Tommy Bolin famous quotes

I think the way I play the guitar is very percussive. I play a lot of rhythm chops as though I were playing congas or something.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Thinking #Guitar #Play

I'd rather work than not.
-- Tommy Bolin

If you're not having fun it's not worth doing.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Fun #Having Fun

A lot of times I wish I would have learned to read music, but I'm very impatient.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Wish #Impatient

I can't do anything but play guitar.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Guitar #Play #I Can

I used to try and take things in leaps and bounds. Now I've realized it's got to be step by step.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Trying #Steps #Used

Blues teaches you to develop coherent solos, because the form you're playing over is so basic. You have to develop leads that go someplace.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Form #Solo #Teach

I'll hear something in my head, then eventually play it. But it's a subconscious thing. Most of the time I really don't know what I'm playing.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Play #Subconscious #Knows

My family were all musicians. I really wasn't interested in school or anything.
-- Tommy Bolin

#School #Musician #My Family

You're in direct contact with the music by having the strings under your fingers. It's not mechanical like a piano.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Piano #Strings #Fingers

When I first colored my hair, my mother loved it. I got kicked out of school when I was 15, just for my hair.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Mother #School #Hair

I came in with a completely new perspective. I would write songs and they would pick tunes they felt were in the Purple vein.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Song #Writing #Purple

I don't like English bands. They're too structured.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Band

I'll play drums a lot at home, and it will help my wrist action.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Home #Play #Helping

Once I was playing and moving around and I fell right on my back. Just straight on my back. It was the most embarrassing moment of my life.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Moving #Moments #Embarrassing

My first joint I smoked onstage in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I smoked my first joint live.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Fall #Joints #Firsts

When you come from the Midwest, you have a more open mind than if you come from the West Coast or the East Coast.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Mind #East #Midwest

I want the new band to work together for a while, and when we're ready we'll invite every major record company to see us.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Working Together #Band #Records

When I got to LA and was with the James Gang, I got the opportunity to write a lot, to play in front of large audiences, make some money.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Writing #Opportunity #Play

Right now I feel so inspired, it's hard to believe. I've written about 20 songs in the last two days. I'd gone about four months without writing a thing.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Song #Believe #Writing

The best money I made was panhandling.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Made #Best Money

I learned a lot about lead; you don't have to blow your cookies in the first bar. It is much harder to be simple that to be complicated during solos.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Blow #Simple #Bars

When I'm with Purple, I'm totally with Purple; when I'm doing my thing, I'm totally doing my own thing.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Purple #My Own

I have my own style, but it's different for each kind of music. There are certain little characteristic things every player has.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Player #Style #Different

Lots of times it really doesn't matter what notes you play, but what notes come before and after a run.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Running #Play #Matter

All the different styles I've played have really helped me as a guitarist and helped me develop my own way of playing.
-- Tommy Bolin

#Style #Different #Way