1976.
Tommy Bolin is terribly underrated. Should be a hell of a lot bigger.
So True
Tommy Gallagher If you gave tommy a few years more, maybe three, he would’ve been bigger than Ozzy Osbourne. It’s heartbreaking.
Ozzie is Over rated IMHO way Overated. The Industry is So Hard, Tommy certainly would have zoomed from the Deep Purple tour, Been really getting into Terry Kath Latley..... all too Soon
He was a monster. So thankful I got to see him play on his last tour before his passing.
I was at a used record shop and I was searching and much to my surprise I found his teaser album and had to have it. Haven't looked back. Thanks and RIP Tommy you left us too soon.
Wow ... to see him in person ... incredible.. spectrum leaves me speechless to this day
The AMAZING TOMMY BOLIN with Jim Fox.......amazing footage.....thank you. rip tommy.... KEEP In MIND PEOPLE.....Tommy looks very straight in this interview and his head is screwed on tight.....This is long before Purple.....So this is a HUMBLE Tommy Bolin on his way to the TOP.......This is the Tommy I wish I would of met....not high....alll about the music. Love you Tommy.
@@stefankoch2516 were they unfriendly?
@@stefankoch2516 Yeah, Hughes seems to be the bad influence on a vulnerable young man. Not saying Tommy was totally innocent but Glen probably supplied plenty of "H" for the two of them. I watched a documentary that revealed Hughes also stole his girlfriend who then wrote him a "Dear John" letter which he received shortly before he overdosed. I didn't like Hughes in Purple either, long before I knew any of this. His backing vocal in the live version of "Burn" (We Had No Time, ime, ime, ime) just ruined that performance for me.
Everyone's so chill in this interview. I miss that vibe.
Yes total chill mfs. Very cool cats
bang is one of my all time favorite albums. bolin was brilliant
It's kinda funny that the best Jame Gang album is the one without Joe Walsh. Now that is saying a lot!
I'm really only aware of Bolins work through, Come Taste The Band, but what a player he was. His creative double tracking, slide work and solos on CTTB, still blows me away.
Here is Something for you, Tommy with Billy Cobham & Jan Hammer. ua-cam.com/video/bRkW3qwXdYI/v-deo.html
Tommy Bolin was the 70s Jake E Lee, they even look very similar! He was a huge inspiration for Jake.
I seen 70s pictures of Eddie van Halen looks similar. I used too think Eddie got his look from Tommie bolin.
A little bit like Vito Bratta too.
Man good catch never thought of that great loved tommy and I'm a big jake e lee fan👍
Wow. I'm a big Tommy Bolin fan and I have never seen this before. This was so great to watch. There is so little video of him playing and talking that this video is actually...important. At least to me it is. Thank you Mr. Gallagher!
I got that album Teaser in the late 70s , but back in those days you had no internet , he's such a nice guy!
Yeah me too. It's a shame that most of footage of Tommy Bolin isn't him at his best. I love him, I was in high school when he died. I'd seen him with Purple a few months prior.
Two weeks together as a band, 5 days in the studio and out comes the Bang album...blows my mind!
Though there have been many fine musical talents that have tragically passed at a young age, I have always found Tommy's departure particularly sad. He was such a great musician who left such a fine legacy in his work with Spectrum, The James Gang, Deep Purple plus his solo albums.
@@backrowbrighton Couldn't agree more, 😎
Great post....this is the only interview of Tommy Bolin I'm aware of.
Yes I believe you are correct.
From a straight man standpoint, Tommy Bolin was fine as hell
Good to see Tommy looking so healthy though slightly vague, which may have been his natural demeanour.
He's very laid back, but it's a joy to see him so happy.
Cool hat too Tommy.
The late Ray Gillen looked so much like him.
Saw Tommy live back in 76. Fantastic show. Have his albums and still listen to them now and then.
Thanks for posting. Tommy Bolin was a guitarists guitarist. RIP
Such a humble person he was ❤ The more I learn about him,the more I love him. Tommy forever 😍
Che meraviglioso musicista ❤❤❤. Fa male sapere che la sua vita sia finita così presto. Leggenda 😢❤❤
@@chiaramazzotti Grazie per esserti fermato a vedere e commentare. Sentiti libero di girovagare.🙏💛💛😎
@@TommyGallagher Grazie a te per queste meravigliose testimonianze 🙏🏻🙏🏻
@@chiaramazzotti cerca il mio amico Michael Reese Guitar su UA-cam.
Ha suonato con alcuni compagni della band di Tommy e si è esibito agli spettacoli del TB Tribute.
@@TommyGallagher Lo farò volentieri. Grazie mille ✨✨🙏🏻👋🏼👋🏼
tommy was awesome on 'come taste the band' one of my alltime fave albums
Played Billy Cobham's Spectrum at a party just after that album came out in '73. Dumbass hippies were asking, "Billy Who?" But Bolin was a razor on that LP and every time he played the entire house went ape. I went into the USAF two years later, in '75, and he died a year after that.
A side note: Deep Purple's Come Taste the Band (with TB replacing Blackmore) came out during my first year in the service. I had moved on from Purple by then (DP Mark II was the only incarnation I liked, and they were kaput), and I didn't care for CTTB at all. But Bolin's guitar on that record could be heard throughout the barracks on other speakers. Still a razor, man! In any case, my youth was gone and, in '76, Tommy Bolin was gone too. RIP Tommy. Sad to think about, really. Sorry to ramble so much, but it happens when you get old. Peace, y'all. Stay safe!
Great clip of the greatest guitar player in rock history Tommy Bolin! And Jim Fox who is the most under rated drummer ever!
You are so right...and Jimmy Fox?...Just listen to his and Peters playing....just tightens the sound..One could make the point they carry the band and all the Gang had to do was get a competent guitarist but instead they managed to get 3 great ones....They should be in the HOF....
What fantastic piece of footage.......it's great to get a feel for what Tommy (and Jim too) were like.....Billy Cobham's - Spectrum is outstanding!!
I'm very much into Tommy's music at the moment , trying to listen to everything I can find . Thanks a lot
Very underrated. Guitarist brilliant exiting playing to all his music
SIOUX Nation - R.I.P, Tommy
At some stage somebody really ought to ask the blinding obvious question ‘how was Tommy Bolin allowed to die?’ In Deep Purple at the time all the members were older than him and the core members at least ten years older. Where was the kindness and protection he needed and who cared? What happened? I don’t know? But shouldn’t we ask how was such a prodigious talent was abjectly not protected? I hope we all live in more understanding times that such a tragic loss and death should not occur again.
Tommy Bolin was born in the same year as both Glenn Hughes and David Coverdale. Ian Paice was three years older. Jon Lord was the eldest, being born in 1941.
Are you suggesting Tommy Bolin, at the time of his death when he was a 25-year-old adult, was incapable of making adult choices, or that he suffered from a mental disability requiring a guardian? Did you know that at the time of his death in December 1976, Tommy Bolin in fact was touring with his own band, because the Deep Purple Mark IV line-up had disbanded in July 1976? Get your facts straight before posting drivel.
It appeared to me that Blackmores departure also allowed discipline issues to creep in. Perhaps my interpretation is incorrect. Or was there a change in back office crew that caused the change. Nevertheless, Tommy was a victim of something that only he could control .
This NYers childhood hero....just so damn devastating losing him at that time!....Jesus,Tears even from my Dad who used to hear my albums and always asked me to play gypsy soul...He'd say.." That kid can really play guitar"
Just stumbled on this video. Thanks for posting it. Tommy was an amazing musician. I was at his last show in Miami and attended many of the Bolinfests in the early to mid-2000s. Great to see his memory being kept alive.
How well spoken Jim Fox was!
Philadelphia spectrum 1973 I Tommy changed my life
Comin' Home and Dealer from Come Taste the Band. Such ace songs!
Rock on Tommy! All you British followers here will know where Rock on Tommy comes from! Truly though I absolutely love Tommy's playing especially with Deep Purple and his solo albums Teaser and Private Eyes, God Bless him
Thank you thank you.This has made my day,week, month,year. Tommy Forever.
Hey Paul...Yes Glad you enjoyed that. Felt it needed to be Preserved. Thanks for watching.
Jimmy has such great insight on the difference between American and European audiences. He is right on about booing the opening act in the seventies.
Yep Totally Marty.
I am forced to plead guilty for having booed opening bands myself. Notably when Motley Crue opened for Ozzy in 1984, but it was Motely Crue. They sucked then, and they suck now.
Zephyr was one of the first albums I purchased as a kid. Loved his playing on it, then Spectrum blew me away.
What a sweet guy and what a player.
Thanks for posting this which I had never seen before. Awesome! Great to see/hear Tommy
Great find Tommy, thanks for sharing this gem.
Thanks for this post, huge fan like so many out there. Fantastic musicians the both of them.
Thank you for bringing up material concerning this great and underrated guitarist!
이런 인터뷰 영상이라도 볼수있어서 행복하다 thank you ♡♡♡
Before he got destroyed. Tommy look so relaxed and healthy here!
Brilliant clip, thanks for posting. What a talent Tommy was 🏴🇺🇸
This is such a gem to see because there is just so little of the late great Tommy Bolin on video. Thank you for posting this amazing interview.
Hey Tommy Gallagher. I don't know if you know this but Tommy Bolin's legacy is alive and well in his home town of Sioux City, Iowa. Every year on the weekend closest to August 1st we all gather up there and for 3 days have a big party that has come to be known as Bolinfest. It's run by his brother Johnnie Bolin and I can guarantee you will have a great time. This year it will be on August 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The big night is the 3rd where there is a proper show with multiple acts on a big stage at a big club. People come in from all over the country and we have even had international guests from places like England and Finland and Italy and Japan! It's very cool. The first and second nights are very loose and is called the Fan Jam. I actually run the Fan Jam and I will make sure you get up there and play. I'm curious about your comment that you have played with some of his former band members. I am also lucky enough to be playing in a tribute show to Bolin with his drummer Bobby Berge. He was on the Private Eyes album and was the drummer for Energy and more. I would make sure you meet him and Johnnie but maybe you have already met them? If you know Michael Reece then maybe you have met Tommy Stephenson? Anyway, here is a link to the FB page I run and although I haven't started posting content yet for 2019 you can see all the stuff from the last three years.
facebook.com/Tommy-Bolin-Annual-Fan-Jam-930100817058122/
You should really consider coming as it's a great time!!! Tommy lives!
Hi Dean, Thanks for taking the time to comment. Yes Im Aware of this Tommy Bolin Tribute Production that has been going on a number of years. Im also Aware Tommy's Heart was Sioux City even tho Tommy & many of other Musicians & such were hanging in the Boulder area of the 70s. Thru my Friends & Bandmates is how I learned a little more of Tommy. My Head for the longest time -Still was in Duane Allmans playing that vibe- Derek Trucks Now days...Ha. I will take a peek at the FB page although IM no longer on FB. I Never met Bobby B but aware of him & his fine drumming. Yes Michael is a Good friend & met Tommy Stepheson thru him at a Show we all performed at many years back. Michael , Tommy S & I played a Couple of local gigs following all this. Here is a link to pic w Tommy S which goes to my site during a break, Tommy w a percussion shaker egg.
tommygallagher.net/photos
Thank You Kindly for the Invite, been On a Hiatus for a bit now but ya never know,
Hi, I'm a big fan of Tommy and it would mean a lot if you could also say Hi for me to any musician who played with, one would be plenty and it doesn't matter which as they are all fantastic artists.
Best Wishes, Euan.
God Bless Iowa.
...is that ever cool...
Gorgeous !!!
That was incredible.
Awsome interview thanks to everybody involved in it
Left us far to soon Tommy was an amazing musician.
Great Video Thanks !
What a great slice. Thanks for the post.
Gem of a find. Never saw this when it was broadcast. Loved Tommys stuff.
Man to actually hear and see him, its like he never went away. RIP TB
Love this Comment
Saw Tommy in Boulder when he was with Zephyr. I used to play his album Teaser over and over again. The greats leave us far too soon
Completely unreal to hear anyone booing opening acts of music. Particularly the James Gang! Don't know where in particular in the USA they experienced this but it certainly wasn't in my neck of the woods! The James Gang has always been recognized as a top Rock Band and still is in my world.
Thanks for the upload Tommy!
Thanks for sharing this cool interview from one of my most favourite music shows ever. I’m a Brit and got turned on to Tommy late in the day when he joined DP.
Such a handsome gentle genieous.
so eloquent love this x
Thanks for posting this I really appreciate it.
You are Welcome, Thanks for watchin'
Ultimate !
I have bang in my cd player in my car right now... Tommy is one of my favorite guitar players of all time...we lost a real gifted artist when he passed....and I know it's a cliche but Tommy really did have alot more music in him....I mean you just listen to the first cut on bang... standing in the rain...he was a genius....we all sure miss you Tommy.....😏😏😏
I've said it for years - my favorite James Gang album, with or without Walsh, is "Bang". With the exception of the last song, which I think is titled "Mystery", I like/love every cut on it. That last cut tends to go on with a LOT of strings. When they should've just used more of Tommy's strings.
Wow! Awesome Video!!
ULTIMATE !
Beautiful souls xx
Thanks for the clip. Legend. 🤘🤘
Another great guitarist bit the dust from substances.
Never seen Tommy in an interview. Thanks
This is amazing.
This is best hard 70s interview I seen for long time . I never seen before. Is this the ole whisky barrel test. The interview guy kills me everyone. He's Smart enough too know most people are not high and on the same page as he is serious about his job, while high on cocaine
Tommy out-whispering Bob "Whisper" Harris.
LOVE THIS !
I discovered Tommy’s music late last year and I’ve been diving into everything he’s been a part of. I’ve become a big fan of his. Such a shame there’s not much video of his live performances, let alone recordings of his live performances in general. He had a lot of originality and style as well.
Agree very much.. This is a buddy of mine. He has played with a Variety of Tommy's band mates and hung in the Boulder area. Michael Reese has played the Tommy Bolin Tribute a number of times. Here he covers Jeff Beck. Enjoy
ua-cam.com/video/QCruxAiXIQQ/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared
Love Tommy! Have all his albums with DP, solo and various bands, James Gang, Zepher.......
Ira Sherman me too brother!
Check out a CD called Whirlwind for some rare recordings from Tommy's early career. I think you'll like it.
What is the best thing he's done ya think?
It is great hearing him play with Billy Cobham and Ian hammer on the Billy Cobham album Spectrum ... that is my favorite work by him besides come taste the band and teaser
I’m literally looking out my kitchen window looking right at the house where Jimmy Fox lived at the time of this interview up through the early 1990’s...
Ha... Love it.
Tommy's so thin, whoa just look at him! What a monster and so young! My hero.
Jim Fox IS a great drummer!!!
One of my fav guitar solos by Tommy was Quadrant four on Billy Cobhams spectrum album, gutsy as hell!
Very handsome guy.
@@cm1642 Thank You....😇
Tommy, gracias. Bolín guitarrista soberbio. Su fraseo único groove.