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GREAT GYPSY SOUL TO BE RELEASED ON MARCH 27Greg Hampton and Warren Haynes have co-produced a 2-CD set titled Tommy Bolin and Friends - Great Gypsy Soul, a tribute to Tommy featuring some of the world’s most revered guitarists and singers. The participants are all fans of Tommy and added parts to original Tommy Bolin multitrack tapes that have never been made public. Included are Warren Haynes, Joe Bonamassa, Peter Frampton, Glenn Hughes, Brad Whitford, Nels Cline, Oz Noy, John Scofield, Prairie Prince, Myles Kennedy, Steve Morse, Derek Trucks, Sonny Landreth and Big Sugar. |
DEAN RELEASES TOMIKAZI GUITARDean Guitars has released its Tomikazi Tommy Bolin tribute guitar. The Tomikazi is based on Tommy's Ibanez Destroyer guitar. Designed by artist Nick Simmons, it features custom graphics inspired by the Private Eyes album. Specs include: Mahogany top and body, 24.75" scale, 1-11/16" nut, set mahogany “C” neck, rosewood fingerboard, pearl “Tomikazi” inlays, Grover tuners, chrome hardware, Tune-O-Matic bridge and USA DMT “Time Capsule” pickups. |
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TOMMY STEPHENSON & MICHAEL REESE HAVE RELEASED NEW F5 ALBUMKeyboardist Tommy Stephenson first met guitarist Michael Reese when they played at a major Tommy Bolin tribute show in 1996. Stephenson had played with Tommy Bolin in Energy and later with Joe Walsh in Barnstorm. Following the tribute show Stephenson and Reese formed F5, a fusion band in the spirit of Energy. After releasing the Dodging The Dream Killers album they split up, but have reformed and have released the new Keys to String Theory. Keys to String Theory is an easy album to recommend for fans of Tommy Bolin’s blend of rock, jazz and funk. Here is a great new video shot on the Sky Trail Recording sound stage with Tommy and Michael joined by Jimmy Lange on vocals and Britt Ciampo on drums. |
HUSH MAGAZINE ISSUES 37 AND 38 FEATURE TOMMY BOLIN
Hush Magazine (Spain) is featuring Tommy Bolin in issues 37 and 38, the back covers shown at right. Issue 37 has an interview with producer Greg Hampton. Issue 38 has four pages with comments from keyboardist Tommy Stephenson (Energy), Zephyr guitarist Jock Bartley and Prairie Prince (The Tubes, “Wild Dogs” and “Savannah Woman” on the Teaser album). Those wishing to purchase copies can email Carlos by clicking here. They accept PayPal. Thanks to Trace Keane for helping make these happen, and to Hush Magazine for taking Tommy to the people.
CLICK THE PHOTOS TO ENLARGE »
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TOMMY BOLIN TEASER DELUXE RELEASEDGreg Hampton (producer of the Tommy Bolin Whips and Roses CDs) is currently finishing up production on Teaser Deluxe, a CD which will contain alternate versions of all the tracks that appeared on the original Teaser album plus bonus tracks. All the material is being remixed from original multi-track tapes, and most of the material hasn’t been heard by the public before in any form. The package includes a 24-page booklet with rare photos. It will be available worldwide in stores and online. HEAR HIGH QUALITY SAMPLE CLIPS BELOW |
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DEEP PURPLE PHOENIX RISING DVDSubtitled The Untold Story of the 1975/76 MKIV World Tour, this DVD presents the period of Deep Purple’s history which lead to the lineup that featured Tommy Bolin and through the final shows with Tommy. In-depth interviews with John Lord and Glenn Hughes are augmented by video footage including Deep Purple Rises Over Japan footage superior in quality to any previous official releases, black and white footage from Jakarta, color video footage of “Stormbringer” with original live sound and more. Read a review on Darker Than Blue by clicking here. ORDER THE REGION 1 (NORTH AMERICA) DVD ON AMAZON » ORDER THE REGION 2 (EUROPE) DVD ON DPAS » |
ZEPHYR PERFORMANCE FOOTAGE IN NEW DVDBarry Richards has announced the release of The Barry Richards TV Collection Volume I DVD/CD set featuring classic live performances by Alice Cooper, Humble Pie, Rory Gallagher and more from his “Turn On” TV shows from 1970-1971 in Washington, DC. Included will be a song by Zephyr, a live performance of “St. James Infirmary” that will seal the deal for Tommy Bolin fans who know how rare high quality video of Tommy is, especially with correct audio. The package includes a 24-page booklet with unseen artist and set photos and liner notes. There is also a bonus audio CD featuring interviews with all four Beatles, Dr. John and more. Total video time is 150 minutes and the audio CD is 123 minutes. |
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ROCKSTAR MAGAZINE SPECIAL TOMMY BOLIN ISSUE
Rockstar Magazine (Russia) has published a Tommy Bolin special edition, Issue #4, 2011. Article subjects include:
• Zephyr
• Energy
• James Gang
• Billy Cobham
• Moxy
• Alphonse Mouzon
• Deep Purple Mk 4
• Tommy Bolin Band
Thanks to Andrey Ignatchenko and the staff of Rockstar Magazine, and to Trace Keane for helping make another magazine special edition on Tommy Bolin come together. Thanks to Damian Phelan for helping them with photos.
COME TASTE THE BAND 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Deep Purple’s Come Taste The Band has been released as a 35th Anniversary Edition 2-CD set. Of special note is that the original multi-track tapes recently surfaced after years of being presumed lost, providing a high-quality starting point. Disc 1 will have remastered versions of the original mixes plus a rare single edit of “You Keep on Moving.” Disc 2 will have the album tracks re-mixed by Kevin Shirley (Aerosmith, Journey, Led Zeppelin DVD) and will feature two unissued instrumental tracks, “Always the Same in LA” and “Bolin/Paice Jam.” Remastering was done at Abbey Road with Glenn Hughes personally in charge of the project.
MISTER BOLIN’S LATE NIGHT REVIVAL CD
Producer Bill Schenk has released a Tommy Bolin tribute CD presenting new arrangements and performances of 17 songs written by Tommy Bolin prior to his passing in 1976. Performers include Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Doogie White (Rainbow), Jeff Pilson (Dokken), Derek St. Holmes (Ted Nugent), Randy Jackson (Zebra), Robin McAuley, Johnnie Bolin, John Bartle, Steve Murray and more. Tommy’s original demos that were the inspiration for the project were originally released by the Tommy Bolin Archives on CDs such as Naked Volumes I and II.
JEFF COOK SINGS WITH THE RHYTHM & GROOVE CLUB
Jeff Cook is known to fans of Tommy Bolin as the vocalist for American Standard and Energy. He is also co-author (Savannah Woman) or author (Dreamer) of many of Tommy’s most beloved songs. Jeff recently released a CD with the Rhythm & Groove Club entitled Groove Approved. Fellow band members include such heavyweights as Allen Toussaint and Tinsley Ellis. The music was recorded at the famous Sea Saint Studios, and is a robust blend of rocking New Orleans Soul, blues and jazzy funk. After Tommy’s passing Jeff worked at Arista, Elektra, Capricorn and New West Records, it’s great to hear him back behind the mic!
Greg Prato has released Touched by Magic: The Tommy Bolin Story, a new book about Tommy Bolin featuring close to 50 interviews with people that knew and played with Tommy during his youth, meteoric career and up to his passing at age 25 in 1976.
The new book also features many rare photos that will surprise even veteran Tommy fans, and Greg will be posting unused photos on his MySpace page.
Touched by Magic is currently available online through www.Lulu.com. Learn more and read a sample chapter on our own special web page by clicking below:
ALSO NEW FROM GREG PRATO:
MTV Ruled The World: The Early Years Of Music Video
The first-ever book to focus solely on the MTV’s important building-block years, specifically from the MTV’s launch to when its original group of VJs left the channel.
The Eric Carr Story
The first book to tell the life story of the late Kiss drummer Eric Carr. Comprised of all-new interviews, the book also doubles as a study of 1980’s era Kiss.
NEW DEEP PURPLE BOOK RELEASED
Martin Popoff, author of many great books about major rock acts has just released Gettin’ Tighter: Deep Purple ’68-’76. The book is 250 pages long, and has a number photos by Richard Galbraith (including the fantastic cover shot of Tommy) which have not been presented to the public until now.
The book also includes pictures of ads, tour book pages and album covers from around the world. The format is one chapter per each album from Shades of Deep Purple through Come Taste the Band and Made in Europe, with every song examined and lots of looks at the tours as well. The text includes observations by the author as well as numerous quotes from band members and people who were associated with the band.
Popoff will be signing copies of the book, which may be ordered through his site at www.martinpopoff.com. Fans of Tommy Bolin have waited a long time to see him appear in a book, so the arrival of Gettin’ Tighter: Deep Purple ’68-’76 is much appreciated by fans who have acquired it.
HUSH MAGAZINE SPECIAL TOMMY BOLIN ISSUE
Hush Magazine (Spain) celebrated their 15th Anniversary with a Special Tommy Bolin Issue (Issue 34). Included are new interviews with Kenny Passarelli, Bobby Berge, Johnnie Bolin, David Givens, Otis Taylor, Stan Sheldon, Jim Dandy, Billy Cobham, Jim Fox, Russell Bizzett and more, along with many rare photos of Tommy and memorabilia. Hush Magazine is printed entirely in Spanish.
Trace Keane has provided many of the interviews translated into English and we have posted them on this site. Please take this opportunity to read them, as so often happens new historical facts pop up that add to our understanding of Tommy’s history.
The issue was available for sale online but is currently sold out. They intend to print more in the future and we will post a notice if that comes to pass.
DEAN RELEASES TEASER GUITARDean Guitars has released its USA Tommy Bolin Tribute Teaser guitar. The Teaser is crafted based on measurements taken from Tommy’s own 1974 Strat, and the feel of neck and playability are unreal. Dean CEO Elliott Rubinson and artist Nick Simmons, designer of the guitar, are building it as a labor of love for Tommy. Read more about the Teaser at Nick’s blog and by visiting our own Teaser Guitar section. |
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HARTMAN RELEASES TOMMY BOLIN FUZZ
Hartman Electronics has released the new Tommy Bolin Signature Fuzz. The pedal was designed to capture the tone of Tommy’s long-discontinued Sam Ash fuzz box. It was developed with the assistance of Johnnie Bolin, and the circuitry is based on an original Sam Ash unit. The unit was refined against original, isolated guitar tracks from Bolin master reels. The unit is 100% hand wired, bench-tested and auditioned prior to shipping, and has truy-bypass switching. Learn more by clicking here.
The Tommy Bolin Archives is pleased to announce that many of our titles are now available online from both Friday Music and iTunes. Keep checking back with those sources, as they will be adding more of our titles.
For details on all of the CDs released during the history of the Tommy Bolin Archives please visit our Catalog page. For reviews of many of our historic CDs please visit the Album Reviews page.
Friday Music, in conjunction with the Tommy Bolin Archives, presentsTommy Bolin – The Ultimate: Redux, a 3-CD set of material drawn from earlier, and in some cases out-of-print TBA releases, hand-picked by Michael Drumm and Johnnie Bolin. The audio was re-mastered by Joe Reagoso at Friday Music. The 3-CD set is presented in a fold-in digipak with original packaging design by John Herdt and Joe Reagoso. The liner notes were written by Steve Vai (wow!). Also included is a booklet with liner notes by Michael Drumm and Joe Reagoso.
Russell Bizzett has released a great new CD entitled Tommy Bolin Tribute. Many of Tommy’s fans know Russell from his drum work on the Tommy Bolin & Friends: Live at Ebbets Field 1974 CD. Featured are many Tommy fan favorites including Stratus, Dreamer, Quadrant 4, You Know You Know, Red Baron, San Francisco River and People People. The performances on Tommy Bolin Tribute are exceptional and the CD is especially recommended to fans of Tommy’s music. Find out more information on Russell’s web site at www.russellbizzett.com as well as on his MySpace page.
