10,000 Volts Of Tone: Guitar Powerhouse Tommy Bolan’s N.Y.C. Unleashes "Rage Metal" With Celestion Loudspeakers

Queens, NY — 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. Through four decades of face-melting solos and relentless touring, one element of his uncompromising wall of sound has remained constant: Celestion drivers, most notably, the Vintage 30 and G12M Greenback.

Bolan's musical journey was sparked by a childhood obsession with KISS, leading him to craft cardboard guitars before eventually teaching the instrument himself. His career reached new heights in 1987 when he joined Warlock, recording all the guitars for the massive hit "All We Are". Now, alongside a rhythm section featuring Stet Howland and Steve Unger of Metal Church and W.A.S.P. fame, Bolan is dropping the hammer with N.Y.C.’s debut album, Built to Destroy.

Bolan describes N.Y.C.'s uncompromising sound as rage metal—a potent cocktail featuring "the energy of AC/DC with the power of Priest tied in with the grit of Motörhead". To deliver this massive, unavoidable power, Bolan relies heavily on his extensive collection of Celestion speakers. His love affair with the brand began early in his career when he plugged into a cabinet loaded with classic Greenbacks. "Celestion brought out the best in my amp; it always does," he recalls.

During the Triumph & Agony era, Bolan's legendary vintage Celestion-loaded cabinets caught the eye of famed amplifier technician Cesar Diaz, who marvelled at his rare drivers and noted that "people would jump out of windows for these things."

Today, Bolan's flying rig and studio setup are anchored by the Celestion Vintage 30. He paired his Peavey 6505 Plus and XXX II amplifiers with Vintage 30s to record the entirety of Built to Destroy. "The Vintage 30 is consistent, available, sounds great, and delivers every time," Bolan explains. "If I go play a gig somewhere in Sweden or Norway... the Vintage 30 is easy to get hold of. I strike gold every time, and I win."

For Bolan, tone is a holistic pursuit that demands the best components from start to finish. "You can't just spend all your money on just the amplifier. Adding Celestion to your rig is always a step up in any condition. You can't lose.” he stresses. Looking ahead, Bolan is eager to experiment with the new Celestion Peacekeeper, attenuating guitar speaker, in his smaller combo amps, “I’m planning to turn the fire up until it explodes with tone."
As N.Y.C. gears up for international tour dates, Bolan’s commitment to his signature sound is unwavering. "One thing for sure, it'll be loud and it's going to be Celestion powered. Fuhget about it!"

To read the full interview with Tommy Bolan, visit the Celestion Speakerworld blog. To learn more about N.Y.C. and the new album Built to Destroy, visit NYCtheband.com.

About Celestion

With worldwide headquarters in Ipswich, England, Celestion design, develop and manufacture high-quality professional audio loudspeakers and compression drivers for sound reinforcement, as well as premium guitar and bass guitar loudspeakers. These world-renowned speakers are used onstage and in clubs, theatres and other venues the world over. With more than 100 years of success, the company continues to offer the latest technologies and innovations in the world of loudspeakers. celestion.com

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