An interview with Robin Trower
on Rockline Radio hosted by
Bob Coburn
Wednesday April 21st, 2004
[Music clip, Too Rolling Stoned from the 1974 release Bridge Of Sighs]
Bob: What a great night for rock and roll, and a super night if you love guitar. I’m Bob
Coburn, welcome back to Rockline 1-800-344- rock is our number Robin Trower has just
given us a brand new cd called Living Out Of Time which features that patented Trower
sound with a 2004 slant and Rockline welcomes guitarist extraordinaire Robin Trower,
how are ya?
Robin: Hello, I’m good. Nice to be here.
Bob: Nice to see you face to face. Move a little closer to that microphone so we can hear you
very well. We’re in the Complex Studios in Los Angeles and you’ve been patiently
waiting your turn and now it is your turn. Congratulations on the album, it’s beautiful.
Robin: Oh, thank you very much. I appreciate that.
Bob: It really does have… you hear the first couple of notes and you know that it’s
Robin Trower.
Robin: You’re the second guy that’s said that to me today.
Bob: Really?
Robin: Yeah.
Bob: Second in one day…
Robin: Yeah, I’m absolutely thrilled…
Bob: We’re onto something good then here. You actually recorded this a little while ago
didn’t you?
Robin: Yeah, that’s right. I finished it at the beginning of last year and it just took ages to
get it together to get it out and everything, but it’s worth it.
Bob: How do you get that patented Trower sound that two people would notice in one day?
(Laughter)
Robin: Ah, it’s not something that I really consciously do, I think it’s just me searching for the
tone you know, and this sort of impact I’m trying to make.
Bob: I think tone is so important with guitar and when it’s right, you can really, really hear it.
Was this every an import? Is it new to the States or is it new internationally?
Robin: Ah, I think, it’s not out anywhere else in the world.
Bob: Oh really? Only the States. So we‘re the lucky ones who get it. Oh that’s ever better.
I think part of the sound that you get too, you’ve got that great Passion band and
Davey Pattison on vocals and that has an air of familiarity to it as well.
Robin: Definitely, yeah and it just came together by accident, but it was so great working with
guys that I’ve worked with before. We just went straight into it you know. I mean
because we knew each other so well and done a lot of live work together which goes a
long way.
Bob: You wrote virtually everything on the album, you co-wrote a couple of songs with
Richard Watts. Who is he and do you have any future projects in store with him.
Robin: Yes, at the moment I’m working on his solo album…
Bob: Oh, okay.
Robin: … which I’ve been doing for the last few months now, and he’s just a wonderful, wonderful
singer and great writer. A young guy, you know. He’s got a very, very soulful, lovely
musical voice.
Bob: I think we all have something to give one another if we’re given the chance to do so…
Robin: Absolutely.
Bob: …so that’s good to hear. You can speak with Robin toll free at 1-800-344-rock. I have to
tell you, every single line is going right now at Rockline. We will start with a song from the
brand new album, Living Out Of Time. This is called, Step Into The Sun.
Robin Trower on Rockline.
[Played in its entirety]
Bob: That is just outstanding! You gotta be really happy the way that turned out.
Robin: Yeah that really did turn out well, that track.
Bob: Man, Step Into The Sun, and we will shine. It’s Robin Trower. Brand new cd, Living
Out Of Time. I’m Bob Coburn. Time for Robin to talk to you. From Kansas City,
Missouri it’s Brian. Hi Brian you’re on Rockline.
Brian: Hi Robin, how ya doing?
Robin: I’m doing fine. How are you doing?
Brian: I just have a two-part question. How was your experience working on the soundtrack to
the movie, The Good Humor Man, and is this the first soundtrack you’ve ever done?
Robin: Oh you heard about that eh? I absolutely loved it. It was a fantastic experience. It’s
something I’ve always wanted to do, and I hope I get asked to do another one.
Bob: Hopefully you will as well. Did you write expressly for that?
Robin: Yes it was a score written for the actual movie. It was tough to do it, but it was a very
thrilling thing to do.
Bob: And of course you have to write completely differently because you’re trying to match
up to something.
Robin: That’s right. You have to get the right note, the emotional note for the scene and
everything and the pulse and… yeah it’s a whole different ballgame.
Bob: A whole different ballgame.
[Laughter]
Bob: A lot of people have made that transition. Trevor Rabin from Yes does a lot of score
work and other people as well. Danny Elfman from [Oingo] Boingo…
Robin: Yeah he does some great stuff.
Bob: He does some great stuff. Let’s take another call. This time from Knoxville, it’s Sam.
You’re on Rockline.
Sam: Hi Robin, how ya doing tonight?
Robin: Good.
Sam: Good. As an avid concertgoer, I got the main question, I think the most important of all,
are you going to tour again, and when?
Bob: Yeah Sam, there you go.
Robin: Well I’m very hopeful. I’m wanting to get out there and do it, but we haven’t been able
to line everything up just yet, so keep your ear to the ground about that one I think.
Bob: If you do, will it be with this band?
Robin: I’m not sure. I mean that’s a long time ago when that was finished, you know and…
Bob: Sure.
Robin: … and people move on that’s the thing, so I’d have to look at who I’d come out with if
and when it comes together.
Bob: I know Davey has had a couple of solo albums…
Robin: Yeah, that’s right.
Bob: … as the years have gone by, and you co-produced this with Dave Bronze who plays on
the album as well.
Robin: That’s right, yeah. I mean he’s such a wonderful musician. Big ears, you know, a great
player, yeah.
Bob: Well we’ll play at least one more song from the brand new album. If you’ve not heard it,
boy you’re in for a treat. This is an absolutely outstanding cd. Let’s head to Portland
Oregon and speak with Cory. Hi Cory.
Cory: D.C.!
Bob: Heey Cory [Laughs]
Cory: R.T.!
Robin: Hi.
Cory: What an honour. I feel like I’m livin’ in a daydream, and there’s no fool in me right now.
[Laughter]
Cory: Say listen, it’s been thirty years since the release of Bridge Of Sighs and I’d like to
know… what are you most proud of over that span of time, and I’ve got a second
question for you Robin. I’d like to know what kind of response and feedback have you
got from other guitar players on your guitar player instructional video? It made an impact
on me and I’m a drummer, so…
Robin: [Laughs] Well, what am I most proud of… I think obviously the track itself. Bridge Of
Sighs I think is still perhaps my best bit of work I’ve ever done on record and… No, I
haven’t had a lot of feedback from guitar players, I mean occasionally you meet
somebody outside the stage door and they’ll say, ’I’ve got your video and it’s great’,
but not a lot of feedback on that.
Bob: Yeah, but it’s certainly beneficial and if you can influence a drummer like Cory…
[Laughter]… you do something pretty well.
Bob: We will play one song out of the past, and I think you’ll recognize this song, it’s
Day Of The Eagle. Robin Trower on Rockline.
[Played just short of its entirety]
Bob: Day Of The Eagle, Robin Trower. We’ll save a few second on the end of that song
and allow you to speak with Robin. Every line jammed right now, 1-800-344-ROCK.
[Advertisement - returning with music clip from, What’s Your Name]
Bob: Welcome back to Rockline. The time belongs to Robin Trower. The brand new album
is, Living Out Of Time, I’m Bob Coburn. We’ll take a call from Talladega, Alabama
and this is Freddie. Freddie you’re up.
Freddie: Robin…
Robin: Hi.
Freddie: … I’d like to know what happened to the blues vocalist you had that I just heard singing,
the Day Of The Eagle and…
Robin: James Dewar unfortunately was very ill for many years and he passed away last year,
sorry the year before last now. It’s getting on to two years since he died in actual fact,
and obviously he’s very, very sadly missed. Yeah, he was a great vocalist wasn’t he.
**** ( for additional information on James Dewar please click here )
Bob: He was a great vocalist and if I recall, he was ill for a prolonged period of time.
Robin: That’s right. He was ill for over ten years I think it was.
Bob: What a shame. Freddie did you have anything else tonight?
Freddie: Yeah. Will you be coming out with another blues album?
Robin: I’d like to. I mean give me half a chance and I’ll be in there…
[Laughter]
Robin: … ‘cause I love doing it you know, yeah. Definitely.
Bob: That would be good too ‘cause you can play so many styles. That’s one of the things
I’ve enjoyed about your playing. You cover a lot of ground.
Robin: I did a blues album a few years ago and in actual fact, I’m at the moment putting Davey
Pattison’s vocals on it where mine were and I’m reworking the album, so that’s going to
be coming out towards the beginning of next year I think.
Bob: And which album is this?
Robin: It’s an album I did about eight years ago called, Someday Blues.
Bob: Someday Blues, right, right.
Robin: I just listened to it a few months ago and I thought, ‘This would be a very good album
if the vocals were any good’. [Laughs]
Bob: You did the vocals originally so now you’re inserting Davey into this. [Laughs]
Robin: I’m putting Davey on it and I’m sort of remaking it. Just because I thought, well the
material’s so good and everything and with a great singer in there it’s gonna be good
you know, so…
Bob: Outstanding. I love hearing that we’re gonna get more. That’s good news. Freddie
thank you. Let’s talk to Cameron in Oklahoma City. Cameron, hi.
Cameron: Hey, I was just wondering what you feel is most important, recording great albums
or playing great live shows,
Robin: I have to say the biggest thrill of all is definitely a great live night in front of a great
audience, you know, if you get a great sound on stage and everything goes right… there’s
absolutely nothing to touch it for the feeling of satisfaction and creativity that you get
out of that, you know. But I love going in the studio and cutting tracks as well because
that’s fresh and that’s very creative.
Bob: But live… it’s the ultimate, instant gratification.
Robin: Yeah, absolutely. I mean it’s the energy thing isn’t it when you’re getting feedback off
an audience and it drives you on and builds the whole thing up and you reach places that
you can’t do without an audience, you can’t get there. That’s why it’s so satisfying.
Bob: Sitting in this chair for so many years, so many great artists have told me, ‘Ah, that show.
I felt so bad. I walked out on stage and I felt great and then went back to the hotel room
and collapsed’. It’s just that adrenalin hits and you get pumped up and there you go.
Robin: I remember Pete Townsend said once, ’ You come out on stage and there’s several
thousand people there that are glad to see you’!!
[Laughter]
Bob: What a great way to put it.
Robin: You’re going to feel good aren’t you, really.
Bob: Cameron, thanks for joining us tonight. We’ll talk to… there’s a lot of S's here… we’ll
talk to Steve in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, hi Steve.
Steve: Hi, how ya doing Robin?
Robin: Good, thank you.
Steve: Good to hear ya. I just wanted to know… I’ve admired your songwriting more than
anything and I just wanted to know, for the most part where do you draw your lyrical
inspirations from. Is it from the media, or personal experience, for example the song,
Please Tell Me, off Living Out Of Time. What inspired you with the lyrics for that?
Robin: Well, the actual inspiration of that was the Afghan thing… Afghanistan. The soldiers
going into Afghanistan and I sort of just put myself in their place. About having to
go into this strange land and what would it be like. You just wouldn‘t know what you
were feeling about it definitely. That’s what that song’s about, basically.
Bob: So you would then draw inspiration from almost anything.
Robin: Everything that comes in that you’re exposed to, it’ll end up in a lyric in one way or
another because you’re writing from within yourself. From you own imagination, but
also from your own feelings about things, so that’s got to end up in your lyrics, if
you’re truthful about what you’re writing.
Bob: We had a guest on recently and one of the quotes that he had, I really love, was,
‘Honesty is my only armor’.
Robin: Yeah.
Bob: I thought that was a really good way to put it. Let’s play another song off of this
outstanding new album by Robin Trower, Living Out Of Time.
This is Another Time Another Place.
[Played in its entirety]
Bob: Man can you create a mood. That is just in the pocket there.
Robin: Thank you very much.
Bob: Another Time Another Place from a brand new album, Living Out Of Time by Robin
Trower. Before we run out of time let’s take more calls. From Jacksonville, North
Carolina, David you get to be on.
David: Hey Robin. I have two questions for you.
Robin: Okay.
David: How did you come up with the song, Too Rolling Stoned, and do you keep in touch
with Procol Harum?
Robin: I don’t see so much of the guys from Procal Harum these last few years. I bump into
Gary [Brooker] occasionally. Now how did I come up with, Too Rolling Stoned. I
think it started off with just the guitar riff idea, but the chorus part is really a pinch from
a James Brown song, which, I’ve always admitted to it.. the song was called, Down And
Out In New York City, just that chord change really is taken from that song, but
obviously the lyric and everything is different. Yeah, that’s really where it was coming
from. Pretty much a James Brown kind of vibe, you know.
Bob: We all do that though, a little nick here a little nick there…
Robin: Yeah..
[Laughter]
Bob: David thanks. Let’s talk to Steve in Nekoosa, Wisconsin. Hi Steve.
Steve: Yes, Robin, the ten-minute song, I Want To Take You With Me on your new album…
Robin: Yeah.
Steve: It blows the doors off of anything you’ve ever done, in my opinion and my question is,
do you prefer doing those ten minute songs versus three to four minute ones.
Robin: Obviously as a guitar player I love the chance to stretch out and in that kind of place
it is my kind of home. I’m very, very comfortable there and I saw an opportunity there to
do it on this song and took it. So that was a live performance that just came off, you
know.
Bob: Really… what we heard on the cd?
Robin: Yeah.
Bob: I’ll be darned. And the sequencing, the placement of it as the last song is outstanding…
Robin: Thank you.
Bob: … because it keeps going and going, we don’t want it to stop. We have to stop, but we’ll
return. It’s Rockline, I’m Bob Colburn with Robin Trower.
[Advertisement - exiting with music clip from Bridge Of Sighs]
[Return to interview leading in with music clip from Tear It Up]
Bob: Welcome back to Rockline. I’m B.C., Bob Coburn. If you have not heard, Living Out
Of Time by Robin Trower, boy you’ve got to pick it up. At least you heard some of it
tonight on Rockline. I want to thank everyone for listening in, for calling to our affiliate
stations…
[Continued thanks given to radio stations, and individuals who contributed to the show]
Bob: … and Robin, it’s just great to see you face to face.
Robin: It’s been a great pleasure for me.
Bob: This album is just so outstanding. If anyone has ever liked Robin Trower’s music, you
have to pick this up, I gotta tell you that.
Robin: Thank you very much indeed.
Bob: It’s good to see you and everybody, I’m B.C. and I’ll be seeing you too.
