Greg Humpton
produttore di “Whip and Roses 1”di Tommy Bolin

(Aprile -2006)

This song is an intense musical journey,the musicians seem to be right with him from beginning to end ., I even kept in the part in the beginning where the bass player unplugged his bass and changed instruments.this was a song that went from a spontaneous jam to jelling into a brilliant instrumental.

“Whip and Roses 1” gives a general overview about Bolin’s carrier or it’s especially dedicated to his “musical journey”?

These songs on whips 1and2 are a glimpse into what this guy could have if he had been still alive the last 30 years….the alt versions of the familiar titles that we have all been listening to all these years are just shocking they are so good.

Talking about the songs. Could we ask you something about the tracks? Have you got some anecdote talking about a particular song?

Like I said going they‘re the familiar tiles , mixing was such a pleasure because they were all so much more exciting than the originals.

I read that you have already finished “Whip and Roses 2”. Tommy died early, but he produced a lot of great tracks in different bands (Deep Purple, James Gang…). After this two retrospectives, are there any mysterious aspects inside the Bolin’s career yet? you thinkwe could say that all his musical talentship is already shown?

Well there will be an immense amount of music that will be released in the coming years …that everyone will be continually shocked by his great playing and genius.

Now we would like to give to the readers a brief retrospective of Tommy . Do you know his musical influences when he started to play? He is well known to be “the American answer” to all the great English guitarist (Clapton, Beck, Page…), has he ever felt the pressure of this role?

He only felt pressure stepping into someone elses shoes …. When he was expected to play existing material , that was a bit constricting to him…. but he was not really concerned with being compared to other guitarists , he found even listening to other guys boring.

The first band in which he played was Zephyr in 1968 (he was only 17!); they recorded two studio albums and one live album. Can we say that this was the first “scream” of Bolin’s performances in the music world or were they more then a “group” album ?

He certainly was able to excel by having the chance to record at such a young age , he was far more talented than the other members.

The years between the Zephyrs period and the Spectrum album are, sadly, well known because of the “love affair” of Tommy with drug. Can we say that artists of great impact (like Bolin, Hendrix…) are “wire with too much electricity” and that drugs are the wrong answer at this great pressure? Do you think that Tommy’s live performances got worse and worse because of his love for drugs?

He was wild , and in those days most of the most talented cats were unfortunatly into drugs, whether pressure or whatever its hard to say.

The show of the great variety of Bolin’s guitar style is Billy Cobhams’ Spectrum. This is a great jazz-rock album, that, probably, influenced Jeff Beck in “Blow by blow” or “Wired”. Do you think that, at the age of 22, Tommy was already a “guitar-hero”? In just a few years he became a great guitarist and is well known as “great guitarist”. Do you think he could be a guitar hero for the young generations?

Jeff beck and tommy were close , the night he died the were playing together…he was so far ahead of his time,it is obvios he has influeced lots of guys over the last 25 years.

Listening to this album we can find the track “Quadrant 4”. Can we consider this track as the “father” of Van Halen’s Eruption?

Yes tommy being in Hollywood in the 70’s eddie was around the same circles….he was definitely influeced.

Perhaps, apart of the solo carrier, the highest point of Bolin visibility was the Deep Purple period. Is it true that Mr. Bolin, with his flamboyant guitar style, saved Deep Purple from the grave, isn’t it?

He was very flamboyant , visually and in his playing…it was night and day between blackmore and him.

What can you tell us about this album and about the creative contribute of Tommy?

He just let the music fly out of him like all great artists .

The problem in Deep Purple was the overshadowing presence of Blackmore. Bolin was a great and creative artist but the public (only them? how was the position of the band?) wanted only that Tommy played Blackmore’s guitar part without changes. How did Mr. Bolin live this situation?

He hated to play those old songs note for note…he really didn’t care what blackmore thought or anyone elses opinion for that matter.

In 1975 Bolin recorded is first solo album: “Teaser”. Can you tell us something about this album?

He had the chance to work with the greatest cats in the world , and he just ran with it.

In 1976 the Deep Purple adventure finished, all the components of the group were unable to go on. Tommy came back in America and recorded his second album: “Private Eyes”. But the rumors on his drug addiction became more and more insistent. Can you tell us something about this period of time (the last before the sadly well-known end

He wanted a fresh start,and he was about to make lots of buss. when he died…unfortunately we will never know .

I don’t want to talk about the death of Mr. Bolin. Too many people spend too much words talking about this subject, hiding the man and his guitar ability (and his contribute to the music world) behind the drug problems and his life-style. So, I finish this interview asking you if you want to put the “end lines“ on this small “retrospective”, giving us a your particular remember of Tommy Bolin.

The main evidence of what this great man would have ultimately achieved is very obvious with whips and roses 1 and 2……so listen to these cd’s 300or 400 times each, and then you will understand where he would be musically today….if he were alive today .

I wanna thank you so much for your patience.

Take care, GREG HAMPTON

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Realizzata da Stefano.