English guitar legend/hero name Robin Trower(born as Robin Leonard Trower March 9, '45)in his 1st band the Paramounts in '62-'66, + Robin's short lived trio The Jam, then later replacing original guitarist Ray Royer of '60's psychedelic blues rock band Procol Harum(formed by Robin's Westcliff High School peer Gary Brooker who also played in the Paramounts)after the successful debut release of A Whiter Shade of Pale in '67(Robin did not play on the track, but did play on all the other tracks on the LP).Robin putting down his Gibson SG, Gibson Les Paul, Gibson ES models, and Gretsch guitars to start more of a Jimi Hendrix kind of vibe from '71 to present after borrowing Jethro Tull's Martin Barre's Fender Stratocaster during a soundcheck in '71(when Procol Harum was touring with Tull)Robin yelling in the auditorium "That is it!" and never going back to any other guitar of choice.Robin left Procol Harum in ‘73ish after completing 5 studio LP's(Procol Harum '67, Shine on Brightly '68, A Salty Dog '69, Home '70, Broken Barricades '71)from '67-April/June '71.Trower made a brief reunion on The Prodigal Stranger LP in '91.Later Robin started his own solo rock'n roll road career with a new band called Robin Trower.Robin Trower consisted of UNDERRATED former Scottish bassist/vocalist James Dewar(played a Fender and Gibson bass, Ampeg amps)from another '60's blues psychedelic band, Stone The Crows, Reg Isidore(Ludwig drummer)who was born in Aruba.Originally Robin Trower's drummer was going to consist of Jethro Tull's drummer Clive Bunker but I guess it didn't work out.But Robin was in a short lived band called Jude after he split from Procol Harum which consisted of Clive Bunker, bassist James Dewar, and lead singer Frankie Miller.The band never made a single recording and broke up.Robin Trower releasing their debut LP in March '73, Twice Removed From Yesterday which was a combination of psychedelic blues/rock.Robin Trower released a certified gold 2nd LP called Bridge of Sighs in April '74(early pressing covers were upside-down/greenish), both LP's produced by producer who also worker with Procol Harum, Matthew Fisher(organist).Bridge of Sighs included Trower fan favorites/live concert setlist throughout the '70's, '80's, '90's and present.Apparently the title of the electrifying 2nd LP was named after a race horse called Bridge of Sighs Robin found in a sports book/magazine and thought it would be a cool name for a song/LP title.Bridge of Sighs was listed #7 and on the U.S. charts for 31 weeks and certified gold on Sept 10, '74!Early versions of Day of the Eagle(originally titled as Another Day, Another Night), and Little Bit Of Sympathy can be heard live as early as June or July '73@Bataclan, Paris on French Pop 2 TV(seen on YouTube).Little Bit Of Sympathy was an up tempo blues rock song written in the key of E minor with Trower's very influential Hendrix style playability all up and down the fretboard.Little Bit Of Sympathy was a concert setlist band/fan favorite, and was usually Trower's anthem(like Jimi Hendrix's Voodoo Child(Slight Return)released on '68 LP Electric Ladyland)leaving fans breathless and speechless.Also played live on Old Grey Whistle Test in '74.Trower influenced by Jimi after seeing his last concert days before his death in Berlin, Germany@Isle Of Fehmarn Sept 6, '70.Song for a Dreamer(released on Procol Harum's Broken Barricades in '71)was Robin's tribute to Jimi.My personal experience being introduced to Robin Trower was going in my dad's record/CD collection and I was sold by the mysterious majestical LP cover of Bridge of Sighs and was curious what it sounded like not knowing what or who I was listening to at the 11 year old curious boy I was.I'd listen to something that took me into another dimension and put a SPELLBOUND(Daydream Trower 1st LP reference)on me.I also had a TROWER POWER EXPERIENCE after going to a relatives house(who was also a guitarist/band member before myself)who asked me if I ever heard of Procol Harum and taking me to his room to baptize my ears to Procol Harum's '72 compliation LP The Best Of Procol Harum on his record player.Hearing the beginning stages of Procol Harum's TROWER POWER song Whiskey Train BLEW ME AWAY!Robin Trower well noted for using late '60's-early '70's Fender Stratocaster's(black, olympic white, sunburst or in a solid color like red or gold with maple fretboards for the most part, sometimes rosewood fretboards)with the fat Hendrix headstocks(most times), Marshall amp stacks, Uni or Deja Vibe, wah, tube overdrive, and possibly fuzz pedals(Fuzz Face).
Robin Trower:
Robin Trower–guitar
James Dewar–bass vocals
Reg Isidore–drums
Gear
FenderStandardStratocaster
RolandMicroCubeGXAmp(ClassicStack/Reverb)
BossFB-2Feedbacker/Booster
JimDunlopFFM6JimiHendrix"BandofGypsys"MiniFuzzFace
VoxV847AWah
FulltoneRobinTrowerSignatureOverdrive
MXRM-68Uni-Vibe
BossGE-7Equalizer
ErnieBallCoilCable/Strings
JimDunlopPicks
VintageAce'70'sJimmyPage/RobinTrowerGuitarStrap