Thin Lizzy: The Boys Are Back in Town by Harry Doherty

Author:Harry Doherty [Doherty, Harry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Music, Individual Composer & Musician
ISBN: 9780857128010
Google: hjMDAwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Music Sales Group
Published: 2012-11-19T11:00:00+00:00

Lynott and Graham Parker hang during the American tour where Parker and the Rumour toured as support to Thin Lizzy, a combination that divided fans of both bands.

MAINTAINING A BAD REPUTATION

During the Queen tour, Lynott, Gorham and Downey would chat endlessly about the future and, in the light of recent past events, how to make Thin Lizzy better for all concerned. Lynott said that he felt he was in danger of being “solo’ed” out of the band, comparing it to the way Rod Stewart and the Faces developed … and that was something he wasn’t keen on. “My plans for a solo career are way ahead in the future, and also only as a sideline thing. I always wanna work within the context of a band, and whereas I have all the characteristics to be the leader, to be a really clever leader, you must be aware of the group that you’re leading, and it must be by consent.

We agreed that from now on the band had to work at maintaining a group identity rather than one individual being singled out. I wanted them to do more too so that I could do less because after getting ill, I realised that I was doin’ too much.

“I also thought that they could become faceless. I think that Brian Downey is one of the best rock drummers in the world, but he doesn’t get publicised as much as other drummers. For example, in the bass players’ poll last year (1977), I found myself up there with Stanley Clarke in all the papers. That wasn’t because I’m a better player than Stanley Clarke. It’s because I’m more popular and more accessible to the press than Stanley Clarke. Downey is more the musician’s musician within the band.

“The thing that we can now definitely say is that there will always be a Thin Lizzy and Thin Lizzy can survive, even if we have to do it as a three-piece. Thin Lizzy is now a unit of three very strong people, with Brian Robertson, who is getting more and more into what we’re doin’, and Gary Moore, who likes what we’re doin’.”

You are listening here to a very clear-minded and focussed Phil Lynott – the Phil that made Thin Lizzy great. Unfortunately, he was unable to see into the future and see more pitfalls not too far away.

Back in England, decisions had to be made fast. Lizzy were due to record a new album. In spite of aggressive overtures from Lynott, Moore decided that his future lay with Jon Hiseman’s Colosseum, but it was more than just about the music, with different managements going head-to-head over his services. “It was a really heavy time afterwards,” Moore said a few months after quitting Lizzy for the second time. “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to hurt anybody, but at the same time I didn’t want to turn my back on this great scene. I was hanging in the middle of this very tempting situation. I wouldn’t join Thin Lizzy for money, and I wouldn’t join Colosseum for money.

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