The Zoo Crew is spinning Too Rolling Stoned (Live 1975) by Robin Trower, a track that’s pure fire for all you Zoo Freaks out there. This song, captured live in Stockholm for what became the Robin Trower Live album, has a raw, uninhibited vibe. In a 2006 Guitar Player interview, Trower revealed the band didn’t even know the show was being recorded for a potential album—they thought it was just a radio broadcast. That loose energy helped make it one of their best performances, with Trower’s searing guitar riffs and James Dewar’s soulful vocals driving the crowd wild. The song itself, from the 1974 Bridge of Sighs album, was built on a galloping bass intro that Dewar laid down, instantly hooking listeners, as noted in a 2024 At The Barrier review.
Another cool tidbit comes from the recording process. Trower shared in a Vintage Guitar interview that Too Rolling Stoned was one of the tracks where solos were mostly live takes, cut with bass and drums in just a couple of tries. That spontaneity gives the live 1975 version its edge, with Trower’s Stratocaster—routed through a Univibe and Marshall amps—wailing like nobody’s business. Fans on Reddit have called it a staple for biker crowds, hyping up gigs when bands cover it. The song’s been covered too, by acts like Drivin N Cryin with Warren Haynes for a 1995 compilation, showing its lasting vibe in the blues-rock scene.
Robin Trower’s journey kicked off in Catford, London, born on March 9, 1945, and raised in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. By 1962, he was a teenager forming The Paramounts, a band that included Gary Brooker, who’d later co-found Procol Harum. The Paramounts split in 1966, and Trower briefly fronted a trio called The Jam—not the Paul Weller one—before joining Procol Harum in 1967, right after their hit A Whiter Shade of Pale. He stuck around for five albums, honing his bluesy, Hendrix-inspired guitar style. Feeling boxed in by Procol’s keyboard-heavy sound, he left in 1971 to chase his own vision, forming the short-lived Jude with Frankie Miller before launching the Robin Trower Band in 1973 with Dewar and drummer Reg Isidore. Their debut, Twice Removed from Yesterday, set the stage for the iconic Bridge of Sighs, cementing Trower as a blues-rock legend.
You can keep up with Trower’s latest gigs and releases on his official website, where he recently announced his 2025 UK tour and new album Come And Find Me. Connect with him on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates straight from the man himself. Fans are buzzing on sites like the Classic Rock Forum, where they geek out over his discography and live shows. There’s also a Robin Trower Fan Club on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks can swap stories and celebrate the guitar hero’s legacy.