Tommy Bolin: crises of development of professional music career and a short life as the subject of philosophical-culturological research

Synieokyi Oleg Vladimirovich Doctor of Science in Social Communications (specialty "Document Studies, Archive Studies", 27.00.02), Scientific Associate, Professor of Publishing Industry, Publishing Group "Helvetica" 69002, Ukraine, g. Zaporozh'e, ul. Aleksandrovskaya, 84 vinyl-doc@email.ua Other publications by this author

The filophone interaction between people is generated and maintained by making typical the circumstances of communication in this field (code of conduct). The development and adoption of collective norms are the result of typing the content of mental states of filophone-men and music fans. So melomania in its communication content is a special type of the filophone communication (a social interaction of collectors), where the main communicative tool supports collecting (as an active action).

The study of different types of objects phonograms at different times was carried out by such outstanding domestic scientists as J. Avramenko, O. Boyarchuk, V. Dozortsev, K. Zvehyntseva, A. Sergeev, A. Stepanova, A. Frolov, H. Yarkin et al. With modern scholars should note G. Vlasov, N. Goncharov, A. Kasyanov, G. Kwiatkowskij, N. Komarov, I. Nabokov, I. Novikova, I. Saltanovych, A. Tuhusheva, M. Capko, I. Czyzhova others. However, in the scientific literature, the problem of record collectors (filophone) communication is poorly studied both in theoretical and practical aspects. Nowadays so far we do not know thorough comprehensive study of the phenomenon of collecting from the standpoint of psychology, sociology, history, cultural, museum studies and law. There are no studies of this problem from the perspective of social communication.

Communication in filophone community (purchase, sale, exchange, overwriting discs, today's Internet environment added to this network communication of filophone-men) is a special disco-level communication. Filophone information (total) includes specific species and subspecies information (components) which function in filofonic community (from the message about finding a rare media music information to the time and place of the collectors’ meeting  the next time, etc.) when communicators, i.e. people who are in communication interactions, represents different types of corporate collectors, audiophiles and autonomous actors-consumers who, for various reasons, individually perceive information messages (radio, television, listening to LPs at home, oral communication, acquaintances, rumors etc.).

Studying a creative way and DEEP PURPLE’s heritage of interest to many researchers – audiophiles’ gathering (filophonists, record collectors etc.), journalists, writers and scientists (cultural studies and musicologists). Among researchers should mention, first of all, foreign authors such as – Geoff Barton, Mel Brown, Jeff Burger, Greg Prato, John Herdt, Peter Cresenti, Keith A. Gordon, James Halbert, Bill Harper, Chris Jisi, Mark Bosch, Joel McIver, Simon Robinson, Jesse Russell, Ronald Cohn, Eric Smets, Charles M. Young, Gil Asakawa, Dave Tompson, as well as Russian and Ukrainian – Alexander Galin, Vladimir Dribuschak, Sergey Korotkov, Vladimir Impaler, Natalia Chorinа and others. However, a profound scientific research on the causes of events 1975–1976’s there, and tragedy of the guitarist Tommy Bolin, is considered mainly with only one point of view (drug addiction).

Although it is a recent interest in the work of Tommy Bolin is enhanced thanks to the work on the reissue of phonographic heritage of this unjustly forgotten musician.

Tommy Bolin is one of the most brilliant and underrated musicians of the twentieth century! Tommy’s story is an all too familiar rock and roll tragedy in the same way as those of Paul Kossoff, Phil Lynott, Gary Thain…, and a host of others ^[1]. Tommy Bolin burst upon the mid-seventies scene like a ball of fire, bringing jazz inventiveness to the heavy metal style. Just as quickly, it seems, the flame was out, but the afterglow is still with us. Tommy Bolin in retrospect, was a pioneer of today’s indemand style of versatile rock guitar musicianship ^[2].

Tomas Richard Bolin was born on August 1, 1951, in Sioux City, Iowa, the USA. He died on December 4, 1976.  A combination of power and exquisite beauty characterizes his music. Being a pioneer in working with sound, Tommy did different tonal guitar experiments and at a very young age he had won recognition among jazz and rock musicians. It was a persistent search a «corporate» sound. Musical kaleidoscope of Tommy Bolin combined air, delicate melodies, as well as it filled with swirling, dense energy hard rock adventure films, Latin American motifs, funky rhythm and jazz improvisation... This incredible rock cocktail formed solid, instantly recognizable style of the guitar maestro.

To many, Tommy Bolin was the legitimate heir to Jimi Hendrix’s rock guitar throne. Stints with the JAMES GANG and DEEP PURPLE – as well as solo albums and a groundbreaking release with jazz-rocker Billy Cobham – certainly proved that the adulation was rightly deserved. And with a techno-color fashion sense, he certainly stood out from the pack ^[3].

Commenting on the circumstances, causes and reasons of the tragic departure of the remarkable guitarist, having analyzed the strategies of rock industry, we have no right to assert any culpability of concrete individuals. We emphasize that the subject of documentary and journalistic analysis in our case was not the «classic» criminalistic tracks. Briefly our version can be formulated as follows: the death of Tommy Bolin in 1976 is the logical outcome of branded error made by label The Purple Records in 1975. When Tommy Bolin replaced Ritchie Blackmore as guitarist of DEEP PURPLE, hardly anyone could have predicted the dramatic consequences of this «incommensurate castling» ^[4]. Thus, the new atypical version of the events of the past, based on analysis of the facts collected by us is presented to the readers’ attention.

Already at the age of thirteen Tommy came to the door of a big rock. He spent his childhood there, and with his family interested in music to some degree, soon got the bug himself — his interest becoming more positive once he’d seen Elvis and his contemporaries on a TV show. At 13, he decided to take up drumming, though once he discovered how much a full kit would cost he began experimenting with both keyboards and the guitar, eventually settling for the latter as it was the cheapest of the three (though he continued to play drums as a hobby all his life, saying later it had been a good way of strengthening his wrists for the guitar) ^[5].

Tommy’s high school days seem to have been one long feud with various kinds of authority — he wanted to learn music and school didn’t teach it.

After being kicked out of high school in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1967 for refusing to cut his hair, Bolin drifted to Denver where he established a reputation as a silky guitar stylist and gutsy vo­calist on two albums cut with ZEPHYR ^[6]. Tommy Bolin began his professional career in 1967 in Denver with a group CROSSTOWN BUS, almost immediately renamed as AMERICAN STANDARD. But the official studio recordings were not created during one year of this collaboration. There were no legitimate releases of Tommy Bolin’s performances with the group THE GOOD RATS. For the first time listener could meet the technique of improvisation of this lead-guitarist on the album Zephyr, recorded by U.S. hard-blues group ZEPHYR in 1969. Two albums later they drifted apart due to various reasons, including the frustration of not being able to take the band to the next level ^[7].

In 1971 Tommy Bolin decided to move to more advanced projects and founded the fusion-jazz-rock-blues group ENERGY, which included Jeff Cook, Stanley Sheldon, Bobby Berg, Tom Stephenson and Gary Wilson. Their material is a powerful vocal-oriented jazz-rock with a strong psychedelic accent. However, the official CD of this project never saw the light.

In May 1973 Tommy returned to New York to help record Billy Cobham's seminal Spectrum album. Cobham had left The Mahavishnu Orchestra earlier in the year, coinciding with the end of Energy, and chose Tommy to play on the sessions, remembering his performances on Jeremy Steig's 1971 New York demos ^[8].

The Billy Cobham’s LP Spectrum, issued in October 1973, not only established itself as one of the definitive jazz-rock albums of the time, but also introduced Bolin’s playing to a far wider audience ^[5]. His guitar work can be heard on all but two tracks ^[9].

From August 1973 to August 1974 Bolin as a guitarist, vocalist and main songwriter JAMES GANG was involved in recording albums Bang and Miami. There, he wrote or co-wrote most of the material for the band’s 1973 release, Bang, as well as their 1974 follow-up, Miami. He also supplied his first recorded lead vocals on «Alexis», his own composition ^[2]. Such hits as «Standing In The Rain», «Alexis», «Red Skies», «Spanish Lover» and others became a visiting card of Tommy and this rock band ^[10]. By the way, after carefully listening to these releases JAMES GANG with Tommy Bolin appears parallel with Come Taste The Band, which confirms the idea who was the main composer in the latter case.

After leaving the JAMES GANG at the end of August, 1974 Tommy Bolin returned to Colorado and attempted to form a band with Mike Finnigan on vocals and keyboards and Stanley Sheldon on bass. That project folded and by the end of December Tommy and Stanley had both moved to Los Angeles in search of opportunities. There they met keyboardist Ronnie Barron who was a friend of Dr. John (the Night Tripper), which lead to Tommy and Stanley recording tracks with Dr. John for what would become the Hollywood Be Thy Name album ^[11].

While working in JAMES GANG Tommy was invited by the famous jazz musician and arranger Billy Cobham to participate in the recording of Spectrum, which was released in October 1973 under the name major-label «Atlantic Records». The guitars of the Spectrum made the record the most impressive album of a super-drummer who demonstrated the skill of the young Bolin.

With JAMES GANG floundering a bit past their due date at this point, Tommy left the band and for a short time did session work contributing a few guitar tracks to Canadian 70′s hard rockers MOXY on their debut album ^[7]. 

In December 1974, Tommy Bolin took part in the recording of the label «Blue Note» which was the album of another jazz drummer Alphonse Mouzon – Mind Transplant, recorded by the American jazz-oriented recording company «Blue Note» ^[12]. The release came out at the beginning of 1975. The album with Mouzon, called Mind Transplant has been regarded as «one of the best fusion recordings of all time» ^[7].

For less than nine years of work – from 1967 to 1976 – Tommy Bolin left some official studio releases: two LP with the Denver group ZEPHYR, which was one of the best teams that played a hell mix of psychedelic, blues, jazz and hard rock JAMES GANG and the ensemble from Cleveland, one album – with Billy Cobham, Alphonse Mouzon and DEEP PURPLE, and as a special guest in the first album of the Canadian group MOXY (1975), on which Bolin guitar solo can be heard on six out of the eight tracks.

In spring of 1975 Tommy Bolin as a solo performer, finally signed a contract with the label «Atlantic» to record and release his first full album Teaser. In music community Bolin appears on this record as a highly original composer, poet, philosopher, competent arranger, highly technical guitarist, singer and a nice decent organist. By the way, the album Teaser is considered to be the highest point in his amazing but short career. By the time of the appearance of this release, Tommy was in the ranks of DEEP PURPLE. In 1975 he was approached by DEEP PURPLE to replace Ritchie Blackmore for the Come Taste the Band album and subsequent tour ^[13].  His performances confirmed his reputation as one of the most exciting, up and coming rock guitarists. His solo albums Teaser (1975) and Private Eyes (1976) also help underline this claim ^[1].

Someone names Mk IV «the darkest period of PURPLE». This is not true. After the departure of Blackmore, being supported by Hughes Coverdale opposed the termination of DEEP PURPLE. As a member of DEEP PURPLE, Bolin was pushed into the limelight, resulting in countless comparisons to Blackmore and speculation as to whether he would continue his solo career ^[2].

Till nowadays, the common view among the domestic and foreign authors in the evaluation of phonographic creative of Tommy Bolin’s heritage is not reached. We’ll specify that it was not Glenn Hughes who insisted on taking Bolin in the group, he had already started to make friends with him, but Coverdale, before he came to DEEP PURPLE in 1973, first heard Tommy Bolin’s guitar on Billy Cobham’s album Spectrum. David, who was captured by Bolin’s jazz-rock guitar, has attracted Lord’s interest to the new applicant for the vacant position of lead guitarist before starting  «Live» listening. As acknowledged by Coverdale, Bolin was the third in his list. Tommy Bolin was officially invited to become a member of DEEP PURPLE immediately without any expectations and thoughts during the first listening. The decision to accept Bolin was taken spontaneously after his first chords. At this time Tommy was still working in the studio «Trident Studios» with the best studio musicians (eg, including GENESIS drummer Phil Collins) to create a Teaser.

Bolin's 1975 solo debut album Teaser mixed all his disparate influences into an invigorating brew, the guitarist cutting loose with an inspired set of blues-tinged rock and jazz-rock fusion that showcased his enormous skills ^[14].

Come Taste the Band and Teaser were released virtually simultaneously – in November 1975. They felt a strong influence of Bolin on the disc, Come Taste the Band, he acted as the original guitarist with his own style, as well as a competent composer, who took part in the composition of seven out of the ten songs. On Come Taste the Band Tommy showed himself as a vocalist. Particularly, his voice can be heard in the performance of the self-passage of the composition «Dealer». In addition, Tommy had to play more instead of Hughes and bass in «Gettin' Tighter». David Coverdale still considers the work of Tommy in Come Taste the Band is remarkable, and Glenn Hughes agrees that Tommy played various jam sessions stunningly, but still he could not come up with metal riffs. And although David finally spoiled relations with Hughes, during their work in the album Coverdale took an active part in the composition of the new material, becoming a co-author of seven out of the nine songs placed on the disc. Moreover, he is convinced that the drive corresponds to the traditional canons of DEEP PURPLE.

Jon Lord admitted that, in fact, due to his powerful energy Tommy Bolin breathed the life into DEEP PURPLE. However, the great maestro (June 9, 1941 – July 16, 2012) to his last days, thought that LP Come Taste the Band is the album of Tommy Bolin, Glenn Hughes and David Coverdale, and not of the full-DEEP PURPLE, that’s why this release can not be regarded as an official album of  DEEP PURPLE. Paice also questioned whether they had the right to be considered as DEEP PURPLE at that time, but the record label insisted on it. Therefore, if not for the stubbornness of a management of the own record label «Purple Records», a large rock history would have lost one, half genius, half mad and fiercely criticized during 37 years, the DEEP PURPLE’s album, but instead of it there would be a only new trial album of Britain-American hard-fusion group (there were even variations of its name suggested Coverdale – GOOD COMPANY, PURPLE and THE DEEPS). Theoretically, this new project which consisted of Coverdale, Hughes, Lord, Bolin, Paice could be declared as a successor of DEEP PURPLE, but it was taken in front of audience as a new brand, i.e. under a new name (stylistically similar or including one of the two words of the original brand). However, to the great disappointment of Coverdale his proposal to change the name of the group was not supported, and eventually it was decided for commercial reasons to keep already «unpromoted» title DEEP PURPLE.

By the way, Tommy a little bit, «schlocked» using their old billets. For example, the theme of «Gettin' Tighter» was one of April session in Denver, 1971, and «Love Child» was of the May «Spectrum» sessions in 1973 with Billy Cobham, which, for some reason, he rejected for his solo work as well as «Lady Luck» that he played in his performances for four years but it required some refinements... By the way, the «audio-pirates» released a double-disc by Tommy Bolin – Spectrum Session (Love Child), where you can hear the outline of some topics of the future Сome Taste the Band. Thus, to tell the truth the main creative priorities in preparation of the album were done by Bolin, Coverdale and Hughes was only the third. Tommy even said that to work with David was very magnificent, and for the next album, he might write more music with Glenn. The real work was with a hard worker Coverdale, and with Hughes they had mainly future plans.

In the album Come Taste the Band much more free and relaxed atmosphere prevails, compared with some previous studies of DEEP PURPLE, but it was met by the press initially categorically and cold and even PR-statement about Bolin as «The Best Young Guitarist of the World» did not help. By this time he had another kind of the title «Best Replacement Guitarist».

Also well demonstrates is the way Tommy managed to generate a special mood or feel to suit each individual track. This willingness and ability to experiment with so many emotions, and his refusal to force his songs into the same old rock formula is one of the main things to set him apart from most other guitarists ^[15].

«Between the Purple and the solo stuff», Tommy Bolin concludes, exuding an enthusiasm that convincingly underlines his words, «I couldn’t be happier. I feel I can finally try all the things I’ve always wanted to do. It’s like a new lease on life» ^[16].

On November 8, 1975 the fourth touring of DEEP PURPLE began on the promotion of the new album in Honolulu (the Hawaiis). Repertoire consisted of five new songs: «Lady Luck», «Gettin' Tighter», «Dealer», «Love Child», «This Time Around», two songs compositions Mk II («Space Truckin'» and «Smoke On The Water») and Mk III («Burn» and «You Fool No One»), a song from a Bolin’s solo album (by Tommy’s own choice – «Wild Dog», «Marching Power» and «Homeward Strut»);«Highway Star» was  commonly performed  for the encore. Tommy Bolin also claimed some vocal parts. And it was the development and innovations, formed on the Burn and Stormbringer, – as the unsurpassed harmony the duo Coverdale & Hughes.

But gradually, the tour ran into trouble. It was not easy for Tommy because the audience chanted «Ritchie, Ritchie!». He was being a little arrogant, and sometimes he was angry, lost clarity and could not show his talent for music. The group members was not ready for such an active rejection of Tommy Bolin by  Ritchie Blackmore’s fans. They demanded Blackmore on stage! Lord was struck unpleasantly by the reaction not only of European fans but the U.S. as well because Bolin was their compatriot.

However, it should be admitted that during the concert it often happened Tommy drew the audience to his side: he was a great guitarist. Tommy had so bright talent when he was at his best. Bolin’s rhythm and space were just amazing, and in the «live» performances he wanted to bring an element of brightness on the stage as an alternative to the reserve of a «dark and incomprehensible king of a hard rock guitar». Unfortunately, Tommy had to urge himself constantly by drugs. By 1975, Tommy Bolin had not been a complete addict. He used cocaine a little like most rockers of the time. But since the end of autumn 1975 everything became worse by the tight tour schedule of the group, when a young and talented, smiling guy who achieved a very serious success in a short time without any  assistance and he was a complete opposite of Ritchie. Every day he had to transform into a «dark and inscrutable king of a hard rock guitar». He, like any self-sufficient person, did not like such a duality. And it was notorious that the loyal assistant of such reincarnation remained heroin. The person who made Tommy an addict was not known. But the only thing is clear: before joining DEEP PURPLE Bolin didn’t use heroin, and after the collapse of the group Tommy couldn’t stop the progressing drug addiction.

Tommy and Glenn Hughes' increasing drug use resulted in mixed performances – the group disbanded in March 1976 ^[16].

Perhaps all of this couldn't happen under any other name. Who knows? But the rock history, like any other story, does not tolerate the subjunctive mood.

The phonograph prints of Tommy Bolin in formal and informal recording still remain under-researched issues. Moreover, his work studying in the informal record is associated with even more passion and informative scientific interest.

Tommy immediately returned to the States to record his second solo album, Private Eyes, released September 1976. He then went on the road to promote the album with a rotating cast of players which included Narada Michael Walden, Mark Stein, Norma Jean Bell, Reggie McBride and Jimmy Haslip ^[16].

Tommy Bolin had at least one personal encounter with Jeff Beck previous to the night of Tommy’s passing after opening with the TOMMY BOLIN BAND for Jeff Beck on December 3, 1976 in Miami. This is given light by an interesting piece of audio that collectors have enjoyed for years, a jam with Tommy, Jeff and Bobby Berge on drums ^[11]. It's about 8:45 p.m. Friday. December 3, 1976. The TOMMY BOLIN BAND is on stage at Miami's Jai-Alai Fronton, a sports arena, burning its way through an intense set as the opening act for superstar guitarist Jeff Beck This is the first night of the tour… Bolin's elated. And Jeff Beck fans are the perfect audience. Before the concert, Bolin tells a friend the tour will be «the biggest thing I've ever done». It's also the last thing he'll ever do. The first night of the tour is Tommy Bolin's final performance… ^[18]. Fearful of adverse publicity no doctor was called and, as he seemed to recover, roadies simply put him to bed. On Saturday 4th December his girlfriend saw that he was looking much worse and finally an ambulance was called – he was dead before it arrived ^[8].

He's suffocated from «acute multiple drug intoxication» – alcohol, cocaine, barbiturates and heroin (in the form of morphine) overload his system ^[18].

Official Tommy Bolin’s lifetime discography includes eight vinyl releases one of them is post-mortem. They are all very different. He wrote 33 songs in four main albums. However, there were remained an incredible amount of unrealized and extremely rare archival Bolin’s records and groups in which he played.

Can it be considered a coincidence that Tommy Bolin’s memorable concerts were played and tribute releases were performed only in the second half of the 1990s, that is, after the second (and, apparently, irrevocable) Ritchie Blackmore’s retirement from DEEP PURPLE? Maybe it's a mystical law, but the vacant position of player (just before the arrival of Steve Morse) was calling Tommy again... Since 1997, with the participation of the company «Tommy Bolin Archives Inc.» the archival concert recordings of Tommy Bolin  have been actively published. Undoubtedly, many bootleg-releases, although outside the legal framework in terms of the legality of their public release, are still priceless information because they contain records of nearly all concerts of DEEP PURPLE Mk IV (1975-1976) and some concerts of Tommy Bolin from other projects (JAMES GANG).

By the Private Eyes album contains some sensational music, but there are additional reasons why it holds a special place in the Tommy Bolin story. Whereas Teaser drew on session players, Private Eyes utilised the «official» TOMMY BOLIN BAND. The album version was reportedly edited down from a take lasting almost twice as long. If the master-tape still exists, it would be wonderful to hear that unpruned version ^[19].

Music Project (1964-1976) involving Tommy Bolin

1. DENNY & THE TRIUMPHS (1964-1965): Tommy Bolin (guitar), Dave Strokes (vocals), Brad Miller (guitars), Steve Bridenbaugh (keyboards), Brad Lavrick (drums), Denny Foote (bass).

2. PATCH OF BLUE (1965-1967): Tommy Bolin (guitar), Dave Strokes (vocals), Brad Miller (guitar), Steve Bridenbaugh (keyboards), Brad Lavrick (drums), Denny Foote (bass) #1, George Lavrick (bass) #2.

3. AMERICAN STANDARD (1967-1968): Tommy Bolin (guitar), Jeff Cook (vocals), Michael Lothamer (drums), Terry Knieff (bass).

4. ZEPHYR (1968-1971): Tommy Bolin (guitar), John Faris (keyboards), David Givens (bass), Candy Givens (vocals), Robbie Chamberlin (drums) #1, Bobby Berge (drums) #2.

5. ENERGY (1972-1973): Tommy Bolin (guitar), Bobby Berge (drums), Jeremy Steig (flute), John Faris (keyboards) #1, David Givens (bass) #1, Candy Givens (vocals) #1, Tom Stephenson (keyboards) #2, Stanley Sheldon (bass) #2, Gary Wilson (vocals) #2, Jeff Cook (vocals) #3, Max Gronenthal also as Max Carl (keyboards & vocals) #4.

6. Billy Cobham (1973): Billy Cobham (drums), Tommy Bolin (guitars), Lee Sklar (bass), Jan Hammer (keyboards)

7. JAMES GANG (1973-1974): Tommy Bolin (guitar & vocals), Jimmy «Jim» Fox (drums), Dale Peters (bass), Roy Kenner (vocals), Albhy Galuten (synthesizer) #2.

8. THE LEGENDARY 4 NIKATORS (1974): Tommy Bolin (guitar), David Givens  (bass), Otis Taylor (harp), Candy Givens (vocals).

9. Alphonse Mouzon (1974-1975): Alphonse Mouzon (drums, vocals, keys), Henry Davis (electric bass), Jerry Peters (electric piano, organ), Rocke Grace (keyboards – 9), Tommy Bolin (guitar – solo 2, 3, 7, 8, 9), Jay Graydon (guitar – solo 4), Lee Ritenour (guitar – solo 4, 5, 6), Stanley Sheldon (bass – 9)

10. MOXY (1975):  Douglas «Buzz» Sherman (vocals), Earl Johnson (guitar, solo – 2, 3, 7), Terry Juric (bass), Buddy Caine (guitar), Bill Wade (drums), Tommy Bolin (guitar, solo – 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8), Tom Stephenson (piano, solo – 01), Buddy Caine (rhythm guitar) #2.

11. Tommy Bolin (solo) (1975): Тommy Bolin (guitar & lead vocals), Stanley Sheldon (bass – 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7), Paul Stallworth (bass – 4, 8, 9), Dave Foster (piano/synthesizer – 1, 2, 3), Jan Hammer (synth. – 6, 7, drums – 6), Ron Fransen (piano – 9), David Sanborn (saxophone – 6, 7), Jeff Porcaro (drums – 1, 2, 3, 5), Prairie Prince (drums – 4, 8), Michael Walden (drums – 7), Bobbie Berge (drums – 9), Phil Collins (percussion – 4), Sammy Figueroa (percussion – 6, 7), Rafael Cruz (percussion – 6, 7), Dave Brown (background vocals – 1), Lee Kiefer (background vocals – 1), Glenn Hughes (background vocals – 3) #.

12. DEEP PURPLE  (Mk IV) (1975-1976): Tommy Bolin (guitar & vocals), David Coverdale (vocals), Glenn Hughes (bass & vocals), Jon Lord (keyboards), Ian Paice (drums).

13. TOMMY BOLIN BAND (1976): Tommy Bolin (guitars, keyboards, vocals & piano), Norma Jean Bell (percussion, vocals & saxophone), Bobbye Hall (percussion), Del Newman (string arrangements), Mark Stein (keyboards & vocals) #1, 2, 3, Reggie McBride (bass & vocals) #1, Narada Michael Walden (drums & vocals) #1, Bobby Berge (drums & percussion) #2, Jimmy Halsip (bass) #2, Johnnie Bolin (drums) #3, Max Gronenthal (keyboards & vocals) #4, Mark Craney (drums) #4, Carmine Appice (drums – 6).

Tommy Bolin’s music history does not end there, as the synthesis of nostalgic trend in recording rock music with innovative approaches has recently become apparent.

May 11, 2011 in DVD and Blu-Ray formats comes feature-length documentary Phoenix Rising (Full time – 142 minutes), in which Jon Lord and Glenn Hughes set out their views on developments following the departure of Gillan and Glover, and later – and Blackmore. Before the 80-minute documentary part, which is called Gettin' Tighter. The Untold Story of the 1975-1976 Mk IV World Tour and is served in the original English, including with Russian subtitles, this DVD contains Rises Over Japan. A longer version of this release also comes with a CD or two vinyl records, the contents of which are arranged in two previously released CD This Time Around: Live in Tokyo and the King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents: Deep Purple in Concert.

In March 2011, the label «Dismanic Label Group» released remastered CD Teaser Deluxe [Digipak] with new mixes and a bonus-track of an alternative version of «Crazed Fandango». One of the latest releases, which should be mentioned, is the album-dedication to Tommy Bolin & Friends – Great Gypsy Soul, released on March 26, 2012 on the label «429 Records». The album includes new and alternative version of the original material, all the guitar and vocals tracks were performed by Tommy Bolin and his band THE TOMMY BOLIN BAND. In the process of creating a tribute disc Great Gypsy Soul the previously undisclosed Bolin records stored on multi-track tape were used. Manufacturers, leaving intact the structure of tracks with Bolin’s vocals and guitar, added new guitar and vocals of guest musicians. Such contemporary musicians as Glenn Hughes, Steve Morse, Peter Frampton, Myles Kennedy, Joe Bonamassa, and others were able to pay «digital» tribute with the use of modern record technologies on each composition.

The now out-of-print The Ultimate Tommy Bolin box set was released in 1989, and several tribute albums have followed, including 2012's meek Great Gypsy Soul, which featured guitarists like Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes playing over unreleased Bolin demo tracks, the album a pure studio creation that should be avoided at any cost ^[20].

We should pay particular attention to the previously unreleased song «Sugar Shack», which is performed by Glenn Hughes on this album. The text was completely written by Tommy Bolin and he made some musical sketches. As a result of Glenn Hughes’ improvements a very juicy and brand-new joint composition in memory of a friend has been made. Listening to this CD and his soulful vocals and guitar attacking, we feel the legendary and eternally young Tommy Bolin.

August 2, 2013 was held the next International Festival of requiem. dedicated to Tommy Bolin, which were not only well-known in the world of classic rock musicians and bands, but also a special guest – TOMMY BOLIN TRIBUTE BAND by which artistic heritage Bolin has found yet another new life. And August 13, 2013 released digipak two CDs entitled Whirlwind (label «Cleopatra Records/Purple Pyramid», L.A.), which represent previously unavailable versions of compositions from various projects with Tommy Bolin. Deluxe Edition includes the 2CD plus 3 postcards, a Tommy Bolin signature guitar pick, collectible patch and pin. Made only 1000 copies for record collectors.

Pete Pardo wrote in his review of the album: «Much like Jimi Hendrix, the life & music of guitar legend Tommy Bolin seemed to have crashed and burned all too quickly… And, once again just like Hendrix, since Bolin's death there has been a wealth of live and studio recordings to come out on the market that further prove the talents of this guitar genius» ^[21]. For this review Steven Reid added: «Over the years since his untimely death in 1976, Bolin's live and unreleased work has been continually mined, with some true gems being unearthed in the process and while Whirlwind, the latest set of Bolin rarities, does contain some music already available elsewhere, it still manages to be one of the better sets to boast the late musician's name… Musicians come and go across the two discs and many sessions gathered together here, but unlike most albums which cull together sessions never initially intended for release, the standard remains remarkably high» ^[21].

John Kindred: «The music on Whirlwind leans more in the direction of Jazz-fusion than straight-up Rock. It is important to stress that the majority of the music here is demos. A lot of the ideas are improvised jams and were the beginning of ideas that hadn’t been completely fleshed out» ^[22].

In 2014 label «Cleopatra Records/Purple Pyramid» released another interesting 3CD Deluxe Box Set of phonographic Tommy Bolin & ZEPHYR – The 1969 Debut Album (disc one), The Live Cuts 1969-1973 (disc two), Live At Tulagis (Boulder, CO - June 19, 1973) (disc three).

Bolin's music is elegant and it is characterized by a combination of power and exquisite beauty. Being a pioneer in working with sound, he won recognition among jazz and rock musicians at a young age. His death left a void in the sector of definitely unique rock music which is a music mix-cocktail of jazz, hard rock and vintage blues.

Just before Bolin's final con­cert, Jon Marlowe of the Miami News, after an interview with the guitarist, told him, «Take care of yourself», to which Tommy replied, «I've been taking care of myself my whole life. Don't worry about me, I'm going to be around for a long time» ^[6]. He was buried December 10th in the family plot in Calvary Cemetery in Sioux City.

Rick Bolin says the family only saw one royalty payment after his brother's death. But that may change with Geffen's new release. According to Jeff Cook, who's been in contact with the label, «Geffen has gone to great lengths to make sure the family gets a share of the money» ^[23].

Geffen didn't contact Fey regarding the retrospective, although the company collected remembrances and photos from many other Bolin acquaintances. Now, memories and music are the only things left of Tommy Bolin ^[18].

Based on the analysis, the main conclusion is obvious: in the 1975-1976 was four errors – branding (the first), communication (the second), psychological (the third) and operational (the fourth), the totality of which played a fatal role ^{[24; 25; 26]}.

So proceeding from the provisions of the complexity and contradictions of the process of bringing to cultural standards, entry into the world of the dominant culture (including information) and the crucial role of subcultures in this process, we can agree with the need to discharge audioculture as a basic subsystems integrated phonographic of information culture, its private «sound» if it differs for its certain locality and reticence in a certain measure.

We have expressed and tried to justify the assumption that a great musician, perhaps one of the most prolific and underrated guitarists of all times, Tommy Bolin has become hostage to the brand which was originally created for the realization of other ideas of another remarkable musician Ritchie Blackmore. You never know if the team and label management listened to David Coverdale’s ideas, the events would have developed differently ^{[27; 28; 29]}.

Unfortunately, these and some other circumstances were the main determinants of Bolin’s addiction. As a result, on December 4, 1976 the musician was found dead in a hotel room in Miami. He was only 25 years old. He was a great talent that will always have a special place in heart many music fans.

And his Great Gypsy Soul is still with us...

In this regard, we see one additional educational task - to attract the attention of the younger generation of music lovers to the creation of Tommy Bolin, whose name, in general, for many years remains a symbol only for a fairly narrow range of rock fans...

Collecting LPs and other artifacts recording serves different purposes: pragmatic, aesthetic, economic, sacral, research and more. We also agree that, collectibles are a reliable money investment as before, and now even at a greater extent. In modern conditions the recording is the most important factor in shaping e-culture. Nowadays there is no scientifically developed discography fund LPs. Meanwhile, in some foreign countries gramophone are gathered as well as books in libraries, special archives, and a discography is recognized as one of the auxiliary historical disciplines. As a promising direction we define the development of effective anti-counterfeit recording by legal means of simultaneous creation and effective implementation of the legal framework of communication in using phonograph records in the new information-psychological space.

The study of the legal features of various types of editions, recording new interpretations of previously issued press releases and other problems in the area of ​​the right to record and musical citation may be prospects for further research in the «phonographic sector» of intellectual property rights. We can say that in some ways there is a trend kulturologizatsii information lawmaking and enforcement. In general, the audio-visual culture is diverse and multifaceted phenomenon and is made up of components that are in multi-level combinations.

And finally the last argument. On May 22, 2015 is scheduled official release of the new album by WHITESNAKE speaking (for the relevant experts and many fans!) called The Purple Album, which is redefining the DEEP PURPLE’s heritage from period 1974-1975. In current practice, the producer of the music business like reception with formal legal point called the English phrase «re-imagination of classic songs». On this release taken a lot of songs written and recorded with Tommy Bolin in period Come Taste the Band.