Tommy in Purple – What do YOU think?
Tommy Bolin joined Deep Purple as Ritchie Blackmore's replacement in June 1975, and it appeared to be his ‘Big Break’ in terms of getting his name out to a worldwide audience. After one album ‘Come Taste the Band’ and an erratic world tour the band split in March 1976. Opinion is divided on his tenure with Purple – many see it as a platform for his own solo career, while others claim, that for a brief moment, he totally revitalised the band.
Being the first post on our new BolinBlog - we would appreciate your active input and dialogue.
LET'S KEEP IT HONEST!
Greetings all from Australia! This was the happy/ier hunting ground for Deep Purple newly energised and charged with Tommy Bolin. A revelation ever since with a handful of solo albums but an extended and everlasting legacy I say - indeed Patched Purple!
ReplyDeleteIan, I agree with the band sounding energised both in New Zealand and Australia. It's such a shame that the short documentary in NZ Nov 1975 didn't go on and film more of the actual concert - all we got was ‘Smoke’ from MIJ dubbed over it - shame!
DeleteIt's a hard one, he couldn't really say no, but it wasn't the obvious direction he was going. Come Taste the Band was fantastic, but the live stuff was cumbersome, and altho Tommy took much of the flak, the whole band (Ian Paice aside) seemed be churning it out. Hughes was just shrieking most of the time. I found out about Tommy thru Purple, so I am glad for that! It could've been so much better, but the band were too institutionalised to break out - compare the crisp playing on Days May Come to the live stuff - enuf said!
ReplyDeleteTommy replaced Ritchie. Tommy saved Deep Purple just like he saved James Gang. Plus he wrote lots of great songs for both bands. IMO Mark4 was the best DP era. I saw Tommy w/ DP in 1976 at the Madison WI Dane County Coliseum, it was a great, great concert! Theres Jimi Hendrix and then theres Tommy Bolin. Tommy was a better song writer then Jimi. In my eye Tommy was the best. ♥
ReplyDelete"I replaced Walsh, I replaced Blackmore, now I just gotta be me." ~Tommy Bolin~
Mary Jo, how about a write up of the gig? Haven't heard tapes from that one.
DeleteDeep Purple Setlist at Madison Dane County Coliseum, Madison,WI,USA, February 15,1976
Delete1. Burn
2. Lady Luck
3. Gettin' Tighter
4. Love Child
5. Smoke on the Water
6. Lazy
7. Marching Powder
(Tommy Bolin song)
8. Homeward Strut
(Tommy Bolin song)
9. This Time Around / Owed to "G"
10. Guitar Solo
(Tommy Bolin)
11. Stormbringer
12. Going Down
(Don Nix cover)
13. Highway Star
I have some pics of Tommy on Madison stage, but I don't know how to post pics here...
Send the images to our webmaster Dave, he can drop them in here.
DeleteInteresting set list as it features Marching Powder. As far as I can remember this is the first time I see this song in the Mk4 set list? The other ones they played were Homeward Strut and wild dogs? Is that correct?
DeleteBIG BIG CALL!!!!!!!! Tommy better songwriter than Jimi???!!!
DeleteLove em both to bits, both brilliant in their own way.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteSetlist link:
Deletehttp://www.setlist.fm/setlist/deeppurple/1976/madison-coliseum-madison-wi-2bd28422.html
I have read where others wrote Tommy was better song writer then Jimi, true its also my opinion, but NOT mine alone.
Hi Mary Jo, thanks for access to the pix, I'll contact you as to the ones that were for that particular show.
DeleteMy 1st Deep Purple record I bought was last concert in japan and was well p@ssed!! I figured that if made in japan was so much better than machine head etc then this was a clever move - uhuh! I had both solo albums and couldn't figure it out it wasn't the same guitarist. Now I know all the b@llshit around it and thankfully bought come taste the band and have been a fan since. what p#sses me off is that i hear people not calling it a DP record, apart from made in japan it's my favourite and it's 100% DEEP PURPLE. I always wonder what a 2nd mark 4 album would have sounded like. to me it was like a double edged sword, loads of people quickly knew of him because of it but he also didn't appeal to the hardcore fans.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Delete‘Last Concert ...’ let's not even go there. Yes, I am surprised at some of the people who say that CTTB WASN'T a DP album - even the late great Jon Lord said as much fairly recently. So what exactly constitutes a DP album one wonders?
DeleteWTF! Ian Gillan also said the same about it not being a Purple album - Apart from a couple of songs you'd hardly call Stormbringer (which I love by the way) a typical Purple album, but I guess because it's got Blackmore it IS. People not calling it a Deep Purple album kinda sums up the narrow thinking of some die-hard Blackmore fans (who I like as well). CTTB had it all, it rocked, it funked, it had soul, it was classy.
DeleteI love that shot of Gillan wearing a Tommy Bolin T-Shirt. Plus he did say he loved his playing, so yeah, I'm a bit peeved that he didn't rate CTTB as a DP album. Mind you I think he possible wore that T-Shirt and said he liked Tommy to piss of a certain Banjo player who he isn't too keen on - lol!
DeleteHas anyone got that shot of IG wearing the TB shirt?????????
DeleteI've got that shot of Gillan with shirt - when I dig it out I'll send to The TB Memorial Foundation, and feel free to put it on the website. I thought that Gillan with Bernie Torme was a great band.
DeleteI think DP mk4 took a new musical direction with the arrival of Tommy Bolin but I know much has been writen about it. Music wise, songs structures and harmonies were different from what DP did before. Tommy Bolin had an incredible sense of rhythm that he transposed with magic on the guitar. Hard chops and fast triplets made his guitar solos just singing. Inovative use of Echoplex and slide guitar achieved to trademark his style. Regarding mk4,before joining Tommy didn't know much about the DP repertoire and to my opinion that was a good thing as he played the old DP songs just the way he felt he had to do it and that was quite evident in the solos sections. The solo of Highway Star is just one of my favourites. Tommy totaly breaks with the so-expected Blackmore phrases. Someone once wrote about Tommy in those words "No practice makes perfect".
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kelly. Tommy brought it a much greater sense of rhythm to the band which seemed to rub off on Ian Paice more than anyone else. He and Tommy were brilliant together. But, maybe joining the band when he did was a case of ‘Bad Timing’, at the time he was going down a more ‘fusion’ route but more importantly he was completing his ‘Teaser’ LP and being his much awaited 1st solo release, maybe it would have been wise to pump all of his energy (and marketing resources etc) into that. Sure, being in Purple got his name out there, but at first glance people possibly pigeon-holed him to be more ‘metal’ than he was, just another rocker replacing Ritchie Blackmore. From what I've read, being in Purple obviously gave Tommy ample access to the ‘trappings’ of being in one of the world's biggest bands, and I'm not suggesting for one minute that he wouldn't have indulged had he not joined, but maybe, just maybe, he might have been a bit more focused had he gone out promoting Teaser straight away without the distraction of replacing Blackmore. I see Tommy joining Deep Purple as a huge step forward in terms of Rock Stardom, but a huge step backwards in terms of his musical journey and where he was at the time. Right person, wrong time!
ReplyDeleteLike the ‘Right Person, Wrong Time’ sentiment.
DeleteAgree, BAD TIMING!
DeleteI love his stuff with Deep Purple but it was his downfall!
Just got this from Stan Sheldon. Just for clarification, Stan is unsure if Tommy had indeed got the other members of Purple's approval. He also pointed out that in no way is this an attack on Glenn, as Stan freely admits, he, Glenn & Tommy were all ‘chemically’ challenged at the time, but I think it's an interesting piece of history. This was just after Stan had got the Frampton gig in summer 1975. Go to www.stanleysheldon.com
ReplyDelete“The next weekend at Peter’s house I received a phone call. It was Tommy on the other end. He told me that he had accepted a job with Deep Purple. I was really happy for Tommy, but he wasn’t calling just to tell me that. The fact was, Deep Purple’s bass player, Glenn Hughes, was having one of his quarterly nervous breakdowns; had em all the time it seems. It was like this: Glenn would spend his days snorting enormous piles of coke and then wonder why he felt so “edgy,” and out-of-touch with things; it never dawned on him to stop snorting for a while, and he would invariably check himself in somewhere until he felt better. Did it all the time. But Tommy was anxious to get started on his new job, and he didn’t want to wait for Glenn to “recover.” So Tommy was on the line, and I had the uncomfortable feeling that Peter was listening in on the other line. Tommy said that I should abandon my brand new gig with Peter and join him with Deep Purple, that he’d already worked it out with the band. “Fuck Frampton” he said, “you’ll make way more money playing with Purple.” I was tempted, but it was all a little too sudden, and not wanting to abandon my new job, just yet, I told Tommy to tell Deep Purple thanks, but no thanks. Tommy seemed able to live with the decision; he would always say, “OK, Stanley, what’s good for you is good for me”.
Can't even think of Purple Mk4 without Glenn. Stan's a great player, saw him with Frampton in 77, but Glenn had the VOICE.
DeleteIn Glenn's Autobiography he mentions just how bad he was around this time, so maybe there's something here. I also recall from somewhere that the band and/or management were keeping an eye on him around the time of ‘Butterfly Ball’ to see how he was faring. If you read the book, it's pretty chilling reading, I knew he had a drug problem, but not as bad as it was, he's totally pulled himself together and I reckon he's doing better than any other Purple person, RESPECT! At one point he even mentions that his antics were so bad that it drove even Tommy away at times.
DeleteSheldon was better off staying with Frampton, let's face it he would've been looking for his P45 not long after joining deep Purple - Lol!
Deleteagree with last comment he's still playing with him
DeleteWow!I think that would've been really interesting. I like Glenn, but he was in bad shape on that tour and his singing was just BAD! I guess they had already written the album? So it would've been odd to hear Coverdale singing Getting Tighter. Like the last comment, Stan was better off with Frampton.
DeleteWow!!!!! Can't imagine CTTB without Glenn, if Stan did join then it would've been SUCH a different dynamic. Would've been interesting live to hear Coverdale with more freedom. I wonder if Glenn knows about this?
ReplyDeleteInteresting letter, thank you for sharing. DPs Mark4 publicity photos show Tommy DP focal point, Tommys fancy suits, boots, Tommy seated while others stand around him, Tommys the only one holding glass of wine. Tommy is DPs new leader image w/ style..DPs last gasp. Towards the end, DP started to take on a heavy Tommy Bolin musical influence so much so that it no longer sounded like the old DP, but sounded like 'Tommys' band ... and then of course they disbanded. Damn the drugs...jus sayin
ReplyDeleteTommy joined Purple for money, just like he joined the James Gang, and why not? I would've. Who wouldn't have joined one of the biggest bands on the planet? He said on that History Hits & Highlights DVD that he was starving at the time, so along comes the Purple gig - what better way to get the readies and get his name in bright lights. And let's face it CTTB was a belter, it was WAY better than the reviews it got at the time. I'm not saying he was a better guitarist than Blackmore because he wasn't, he was different, but the stuff he was capable of doing was better than Purple. Purple were a rock band, a shit hot one, but Tommy's playing was capable of much better things. A lot of people blame Tommy for the end of Purple, but I think the egos and drugs ended the band and each member must share some of the blame and not just Tommy.
ReplyDeleteI was being too pc in my earlier post, yeah totally agree, in 1975 you could be forgiven for turning down bands like Uriah Heep, but NOT Deep Purple, it was just WAAAYYYYY too lucrative. I think looking back, musically it didn't do his reputation any favours, considering the circles he was in beforehand, mind you the James Gang were pretty basic. Does anyone know if they had worked on any new stuff for next album, I'm guessing not because they split straight after the tour?!
DeleteI'm not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but important to remember...When Tommy joined DP he still had the freedom to pursue his solo career which he did. Tommy really had best of both worlds. In reality Tommy had it ALL.
DeleteHe sure did have it all, but because of the drugs and the egos etc etc, he did kinda blew it. The Purple gig must've looked great on paper, but they were a band on that slow slide when he joined. Judging by the solo stuff they all did just after Purple, you can tell each member was into something different from Purple, Glenn into funk, Jon & Ian into R&B, David into R&B & blues and Tommy into a more eclectic mix. I guess also because of the band's reputation, there were things expected like the long solos, the ‘rock’ posturing, screaming vocals, having to play stuff like ‘Smoke on the Water’ etc etc and I don't think that suited Tommy's more flowing style anyway.
DeleteI have a question, and I'm sorry its off topic.
ReplyDeleteThe lyrics of Tommys 'Hello, Again',
Slowly that scent reaches me,
The perfume you wear I can't forget.
Floating so lightly 'pon the air,
Just like the smoke from a cigarette.
I just turned around and there you were,
Returning almost faster than you'd gone.
My, but times been good to you,
Sleek and graceful as a swan.
And by the way, hello again.
I'm so pleased to have your company.
We'll count the stars under misty sky,
And watch them fall into the sea.
Your voice so whispers soft and smooth,
Telling me tales of a human cloud.
Who walked a thousand miles,
Just to touch their ladies gowns.
A noble thought, there's no doubt,
And I must confess I can't compete.
Clouds that walked a thousand miles,
Just to touch their ladies feet
lyrics by Jeff Cook, music by Tommy Bolin.
My question is:
In all the different lyrics they ALL read 'clouds'. Even the copyright lyrics has clouds..
But when I listen to Tommy singing I hear 'clowns' ...
Does anyone know which is correct, 'clouds' or 'clowns'?
Seems like "clouds" would have more sense with the rest of the lyrics. Isn't it?
ReplyDeleteOf course Deep Purple's sense of beauty is tough and rough as compared to Tommy's. So for me one thing for sure: as it was with James Gang, Tommy made this heavy band shine like a diamond. And don't forget it was completely his music material except You Keep On Movin' and This Time Around. Also we shouldn't value the quality of the artist by chart positions or selling index. Let's not be pop. Tommy Bolin is the real art, he is unique. Deep Purple are secondary and always tried to play for charts.
ReplyDeleteKind Regards,
Vasil Prytkov
Moscow, Russia
Vasil my man, you hit the nail right on the head. He did make both bands shine like a diamond. I keep getting wound up that he was so much more than a rocker and that Purple typecast him, when maybe I should just appreciate that what he did in the band was just ONE facet of his talent - and for a while it was brilliant. Many fans were hard on him at the time but I think that even many Purple fans have since realised the true talent of Tommy Bolin. And another thing, I have heard over the years how bad the final Liverpool concert was, is it just me, but on the You Tube clips it's Not that bad! I do think that his solo spots weren't as good as he was capable of, too much doodling when I think if he went in all guns blazing he might have won some of the Blackmore fans.
ReplyDeleteI like the ‘Don't judge the artist by chart positions ...’ The fact that we are all discussing Tommy here despite his lack of chart success bears testimony to just that.
ReplyDelete