If ever a book possessed the perfect title, Touched By Magic: The Tommy Bolin Story by Greg Prato would have to be it. Amazingly this is the first book ever to be written exclusively about the legendary guitarist. This 252-page book is a remarkable achievement and hits every target whilst paying respectful justice to the memory of one of the world’s great guitar stars. 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. He was seen by many as the heir apparent to the crown left by Jimi Hendrix. He is perhaps best known for his stint with Deep Purple, but he also played with the likes of The James Gang, and Billy Cobham, and left a catalogue of often overlooked solo gems.Tommy Bolin was born in Iowa in August 1951. By 1972 he had formed his own band, Energy. In 1975 he was approached by Deep Purple to replace Ritchie Blackmore for the Come Taste The Band album and subsequent tour. Jis 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. Greg Prato tells the story through an impressively extensive list of interviewees from Tommy’s tragically short life. Each quote is perfectly placed to tell a full and revealing account of this remarkable guitarist’s career and personal life. Family, close friends, managers, fellow muso’s, and colleagues all appear and recount the facts behind some of the myths that have grown since his death.The list of players within the book is huge and reads like a Who’s Who of the rock hierarchy of the time. Carmine Appice, Jan Hammer, Martin Barre, Ritchie Blackmore, Glenn Hughes, Bill Graham, David Coverdale, Nikki Sixx, Joe Walsh, and a host of others all add their fascinating insights. Members of Tommy’s family are also interviewed. It is the painstaking way that the sections of interviews are positioned that is the real triumph of this book. It flows effortlessly and covers the story in remarkable depth from his childhood to his fame, whilst recognising the demons that led to his demise.Greg Prato is a respected journalist based in Long Island, New York. He writes for a host of sites and magazines including Rolling Stone.com, All Music Guide, and Record Collector magazine. His previous books include the story of another ill-starred musician, Shannon Hoon (A Devil On One Shoulder And An Angel On The Other). He is also about to release Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History Of Seattle Rock Music.His respect for both the music and memory of Tommy Bolin shines throughout this book. It is written in such a way that it covers all the bases, however uncomfortable, through the memories, happy and sad, of those who were there and witnessed it firsthand. The authority of these eyewitness accounts cannot be questioned and the method in which they are used within the book is first class.Tommy died in 1976. Ironically the last track he ever played live was the fantastic “Post Toastee,” from the Private Eyes album, during which he sings the line, “Don’t let your mind post toastee, like a lot of my friends did.” Sadly, shortly after the show on December 3rd 1976, he died. He was only 25-years-old. There are interviews within this book that will amuse, inspire, sadden, and shock. There are even some that are disturbingly poignant, none more so than the accounts of the last time friends saw Tommy alive. This privileged information is handled expertly and sensitively by the author who lets the story tell itself.This book arrives over 30 years after his death, a longer period than Tommy lived. I have to agree with the author when he says, “It still baffles me that Tommy Bolin is as underrated and overlooked as he is.” However, his legend does live on and his work still amazes subsequent generations. Of course when a tragedy such as this occurs, we are always left not knowing what he could have gone on to achieve.In the meantime we are left with his volume of work, a well maintained website doing a great job of maintaining his rightful place in rock history, and now, at last, this fascinating and superbly researched book. You can read a sample chapter of Touched By Magic: The Tommy Bolin Story, or visit Tommy's official website to see and hear him in action.
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
Article comments
1 - Neodymium
It is great to see that Tommy Bolin is finally honoured with a book about his life. It should have been published in 1980 or so.
2 - uncle arthur
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