One of the most respected guitar players of all time, Robin Trower has spent a lifetime in music. Getting his big break when he joined Procol Harem in 1967, he scored huge solo success in the 1970s with albums like 'Bridge of Sighs' and 'For Earth Below'. His new album 'Come and Find Me' sees him fine tune his signature sound to deliver another set of soulful blues numbers. "It's definite continuation", he tells us on the phone from his home in the UK. Talking the new set, the anniversary of one of his biggest albums, and his approach, we caught up with the celebrated soloist.
Photo; Rob Blackham.
Hi Robin, how are you doing today?
Yeah, I'm feeling pretty tip top, actually,
We're here to talk about new album 'Come And Find Me', and you must be very excited with that coming out.
I'm very excited by the sort of reaction that we're getting to it. It's very uplifting. I mean, that excitement starts when you first start coming up with some ideas and writing them, and then it continues through recording. It all gives your life a bit of a ziz!
The press release says that the album was recorded sporadically over a twelve-month period; did you find that this kept things fresh?
Yeah, what I like is to do quite short periods of recording, and then, being able to get away from it for a bit, so you can have a bit more of a dispassionate feeling, or look at what you've got, and then come back and do a bit more on it. I know that the press release said it was done over twelve months, but there are a couple of tracks on there that come from quite a way back that didn't make it on the last album or the album before that.
So you're re also digging into older ideas and giving them a fresh perspective?
Yeah, I mean, the last track 'Time Stood Still', I think, was done about four or five years ago, and it was finished. I hadn't touched it since then, but it's just a matter of what fits in with everything else. It's trying to fit it together in terms of vibe. I mean, it's always been one of my favourite tracks, but I just couldn't fit it into other albums because they were on a different tack. This one really suits the album.
The first track, 'A Little Bit of Freedom' has been released ahead of the album, and it's soulful and catchy, with a breezy melody.
Yeah, it's one of my favourites, which is why I put it as the opening track. I like it because it's funky, and I like what the lyric is about. I just feel that it's very apposite of today, you know; that we are being nanny stated out of existence, practically. I don't know, I just feel that red tape and rules and everything regulations; it's all getting a bit much.
Well, it makes for a really upbeat song. I would say the message in it is as positive, isn't it?
Yeah. I mean, if we can just get that little bit of freedom? Let's say it's not a lot to ask.
Yeah, I'm feeling pretty tip top, actually,
We're here to talk about new album 'Come And Find Me', and you must be very excited with that coming out.
I'm very excited by the sort of reaction that we're getting to it. It's very uplifting. I mean, that excitement starts when you first start coming up with some ideas and writing them, and then it continues through recording. It all gives your life a bit of a ziz!
The press release says that the album was recorded sporadically over a twelve-month period; did you find that this kept things fresh?
Yeah, what I like is to do quite short periods of recording, and then, being able to get away from it for a bit, so you can have a bit more of a dispassionate feeling, or look at what you've got, and then come back and do a bit more on it. I know that the press release said it was done over twelve months, but there are a couple of tracks on there that come from quite a way back that didn't make it on the last album or the album before that.
So you're re also digging into older ideas and giving them a fresh perspective?
Yeah, I mean, the last track 'Time Stood Still', I think, was done about four or five years ago, and it was finished. I hadn't touched it since then, but it's just a matter of what fits in with everything else. It's trying to fit it together in terms of vibe. I mean, it's always been one of my favourite tracks, but I just couldn't fit it into other albums because they were on a different tack. This one really suits the album.
The first track, 'A Little Bit of Freedom' has been released ahead of the album, and it's soulful and catchy, with a breezy melody.
Yeah, it's one of my favourites, which is why I put it as the opening track. I like it because it's funky, and I like what the lyric is about. I just feel that it's very apposite of today, you know; that we are being nanny stated out of existence, practically. I don't know, I just feel that red tape and rules and everything regulations; it's all getting a bit much.
Well, it makes for a really upbeat song. I would say the message in it is as positive, isn't it?
Yeah. I mean, if we can just get that little bit of freedom? Let's say it's not a lot to ask.
You also have released 'One Go Round' as a single. It has a real slinky blues sound, and that outro solo sounds like it just pours out of you like water.
That's a ovely phrase! yeah. Well, of all the tracks on the album, that was the easiest track to record. I think it was pretty much done and dusted in a couple of hours. It's my favourite track on the album as well. That one just gets me where I live, I think. It shows off my Howlin' Wolf influences, and, yeah, the great thing about it is that it's a track that I could freeform the guitar lead, which I love to do.
I was going to ask you about that as it sounds like it's more of an improvised type solo, and something I love about your style is you leave a lot of space; it's not about a thousand notes a minute, is it?
I hope not! I'm just trying to put play as soulful as I possibly can. I mean, I think that the soloing is probably a one-take thing on that.
We'll come back to solos, but another track, 'Tangled Love' features Jess Hayes on vocals, who adds some real sass.
Well, the thing is, I came across her because her band was opening up for us on the last UK tour. Immediately I thought; "that is a great voice", and was hoping I'd be able to feature her on something of mine, so that's how that came together, but, yeah, wonderful singer, beautiful, beautiful voice. A lovely instrument she's got.
Another one that I really like is 'Take this Heart Away', which is kind of a heavy number, isn't it?
Yeah, yeah. Well, that that came about, the music started off with me thinking; "what would I come up with if they asked me to write a James Bond song?" and so I started to look into that, musically. Obviously, from that point on, it took off in its own direction, but that's how it started.
The album's full of great tracks like that, and of course, the main thing people will be wanting to hear is your solos, and your big fat lead sound. You've got a real signature sound, haven't you?
Well, I think it's definite continuation. I'm always sort of fiddling with it, you know, different combinations of amp and overdrive units. That's basically with the Strat. It's the overdrive unit and the amps that I use that create that tone. I'm always switching around the overdrive units, but they're all made by Fulltone, and I've been using his pedals now since about '92, '93, something like that.
That's a long relationship; you're obviously happy with the sound.
Yeah, it's very special, what he comes up with, Mike Fuller, that is.
That's a ovely phrase! yeah. Well, of all the tracks on the album, that was the easiest track to record. I think it was pretty much done and dusted in a couple of hours. It's my favourite track on the album as well. That one just gets me where I live, I think. It shows off my Howlin' Wolf influences, and, yeah, the great thing about it is that it's a track that I could freeform the guitar lead, which I love to do.
I was going to ask you about that as it sounds like it's more of an improvised type solo, and something I love about your style is you leave a lot of space; it's not about a thousand notes a minute, is it?
I hope not! I'm just trying to put play as soulful as I possibly can. I mean, I think that the soloing is probably a one-take thing on that.
We'll come back to solos, but another track, 'Tangled Love' features Jess Hayes on vocals, who adds some real sass.
Well, the thing is, I came across her because her band was opening up for us on the last UK tour. Immediately I thought; "that is a great voice", and was hoping I'd be able to feature her on something of mine, so that's how that came together, but, yeah, wonderful singer, beautiful, beautiful voice. A lovely instrument she's got.
Another one that I really like is 'Take this Heart Away', which is kind of a heavy number, isn't it?
Yeah, yeah. Well, that that came about, the music started off with me thinking; "what would I come up with if they asked me to write a James Bond song?" and so I started to look into that, musically. Obviously, from that point on, it took off in its own direction, but that's how it started.
The album's full of great tracks like that, and of course, the main thing people will be wanting to hear is your solos, and your big fat lead sound. You've got a real signature sound, haven't you?
Well, I think it's definite continuation. I'm always sort of fiddling with it, you know, different combinations of amp and overdrive units. That's basically with the Strat. It's the overdrive unit and the amps that I use that create that tone. I'm always switching around the overdrive units, but they're all made by Fulltone, and I've been using his pedals now since about '92, '93, something like that.
That's a long relationship; you're obviously happy with the sound.
Yeah, it's very special, what he comes up with, Mike Fuller, that is.
Photo; Rob Blackham.
You're famously a Fender Stratocaster player, and I love how you've got the big '70s headstock on your signature model.
Yeah, I do think that that extra bit of wood probably adds a bit more resonance. You know, that's the idea to have it.
How long have you had your current signature model?
It's got to be about 12 years now, I think, since the first was made for me. I tell you what though, I've got a sort of half a dozen of them, and three that I particularly like, but they all have their own character, so if I feel like I need whatever one that's got a bit more top end, you know, I can go to a different Strat,
Do you still have some of your old Strats from way back?
Oh, I did have a good collection of of, mostly '50s and '60s, but it got stolen from where it was stored in Los Angeles, in the late '70s, I think. The whole collection went, but I have got one old '50s on. I think it's a '57, lovely old thing, but too difficult to play.
Speaking of the late '70s, that's when you had a real spike in popularity, particularly in the States. What was that like when you gained that level of success over there?
Obviously, it was wonderful that so many people, particularly, wanted to come and see you live. That was a big thing, to get up to arenas and what have you, but I think my overall kind of feeling was that I had to improve and to get better at what I was doing. I think that was the struggle that was going on, so that took the edge off of the popularity a little.
Steve Lukather from Toto recently covered 'Bridge of Sighs'; what did you think of it??
Great. I mean, yeah, I think he did a very good job. He did his own thing with it, you know, but, yeah, it's very flattering when people cover your songs.
Apparently even Metallica have had a go at it.
I didn't know that! I'd didn't know that Metallica had did it!
Yeah, I do think that that extra bit of wood probably adds a bit more resonance. You know, that's the idea to have it.
How long have you had your current signature model?
It's got to be about 12 years now, I think, since the first was made for me. I tell you what though, I've got a sort of half a dozen of them, and three that I particularly like, but they all have their own character, so if I feel like I need whatever one that's got a bit more top end, you know, I can go to a different Strat,
Do you still have some of your old Strats from way back?
Oh, I did have a good collection of of, mostly '50s and '60s, but it got stolen from where it was stored in Los Angeles, in the late '70s, I think. The whole collection went, but I have got one old '50s on. I think it's a '57, lovely old thing, but too difficult to play.
Speaking of the late '70s, that's when you had a real spike in popularity, particularly in the States. What was that like when you gained that level of success over there?
Obviously, it was wonderful that so many people, particularly, wanted to come and see you live. That was a big thing, to get up to arenas and what have you, but I think my overall kind of feeling was that I had to improve and to get better at what I was doing. I think that was the struggle that was going on, so that took the edge off of the popularity a little.
Steve Lukather from Toto recently covered 'Bridge of Sighs'; what did you think of it??
Great. I mean, yeah, I think he did a very good job. He did his own thing with it, you know, but, yeah, it's very flattering when people cover your songs.
Apparently even Metallica have had a go at it.
I didn't know that! I'd didn't know that Metallica had did it!
I wanted to chat a little bit to you about your time in Procol Harem. You came in just after 'Whiter Shade of Pale' was released in 1967; what was it like coming into the band at that time?
Well, I felt it was great to be asked to join, but immediately we were in the studio recording the first album, so that became the real focus, rather than how successful that first single was. But I didn't really enjoy playing that one, to be honest. There's not really any guitar. It's more of a keyboard thing. It's a beautiful song but no, not a lot of fun for me.
Elsewhere, you worked with Jack Bruce in BLT in the early 1980s; how was that?
Wonderful. I mean, Jack was dynamite. That was the whole thing. He was very, very special. A force of nature, Jack was.
Back to the album, and you've got a big tour lined up around the release; are you looking forward to getting out there again?
I am, yeah, definitely. I love to play live. Well, I love to play guitar! Basically, put me in a room with a guitar and I'm happy. We have UK dates and we're doing a US tour in June. We had a lovely, lovely tour earlier on and yeah, we're going back out there. Yeah, that was great fun. Really good.
Do you find that's where you have your hardcore fans, in the States?
Well, I can't complain about the support I have received in the last UK tour, so that was wonderful.
You've had a career spanning decades, with at least 20 solo albums; have you anything left to prove, or that you'd like to achieve?
I don't know about that, but I already have another album in the can, and some spare tracks as well, which will be on another album after that. It's going really well for me creatively, definitely.
What have you got going on for the rest of the year?
Well, I'm looking forward to the touring. Obviously, that's always a lot of fun. I've got 'For Earth Below', a 50th anniversary edition coming out, so that'll be interesting to see what happens with that. Yeah, it's going to be an interesting year.
With a retro release like that coming out, does that present opportunities to play the album in full, live, or to go back and visit deep tracks you haven't done for a while?
I don't think I've done anything off of 'For Earth Below' for quite a long time to be honest, but yeah, there's a lot of extras on that album that the record company have put together. There's a show that was recorded at the time we were promoting 'For Earth Below', and that was in Los Angeles, I think, for a radio show, in actual fact. But yeah, there's lots of bits and pieces on it, extras.
Robin Tower's 'Come And Find Me' is out on 16th May 2025, via Provogue.
Well, I felt it was great to be asked to join, but immediately we were in the studio recording the first album, so that became the real focus, rather than how successful that first single was. But I didn't really enjoy playing that one, to be honest. There's not really any guitar. It's more of a keyboard thing. It's a beautiful song but no, not a lot of fun for me.
Elsewhere, you worked with Jack Bruce in BLT in the early 1980s; how was that?
Wonderful. I mean, Jack was dynamite. That was the whole thing. He was very, very special. A force of nature, Jack was.
Back to the album, and you've got a big tour lined up around the release; are you looking forward to getting out there again?
I am, yeah, definitely. I love to play live. Well, I love to play guitar! Basically, put me in a room with a guitar and I'm happy. We have UK dates and we're doing a US tour in June. We had a lovely, lovely tour earlier on and yeah, we're going back out there. Yeah, that was great fun. Really good.
Do you find that's where you have your hardcore fans, in the States?
Well, I can't complain about the support I have received in the last UK tour, so that was wonderful.
You've had a career spanning decades, with at least 20 solo albums; have you anything left to prove, or that you'd like to achieve?
I don't know about that, but I already have another album in the can, and some spare tracks as well, which will be on another album after that. It's going really well for me creatively, definitely.
What have you got going on for the rest of the year?
Well, I'm looking forward to the touring. Obviously, that's always a lot of fun. I've got 'For Earth Below', a 50th anniversary edition coming out, so that'll be interesting to see what happens with that. Yeah, it's going to be an interesting year.
With a retro release like that coming out, does that present opportunities to play the album in full, live, or to go back and visit deep tracks you haven't done for a while?
I don't think I've done anything off of 'For Earth Below' for quite a long time to be honest, but yeah, there's a lot of extras on that album that the record company have put together. There's a show that was recorded at the time we were promoting 'For Earth Below', and that was in Los Angeles, I think, for a radio show, in actual fact. But yeah, there's lots of bits and pieces on it, extras.
Robin Tower's 'Come And Find Me' is out on 16th May 2025, via Provogue.
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