Whips & Roses
The early Seventies were the age of the great guitar heroes: Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Toni Iommi. It was also the era of Ritchie Blackmore and his extravagant stage show and unusual style, which helped to make Deep Purple one of the most important hard rock acts of their generation. When Blackmore left Deep Purple in 1975, the heir to his throne was Tommy Bolin, a young guitarist who had the world at his feet and a promising future at the tender age of 23. However, Bolin’s career was to last merely a brief seven years. When he died on December 4, 1976, he was only 25 years old. Similarly to Jimi Hendrix, Bolin also enjoys an excellent reputation beyond his death. Bolin’s solo albums, Teaser and Private Eyes, which arrived at the stores shortly before and after Purple’s Come Taste The Band are considered to be 70s rock classics.SPV have compiled this new Bolin retrospective, entitled Whips And Roses 1 featuring previously unreleased tracks, which testify to the American’s amazing talent as a guitarist, vocalist and composer. All tracks on Whips And Roses are either alternative versions of familiar material or previously unreleased songs from incredible studio sessions, previously believed to have been lost. The title track of his solo debut, Teaser, Savannah Woman and Dreamer come in haunting versions, attesting to Bolin’s unbelievably light style. Flying Fingers, with almost 16 minutes playing time, proves Tommy’s amazing diversity as a guitar hero. "Tommy today would be better than Jimi Hendrix, if both were still alive," claims producer Greg Hampton, who worked on Whips And Roses together with Bolin’s brother Johnnie. "The way he moves almost without transition from a Latin feeling to a funky style on Flying Fingers, the way he combines a powerful style with sensitivity is simply ingenious. Tommy was amazingly spontaneous, yet more proficient than any other guitarist of his age." Cookoo and Just Don’t Fall Down are previously unreleased outtakes from unknown studio recordings, while Wild Dogs, originally also from Teaser, really lives up to its title.Following a stunning show with Jeff Beck in Miami/Florida on December 3, 1976, Bolin lost consciousness at his hotel. He was already dead by the time the paramedics arrived the next morning. A drug overdose, together with alcohol, was diagnosed as the cause of death. But his short musical journey has left us with a taste of just how great this musical genius was, and how he would have changed the course of modern music had he lived. Thirty years later his fans are still shocked by his early passing. Whips And Roses keeps the memory alive and shows the genius of this very special musician. Expect Whips And Roses 2 to be released by the end of 2006.