Blues legend Joe Bonamassa on the Tommy Bolin guitar that may be cursed

The guitar in question was 1) once played by Sioux City native Tommy Bolin (The James Gang, Zephyr, Deep Purple) and 2) might possibly be cursed.

By the way, Bonamassa said he will be bringing it with him when he plays Saturday in the Park on July 4.

Let's start this story back on April 17, 2014, which was when Bonamassa last played a show in Sioux City -- at the Orpheum Theatre.

"I met Tommy's younger brother Johnnie Bolin backstage at the Orpheum that night," Bonamassa said. "I was a big fan of Tommy and knew he usually played a Fender Stratocaster. But I remember seeing Tommy playing a Les Paul on occasion in photos when he was with Deep Purple."

"I'm a Les Paul guitar collector and asked Johnnie whatever happened to that guitar of Tommy's," Bonamassa said, continuing with this circular tale of this storied instrument. "Johnnie said that the last he heard, it was in the possession of Tommy's former guitar tech David Brown, who was then living in a small town in Utah."

OK, we'll now advance the story to 2019 when Brown connected with Bonamassa Brown owned the guitar and let Tommy Bolin borrow it

Brown then asking Bonamassa if he wanted to purchase the Les Paul that was once played by Tommy Bolin.

"I said yes immediately," Bonamassa said.

Shortly before Bonamassa gained possession of the guitar, his California home went up in flames.

After receiving Bolin's Les Paul, Bonamassa played a gig in Las Vegas with the rock band Journey. This particular version of the classic band broke up in a nasty dispute while Bonamassa was with them.

Also, don't forget that Tommy Bolin, himself, died of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 25 in Miami on Dec. 4, 1976, after serving as the opening act for Jeff Beck.

Now let's return to the present.

"I'll bring Tommy Bolin's Les Paul to Sioux City and play it even though the guitar might be cursed," Bonamassa said in a surprisingly casual manner during a phone interview.

Which is, admittedly, a strange way to begin a story Bonamassa as the headliner for the 36th annual Saturday in the Park.

But Bonamassa, a 49-year-old New Hartford, New York native, seems like he is willing to risk life and limb for a good show.

After all, he was a guy who was willing to open for the legendary B.B. King as a 12-year-old. 

Before he turned 18, Bonamassa was in a band called Bloodline with the sons of Miles Davis, Robby Krieger and Berry Oakley.

We guess this is a man who doesn't intimidate very easily and that has served his career quite well. 

Working with some of the biggest names in the business, Bonamassa has had a record 29 No. 1 albums in the Billboard Blues Music chart. 

Not only is he a well-respected, Grammy Award-nominated rock blues guitarist, singer and songwriter, Bonamassa is also the man behind the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, which promotes and supports the talents of other blues musicians. 

If that's not enough, Bonamassa is known for putting on a high-energy show.

"I think people are really going to enjoy my set at Saturday in the Park," he said. "I'm really looking forward to it." 

Well, we have our money on Bonamassa over any silly curse.