ROBIN TROWER THE LOVE CHILD OF A HENDRIXAN GUITAR
Just when you thought you have discovered your very last heavy rock guitar classic, along pops Robin Trower. I have only just discovered this obscure but immensely
talented pommy guitarist, on the back of what is widely considered to be the best album of the three piece power rock band that bears his name, `Bridge of Sighs`.
`Too Rolling Stoned`, which I take it is named after a well known english band who had a good habit of getting stoned, is another great Hendrixian guitar strangulation.
Robin Trower recorded the five songs before a live studio audience at the Record Plant in Los Angeles on the 29th May, 1974. All I can say is WOW! man these guys were really on fire that day.
talented pommy guitarist, on the back of what is widely considered to be the best album of the three piece power rock band that bears his name, `Bridge of Sighs`.
It was released in the year I was born, 1974, so it must be a classic haha. No really, it wouldn`t have mattered one bit what year `Bridge of Sighs` was released, because it
is a brilliant rock album in every sense of the word.
is a brilliant rock album in every sense of the word.
The band members of Robin Trower in 1974 were of course Robin Trower on guitar, James Dewar on bass guitar and vocals and Reg Isidore on drums. They really were such
a combustible combination which simmered like a volcano but never blew its top and lost control.
a combustible combination which simmered like a volcano but never blew its top and lost control.
I guess Robin Trower`s attitude was that if the Jimi Hendrix Experience and ZZ Top could go out on stage as a three piece
and kick arse, then why couldn`t he and his two fellow power rockers do likewise.
and kick arse, then why couldn`t he and his two fellow power rockers do likewise.
Robin Trower made a very wise decision to just play guitar and not attempt to do a Jimi Hendrix and Roy Buchanan and carry the duty of lead vocals as well.
He could concentrate totally on what he was good at, and that was making an electric
guitar make a lot of weird and wonderful noises with the help of feedback, distortion and wah wah pedals.
guitar make a lot of weird and wonderful noises with the help of feedback, distortion and wah wah pedals.
Trower may not have invented the guitar style that he become synonymous with, but if you are going to be honest, his slightly more structured approach, as opposed to Hendrix`s slap happy eclectic pot-pourri,
was actually more skillful and had much greater melodic sensibility.
was actually more skillful and had much greater melodic sensibility.
Robin Trower and some sans band is
apparently still going today, but I think the revolving door of arriving and departing band members has been opening and shutting considerable times since `Bridge
of Sighs` come out in 1974.
apparently still going today, but I think the revolving door of arriving and departing band members has been opening and shutting considerable times since `Bridge
of Sighs` come out in 1974.
I do know that Davie Patterson, who was once the lead singer for Ronnie Montrose`s second heavy rock band Gamma, was in fact
the lead singer for Robin Trower sometime between 1974 and 1978. He would have had to been, because he came to Gamma from Robin Trower and Gamma started in 1978.
the lead singer for Robin Trower sometime between 1974 and 1978. He would have had to been, because he came to Gamma from Robin Trower and Gamma started in 1978.
Anyway, forget about Davie now, he
could not sing anyway, James Dewar was the vocalist in 1974 and thats all that matters here.
could not sing anyway, James Dewar was the vocalist in 1974 and thats all that matters here.
The album begins with my favourite tune `Day of the Eagle`, it`s so much like Hendrix it`s unbelievable. The title track of the album is a spacey, moody and growling guitar masterpiece, very unstructured like Jimi Hendrix, sounds like these guys were on drugs, paracetemol of course.
`Too Rolling Stoned`, which I take it is named after a well known english band who had a good habit of getting stoned, is another great Hendrixian guitar strangulation.
`Lady Love` and `Little Bit of Sympathy` al-
so kicks major heavy rock guitar butt. The best part of the album to me, at least the copy I got, is the five live versions of `Lady Love`, Bridge of Sighs`, `Too Rolling Stoned`, `Day of the Eagle` and Little Bit of
Sympathy` that come with this `expanded edition`.
so kicks major heavy rock guitar butt. The best part of the album to me, at least the copy I got, is the five live versions of `Lady Love`, Bridge of Sighs`, `Too Rolling Stoned`, `Day of the Eagle` and Little Bit of
Sympathy` that come with this `expanded edition`.
Robin Trower recorded the five songs before a live studio audience at the Record Plant in Los Angeles on the 29th May, 1974. All I can say is WOW! man these guys were really on fire that day.
And yeah, I am finally convinced that Boy George was not the one who invented heavy rock guitar afterall, jokes!
Yeha Robin Trower sure can play a guitar, so what's next, . . . .Ted Nugent? can't wait.
ReplyDelete