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Robin Trower

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Robin Trower

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Guitarist, singer

Robin Trower began his career in the 1960s with the band Procol Harum, whose enigmatic lyrics and evocative sound typified and exemplified for many an era of experimentation and idyllic hopes. Deeply inspired by the blues as well as his contemporaries, including rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix, Trower eventually struck out on his own. In doing so he launched himself on a journey peppered with success and failure, but one on which he always remained true to his own particular brand of rock guitar.

Critical reaction to Trower has varied from laudatory to impatient. In a 2000 review from the Augusta Chronicle, Tharon A. Giddens described Trower's style: "[He] continues to deliver tasty, dense metal blues guitar expected of a Hendrix acolyte." David Sinclair of the London Times wrote, "Thirty-two years after he released his first album, [he] remains cocooned in an artistic bubble that has proved impervious to all outside developments … since the mid-1970s." For Trower, the critics be damned, it's the fans that count. His loyal fan base has sold out his venues, bought his records, and helped run his website. Trower has more than 30 years of solo performing under his belt, and has released more than 20 solo albums.

Attracted to Blues
Trower was born March 9, 1945, in London, England. He was fortunate enough to be the son of parents with an inherent interest in music. From 1959 to 1963 Trower's parents, Len and Shirley, operated a coffee house in their basement called the Shades, which catered to the burgeoning "Mods" scene—one that focused on fashion, music, and an urban sensibility. Around this time Trower began his career as a musician playing in a rhythm-and-blues-influenced band called the Paramounts. The Paramounts recorded a few singles and then disbanded in 1965.

In 1967 Gary Brooker, one of the original members of the Paramounts, needed a band to perform and tour in support of some songs he had co-written and recorded. Trower and B.J. Wilson, also of the Paramounts, joined Brooker, along with Matthew Fisher on organ and David Knights on bass, to form Procol Harum. Trower played with Procol Harum for a few years, but left in 1971 to go solo. He explained his reason for leaving Procol Harum to Alan Sculley of the St. Louis PostDispatch: "I was starting to write more and more material … which obviously was all guitar music. There just wasn't the room in Procol Harum for it." Trower went from the moody off-kilter romanticism of Procol Harum to develop his own hard-edged blues-influenced style of guitar playing.

On His Own
Trower tried forming another band in 1971, called Jude, but it didn't last long, and the format just didn't seem to work for Trower. That was when he decided to become a solo artist. He organized a backup group that consisted of talented and dedicated musicians, many of whom became mainstays of his band. This included singer and bassist James Dewar and Bill Lordan on drums.

In 1973 Trower's first solo album, Twice Removed From Yesterday, was released. It contained the singles "I Can't Wait Much Longer" and "Hannah." It did not become a hit, but the lack of attention wouldn't last long. The following year his album Bridge of Sighs was released. Bridge of Sighs became a hit, and still remains a necessary addition to any collection of early 1970s guitar music. Popular singles from Bridge of Sighs included "Day of the Eagle," "Too Rolling Stoned," and "Bridge of Sighs." His follow-up album, For Earth Below, was also successful. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s he released records almost annually and filled stadiums with his energetic, spiraling guitar playing. Bruce Madden of the Grand Rapids Press described the style that was specifically Trower's: "Trower's solo albums merged blues, controlled feedback, ethereal soundscapes and wah-wah peddle assaults."

While Trower was productive, almost prolific, during the 1970s, by the 1980s his popularity had begun to wane. He continued to produce albums, collaborating with other artists such as Lordan and Jack Bruce. But by the late 1980s Trower felt a need to delve into new material. He had started writing more lyrics and was feeling a need to sing as well.

Returned to Blues
His journey eventually brought Trower to a crossroads. He wanted to record a blues album, but couldn't find a record company. He explained to Madden, "I couldn't get any major label, or even a minor one, interested in me doing a blues album." That led Trower to the decision to create his own label. In the early 1990s Trower formed the record label V-12. After exploring different sounds throughout the late 1970s and the 1980s that left him unsatisfied, Trower wanted to focus more on the traditional style of blues and its influence on his music.

In 1994 he released 20th Century Blues, a collection of his own works, with Livingstone Brown delivering vocals. Three years later he released Someday Blues. He told Curtis Ross of the Tampa Tribune about his intentions with this album: "How can you top B.B. King, Albert King, and Otis Rush?… my goal isn't to 'top' anyone, but to draw on my love of blues." Trower described to Madden the satisfaction of working on his own label: "Being able to have my own label is about being able to make the tracks I want to make." He further described what playing the blues means to him: "With blues, I'm trying to get to a place, it's like an attitude, an atmosphere … when you hit it—it's the most satisfying thing." With 40 years of performing under his belt, Trower seems to have found a place in the pantheon of rock guitar stars. His talent has remained consistent and so has the adoration he receives from fans around the world.

Selected discography

With Procol Harum
Procol Harum, Deram, 1967.Shine On Brightly, Repertoire, 1968.A Salty Dog, A&M, 1969.Home, Repertoire, 1970.Broken Barricades, A&M, 1971.Best of Procol Harum, A&M, 1973.Prodigal Stranger, Zoo, 1990.The Long Goodbye, RCA Victor, 1995.
Solo albums
Twice Removed From Yesterday, Chrysalis, 1973.Bridge of Sighs, Chrysalis, 1974.For Earth Below, Chrysalis, 1975.Robin Trower Live, Chrysalis, 1976.Long Misty Days, Chrysalis, 1976.In City Dreams, Chrysalis, 1977.Caravan to Midnight, Chrysalis, 1978.Victims of the Fury, Chrysalis, 1980.(With Jack Bruce and Bill Lordan) BLT, Chrysalis, 1981.(With Jack Bruce and Bill Lordan) Truce, One Way, 1982.Back It Up, BGO, 1983.Beyond the Mist, Passport, 1985.Passion, GNP Crescendo, 1987.Take What You Need, Atlantic, 1988.In the Line of Fire, Atlantic, 1990.Essential Robin Trower, Chrysalis, 1991.(With the Bryan Ferry Band) Taxi, Toshiba EMI, 1993.20th Century Blues, V-12, 1994.(With Bryan Ferry) Mamouna, Virgin Records, 1994.BBC Radio One-Live, Griffin, 1995.The King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Robin Trower, King Biscuit Flower, 1995.Someday Blues, V-12, 1997; reissued as Another Day's Blues, V-12, 2005.This Was Now, V-12, 1999.Go My Way, Town Sound, 2000.Speed of Sound: The Best of Robin Trower, Fuel 2000, 2002.Living Out of Time, V-12, 2003.
Sources
Augusta Chronicle, October 6, 2000, p. O05.
Evening Times (Glasgow, UK), November 12, 2005, p. 14.
Gazette (Colorado Springs, CO), November 9, 2001, p. GO16.
Grand Rapids Press, July 9, 1997, p. B8.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 20, 2001, p. GO25.
St. Petersburg Times (St. Petersburg, FL), July 28, 2000, p. 15W.
Tampa Tribune, July 28, 2000, p. 14.
Times (London, England), April 20, 2005, p.18.
Vancouver Sun, July 31, 2003, p. C5.
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists:

Robin Trower

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  • Genres: Rock

Biography

Throughout his long and winding solo career, guitarist Robin Trower has had to endure countless comparisons to Jimi Hendrix, due to his uncanny ability to channel Hendrix's bluesy/psychedelic, Fender Strat-fueled playing style. Born on March 9, 1945, in Catford, England, Trower spent the early '60s playing guitar in various London based outfits; the most successful one being the R&B group the Paramounts, who specialized mostly in covers, but managed to issue several singles between 1963 and 1965. It wasn't until 1967 that Trower received his big break however, when he joined Procol Harum. The group had just scored a worldwide smash hit with "A Whiter Shade of Pale," but the only problem was that the band's leader, singer/pianist Gary Brooker, didn't have a proper band to back him. Brooker was previously a bandmate of Trower's in the Paramounts, and offered the guitar slot in his new fast-rising project to his old friend. As a result, Trower appeared on such Procol Harum classics as 1967's Procol Harum, 1968's Shine on Brightly, 1969's A Salty Dog, 1970's Home (which spawned the popular Trower tune "Whiskey Train"), and 1971's Broken Barricades.

While Procol Harum helped launch Trower's career, the guitarist realized there was limited space for his guitar work, and eventually left for a solo career. Enlisting singer/bassist James Dewar and drummer Reg Isidore (who was soon replaced by Bill Lordan) as a backing band, Trower issued his solo debut, Twice Removed From Yesterday, in 1973. The album barely left a dent in the U.S. charts, but that would change soon enough with his next release, 1974's Bridge of Sighs. With rock fans still reeling from Hendrix's death a few years earlier, the album sounded eerily similar to the late guitarist's work with the Jimi Hendrix Experience (especially his 1968 release, Electric Ladyland), and as a result, the album sky rocketed into the U.S. Top Ten, peaking at number seven.

Although Bridge of Sighs was to be his most popular solo release, Trower's stock continued to rise throughout the mid-'70s, as he became an arena headliner on the strength of such hit albums as 1975's For Earth Below, 1976's Robin Trower Live!, and Long Misty Days, plus 1977's In City Dreams. Further releases followed, yet by the dawn of the '80s, it became quite obvious that Trower's star was rapidly fading, as each album sold less than its predecessor. A brief union with ex-Cream bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce spawned a pair of releases, 1981's B.L.T. and 1982's Truce, before Trower returned back to his solo career.

The '80s saw Trower try and expand his audience with several releases that attempted to update his blues-rock style (such as 1987's slick produced Passion), but none returned the guitarist back to the top of the charts. During the early '90s, Trower returned back to Procol Harum for a brief reunion (1991's Prodigal Stranger), before backing ex-Roxy Music singer Bryan Ferry on a few releases (1993's Taxi and 1994's Mamouna, the latter of which Trower earned a co-producer credit for). Trower continued to issue solo albums in the 21st century (2000's Go My Way), while a steady stream of live sets and compilations appeared. Trower returned to work with Ferry once more on 2002's Frantic, again earning a production credit. Reassembling most of his late-'80s band, Trower released Living Out of Time in 2004 and returned with Another Days Blues in late 2005. What Lies Beneath appeared in 2009 from V-12 Records. ~ Greg Prato, Rovi
Wikipedia on Answers.com:

Robin Trower

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This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (September 2009)
Robin Trower

Trower onstage 19th October, 2009
Background information
Birth name Robin Leonard Trower
Born (1945-03-09) 9 March 1945 (age 67)
Catford, South East London England, United Kingdom
Genres Rock, blues, blues-rock
Occupations Musician, vocalist, songwriter, bandleader
Instruments Guitar
Years active 1962–present
Labels Chrysalis, Atlantic
Associated acts Procol Harum, The Paramounts, Jack Bruce
Website www.trowerpower.com
Notable instruments
Signature Model Stratocaster

Robin Trower (born Robin Leonard Trower, on 9 March 1945) is an English rock guitarist and vocalist who achieved success with Procol Harum during the 1960s, and then again as the bandleader of his own power trio.

Contents

Biography

Trower was born in Catford, South East London, England and grew up in the seaside resort of Southend-on-Sea, Essex. In 1962, Trower formed a group that became The Paramounts, later including fellow Southend High School pupil Gary Brooker.[Believe this should be Westcliff High School for Boys] The Paramounts disbanded in 1966 to pursue individual projects. During this time, Trower created a local three-piece band called 'The Jam' (not to be confused with the later group with Paul Weller). Trower then joined Brooker's new band Procol Harum following the success of their debut single "A Whiter Shade of Pale" in 1967, remaining with them until 1971 and appearing on Procol Harum's first five albums.

Before launching his own eponymous band, he joined singer Frankie Miller, bass player James Dewar, and former Jethro Tull drummer Clive Bunker to form the short-lived combo Jude.[1] This outfit did not record and soon split up.

Trower retained Dewar as his bassist, who took on lead vocals as well, and recruited drummer Reg Isidore (later replaced by Bill Lordan) to form the Robin Trower Band in 1973.[2]

Perhaps Trower's most famous album is Bridge of Sighs (1974). This album, along with his first and third solo albums, was produced by his former Procol Harum bandmate, organist Matthew Fisher. Despite differences, Trower's early power trio work was noted for Hendrixesque influences.[2]

Trower is an influential guitarist who has inspired other guitar legends such as Robert Fripp[3] - "Robin Trower is one of the very few English guitarists that have mastered bends and wobbles. Not only has he got inside them, with an instinctive knowing of their affective power, but they went to live inside his hands. It is the rare English guitarist who has been able to stand alongside American guitarists and play with an equal authority to someone grounded in a fundamentally American tradition. Trower has been widely criticised for his influences. This has never bothered me. I toured America in 1974 with Ten Years After top of the bill, King Crimson second, and Robin Trower bottom. The chart positions were the opposite: TYA in the Billboard 160s, Crimson in the 60s and Trower climbing remorselessly through the top twenty. Nearly every night I went out to listen to him. This was a man who hung himself on the details: the quality of sound, nuances of each inflection and tearing bend, and abandonment to the feel of the moment. He saved my life. Later, in England, he gave me guitar lessons."

In the early 1980s, Trower teamed up with former Cream bassist Jack Bruce and his previous drummers Lordan and Isidore, for two albums, BLT (Bruce, Lordan, Trower) and Truce (Trower, Bruce, Isidore).[2] After those albums, he released another album with James Dewar on vocals titled Back It Up in 1983.[4] Robin Trower was dropped from Chrysalis Records afterwards.[5]

Trower at the Liri Blues Festival, Italy, in 2005

Thirteen albums later, Trower's album, Living Out of Time (2003), features the return of veteran bandmates Dave Bronze on bass, vocalist Davey Pattison (formerly with Ronnie Montrose's band Gamma) and Pete Thompson on drums—the same lineup as the mid 1980s albums Passion and Take What You Need.

With the same bandmates Trower gave a concert on his 60th birthday in Bonn, Germany. The concert was recorded by the German television channel WDR. It was then released on DVD and subsequently on CD throughout Europe and later the US under the title Living Out Of Time: Live. Trower toured the United States and Canada in the summer and autumn of 2006.

In 2007 Trower released a third recording with Jack Bruce, Seven Moons, featuring Gary Husband on drums.

A 2008 world tour began in Ft. Pierce, Florida on 16 January 2008. Joining Davey Pattison and Pete Thompson was Glenn Letsch (formerly of Gamma) playing bass. European dates began in April. The 29 March 2008 show at the Royal Oak Music Theater in Royal Oak, Michigan was released as a double album on V12 Records.

As his "big hero" he referenced the early James Brown where blues is crossing over into rock and roll.[6]

Equipment

Trower in 1975

Trower has been a longtime proponent of the Fender Stratocaster. He currently uses his custom-built Strat (made by the Fender Custom Shop) which comes in Black, Arctic White and Midnight Wine Burst. The guitar is equipped with a 1950s reissue pickup in the neck position, a 1960s reissue in the middle position, and a Texas Special at the bridge.[7] Other features included a custom C-shaped maple neck featuring a large headstock with a Bullet truss-rod system, locking machine heads and a maple fingerboard with narrow-spaced abalone dot position inlays and 21 frets. The Strats he plays live are an exact model of his signature guitar, which is entirely unmodified. During live performances and on most of his albums, his guitar is tuned a full step down to a DGCFAD tuning.

Trower uses between one and three 100-watt Marshall heads with four to six cabinets on stage. While he usually uses two JCM 800s and a JCM 900, he also links 100-watt Marshall Plexi heads. In studio sessions, Trower uses a mix of amplifiers, such as a Fender Blues Junior and Cornell Plexi Amplifers models to acquire different tonality. Recently, Trower has been using Marshall Vintage Modern 2466 heads live.

He has recently been using Fulltone pedals and effects. He favors the OCD, Distortion Pro, Fat Boost, CLYDE Deluxe Wah, Deja Vibe 2, Soul-Bender, and a BOSS Chromatic Tuner. He runs his Deja Vibe into his distortion pedal to get his famous tone. He was given his own signature Fulltone Robin Trower Overdrive in late 2008.

For his 2009 and 2011 US tours Robin was using his Fender Custom Shop Signature Stratocaster into a Fulltone Deja Vibe 2, Fulltone Wahfull, Fulltone Clyde Standard Wah, Fulltone Full Drive, Fulltone Robin Trower Overdrive and Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner into two Marshall Vintage Modern 2466 heads.

Discography

With Procol Harum

With Robin Trower Band

With Bryan Ferry

With Jack Bruce

  • 1981 B.L.T.
  • 1981 Truce
  • 1989 No Stopping Anytime (compilation)
  • 2008 Seven Moons
  • 2009 Seven Moons Live (live)

See also

References

  1. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 233. CN 5585. 
  2. ^ a b c d Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 776–777. ISBN 1-84195-017-3. 
  3. ^ "Fripp on Trower". Procolharum.com. 1996-11-19. http://www.procolharum.com/99/rt_fripp.htm. Retrieved 2011-10-21. 
  4. ^ "Back It Up". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r20536. Retrieved 2011-12-23. 
  5. ^ Muise, Dan (2002) (Google Books). Gallagher, Marriott, Derringer & Trower: their lives and music. Rock Chronicles. Hal Leonard. p. 273. http://books.google.com/books?id=JI4LHXgz7YEC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA273#v=onepage&q&f=false. 
  6. ^ "Robin Trower Interview by Darrin Fox". Guitar Player. Aug 17, 2011. http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/robin-trower/5524. Retrieved March 06, 2012. 
  7. ^ Guitar Player April 2008
  8. ^ "Recording Industry Association of America". RIAA. http://www.riaa.org/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH. Retrieved 2011-10-21. 
  9. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 1005–1006. ISBN 1-84195-017-3. 

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