Tommy Bolin
Tommy Bolin
Thomas Richard "Tommy" Bolinwas an American-born guitarist who played with Zephyr, The James Gang, and Deep Purple; in addition to maintaining a notable solo career...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionGuitarist
Date of Birth1 August 1951
CitySioux City, IA
CountryUnited States of America
fun having-fun ifs
If you're not having fun it's not worth doing.
I'd rather work than not.
thinking guitar play
I think the way I play the guitar is very percussive. I play a lot of rhythm chops as though I were playing congas or something.
player style littles
I have my own style, but it's different for each kind of music. There are certain little characteristic things every player has.
chords notes my-own
I just started off on my own by learning the regular chords then the barre chords. Then I'd lean the notes that would go with them.
thinking glasses lenses
I can't see. I used to wear glasses off stage. Now I'm thinking of getting a pair of contract lenses.
band
I don't like English bands. They're too structured.
writing opportunity play
When I got to LA and was with the James Gang, I got the opportunity to write a lot, to play in front of large audiences, make some money.
simple blow cookies
I learned a lot about lead; you don't have to blow your cookies in the first bar. It is much harder to be simple that to be complicated during solos.
together band records
I want the new band to work together for a while, and when we're ready we'll invite every major record company to see us.
mind west-coast east
When you come from the Midwest, you have a more open mind than if you come from the West Coast or the East Coast.
running play matter
Lots of times it really doesn't matter what notes you play, but what notes come before and after a run.
moving moments embarrassing
Once I was playing and moving around and I fell right on my back. Just straight on my back. It was the most embarrassing moment of my life.
piano strings fingers
You're in direct contact with the music by having the strings under your fingers. It's not mechanical like a piano.