Tommy Bolan is a force of nature. Best known for his “10-thousand volts” live performances and his role as the six-string shredder behind Warlock’s Platinum-selling Triumph & Agony album, Bolan has cemented his place in heavy metal history. Today, he continues to bring the fire, fronting his blistering new project, N.Y.C.
Bolan’s philosophy on guitar tone is as uncompromising as his playing style: it has to be huge, it has to be articulate, and it absolutely must be driven by Celestion speakers. We caught up with Tommy to talk about his wild musical journey, the uncompromising “rage metal” of N.Y.C., and why he relies on the Celestion Vintage 30 to deliver his signature wall of sound anywhere in the world.
Let’s start at the beginning. What was that first experience that made you realize you wanted to be a musician?
Tommy Bolan: I’d have to go back to Kiss. My brother owned the stereo, so he controlled the music. He played Destroyer and Rock and Roll Over, and then I saw them live at Madison Square Garden. I just lost my mind! A week later, we were putting on fake Kiss shows in the neighbourhood. We cut out cardboard guitars, went to Baskin-Robbins to get big old ice cream canisters, and painted them up to look like drum sets. After that, I started taking lessons in Jackson Heights, and two and a half years later, I became a teacher. I was just so absorbed with it that I melted right in.
Bring us up to today. You’re playing some reunion shows with Warlock, but tell us about your new band, N.Y.C.
Tommy Bolan: Yeah, I’m playing some festivals like Hell’s Heroes with Doro doing the Triumph & Agony stuff, which is fantastic. But the story of the hour is my band N.Y.C. We just finished our album, Built to Destroy, via Adrenalizing Media. It’s me singing and playing guitars, along with a rhythm section from hell: Stet Howland from WASP and Steve Unger from Metal Church. People ask me to describe the sound, and I call it “rage metal.”
What exactly is “rage metal?”
Tommy Bolan: I describe it as the energy of AC/DC, the power of Judas Priest, tied in with the grit of Motörhead. I’m the frontman, so I want that AC/DC energy. Priest brings that massive, unavoidable power—like a wall coming at you. And Motörhead is just that attitude of, “We’re playing, get out of the way!” The album has a very forward-moving theme. It’s intense! I got to vent all my aggression and anxiety. My philosophy is: lead, follow, or get out of my way. But we also have cool dynamics—Vince DiCola, who did the Rocky IV soundtrack, even came in and played some icy piano on a track called “Gasoline”. I just dropped the hammer on this record. And of course, having the proper Celestion speakers to play it all through made all the difference.
Who were your tonal influences growing up?
Tommy Bolan: Judas Priest really influenced me. When I heard Screaming for Vengeance, I probably blew the speakers out of my car! As I transitioned into metal, I started analysing tone, depth, and articulation. Priest’s distortion kept getting bigger and bigger with every album. Then there’s AC/DC—they could sound clean, but it was always massive.
Do you remember when you first discovered Celestion speakers?
Tommy Bolan: Actually, I do. Back in the day, I’d hear friends playing through Marshall half-stacks and I’d go, “Dude, that sounds great!” Finally, I got my hands on a cabinet loaded with Greenbacks, and I was like, “Holy cow!” Celestion brought out the absolute best in my amp; it always does. I started collecting cabinets with Greenbacks, Vintage 30s, and G12Hs. During the Triumph & Agony album, we brought in a famous amp tech from New York named Cesar Diaz. He looked at my vintage Celestion cabinets, popped the backs off, and said, “People would jump out of windows for these things!”
What does your rig look like today? Do you use a different setup in the studio versus playing live?
Tommy Bolan: My flying rig is pretty much my main rig. The new album was recorded primarily with my Peavey 6505 Plus and an old XXX II amp. I brought my amps in, turned everything up to 95, and just went nuts! For speakers, the whole album was recorded with Celestion Vintage 30s.
Why is the Vintage 30 your go-to speaker?
Tommy Bolan: First of all, it sounds great. That’s the most important thing. But speaking professionally, I EQ my entire rig around the Vintage 30 because it is consistent and available. If I fly to play a gig in Sweden or Norway and request a backline, they might have some cabinet I’ve never heard of, but chances are it will have Vintage 30s in it. I strike gold every time and I win! I don’t have time to stop during soundcheck and go, “What’s the problem?” The Vintage 30 delivers every single time.
I’m also looking forward to trying out the new Celestion Peacekeeper. I think it’s a badass idea because I want to turn my smaller combo amps up even louder, get that power amp structure to break up sweetly, and see how it reacts. I’m going to turn the fire up so the amp explodes with tone!
What advice do you have for players chasing a great heavy metal tone?
Tommy Bolan: They always say tone is in your fingers, which is true to a point. But you have to think of your signal chain from A to Z. You can’t spend all your money on an expensive amplifier and then buy a blown speaker you found in an AM radio. It just ain’t going to work! You’ve defeated the purpose. Get a great amp like a Peavey, use good pedals like Morley, and load your cabinet with Celestions. Even your patch cables matter. Follow the sound from the guitar to the speaker. Each point must count.
After all these years, what does the Celestion brand mean to you?
Tommy Bolan: It’s an honour to endorse Celestion. With what I do, failure is not an option. There’s no sleep, and no rest for the wicked. Adding a Celestion to your rig brings out the best in your amp. It is always a step up in any condition. You can’t lose!
What’s next for N.Y.C.?
Tommy Bolan: We’re waiting on tour dates for Canada, Australia, and Europe. Adrenalizing Media opened all the doors for this, and now we’re getting ready to take the band on the road. One thing is for sure: it’s going to be loud, and it’s going to be Celestion powered. Fuhget about it!
To learn more about Tommy Bolan and check out the new album ‘Built to Destroy’, visit NYCtheband.com.
