Biography of Robin Trower

Robin Trower is one of rock’s most underrated guitar legends. Known for his expressive, bluesy tone and fluid soloing, he rose to prominence in the 1970s and has drawn comparisons to Jimi Hendrix. But while Hendrix was a comet that burned bright and fast, Trower has sustained a career spanning more than five decades. His signature sound—soulful, psychedelic, and deeply melodic—continues to influence generations of guitarists.

Period	Highlights	Notes
1962–1966	The Paramounts, early bands	Early R&B beginnings with future Procol Harum members
1967–1971	Procol Harum	Played on five albums including Shine on Brightly and Broken Barricades
1973–1977	Robin Trower Band (classic era)	Bridge of Sighs hit #7 US; cemented blues-rock status
1981–1982	BLT & Truce with Jack Bruce	Critically acclaimed collaboration with former Cream bassist
1991	Procol Harum reunion	Played on The Prodigal Stranger album
1993–2007	Work with Bryan Ferry	Contributed to Taxi, Mamouna, and Dylanesque
2000–present	Modern solo work	Albums like Living Out of Time and What Lies Beneath showed continued creativity

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Robin Leonard Trower was born on March 9, 1945, in Catford, England, and grew up in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. He first gained attention in the early 1960s as the guitarist for The Paramounts, a local R&B band that included future Procol Harum frontman Gary Brooker. When The Paramounts split, Trower briefly formed a band called The Jam (not to be confused with the late-’70s group fronted by Paul Weller). This early group disbanded quickly, but Trower’s reputation as a guitarist was beginning to grow.

Breakthrough with Procol Harum

In 1967, Trower got his big break when he joined Brooker’s new band, Procol Harum, just after the release of their massive hit “A Whiter Shade of Pale.” Trower added a distinctive blues-rock edge to the band’s progressive sound.

He played on several key Procol Harum albums, including:

Procol Harum (1967)
Shine on Brightly (1968)
A Salty Dog (1969)
Home (1970)
Broken Barricades (1971)

Though Procol Harum was primarily a keyboard-driven band, Trower’s expressive guitar work began to shine through, especially on Broken Barricades. Still, he felt creatively limited and left in 1971 to pursue a solo career.

The Robin Trower Band and Solo Success

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In 1973, Trower formed the Robin Trower Band, a power trio featuring:

James Dewar – bass and vocals
Reg Isidore – drums (later replaced by Bill Lordan)

Albums and Chart Success

Their debut, Twice Removed from Yesterday (1973), established Trower’s sound but made only a small dent commercially. However, his follow-up, Bridge of Sighs (1974), changed everything.

Bridge of Sighs peaked at #7 on the U.S. Billboard 200
The album became a classic of blues-rock
It featured standout tracks like “Day of the Eagle” and the title track

The success of Bridge of Sighs brought Trower international acclaim. Critics and fans praised his tone, feel, and phrasing—often likening him to Hendrix, though Trower had developed his own voice.

Continued Output Through the 1970s

Trower maintained momentum with a series of albums that did well on the charts:

For Earth Below (1975)
Robin Trower Live! (1976)
Long Misty Days (1976)
In City Dreams (1977)

Though none reached the commercial peak of Bridge of Sighs, they helped solidify his place in classic rock history. Several singles reached the UK Top 40.

Collaborations and Changing Sound in the 1980s

As musical trends shifted, Trower experimented with his sound. He released albums like:

Back It Up (1983)
Passion (1987)
Take What You Need (1988)

While sales declined, he remained a respected and innovative player.

Partnership with Jack Bruce

In the early ’80s, Trower teamed up with Jack Bruce, legendary bassist and vocalist from Cream. Together they recorded:

BLT (1981)
Truce (1982)

In the 2000s, they reunited for three more projects:

No Stopping Anytime
Seven Moons
Seven Moons Live

These albums showcased a dynamic fusion of blues, rock, and jazz influences.

Rejoining and Parting Again with Procol Harum

Trower briefly rejoined Procol Harum in 1991 for a reunion album, The Prodigal Stranger, which received modest attention. However, he did not participate in the band’s extensive touring afterward.

Collaboration with Bryan Ferry

In the 1990s, Trower worked with Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music, contributing guitar work to:

Taxi (1993)
Mamouna (1994)

They later reunited for Dylanesque (2007), a Bob Dylan tribute album.

Resurgence in the 2000s and Beyond