overlap

And on that anniversary note, another time and place I don't have to think about to remember is exactly where I was on 4th January 1986, the day Phil Lynott died. Although that's been mentioned on here before, it was in the days before youtube became such an all-encompassing thing, and I've just spent some time going through some stuff on there, a lot of which I've never seen before. Old Town - I've also crossed the Liffey on possibly that footbridge, but I like this in particular as it's off one of the solo albums and it seems a bit more honest and a bit less trying too hard to be a big tough cartoon rock star. That business with a trumpet he can't play is not someone demanding to be taken seriously! The Man's A Fool - much as I prefer the album version, this is great, especially to see Sykes and Wakeman (yes, that one!) really going for it. Please Don't Leave Me - Sykes' solo single, sung by Phil and effectively recorded by Thin Lizzy minus Scott Gorham. This is a mimed for telly version, but it's the best sounding version I can find on youtube, and it's one of my very favourite songs. It'll tell you plenty about my highly unfashionable taste in guitar solos too!

Labels: John Sykes, Phil Lynott, rock, Thin Lizzy

The anniversary of Elvis' death comes just before Phil Lynott's birthday. And even if Lynott did write King's Call about Elvis, I know which of the two meant more to me. It's interesting (though ultimately fruitless) to speculate what he'd have made of what's happened to rock music in the last twenty years, but the examples of his solo albums, The Greedies and even Paul Hardcastle's work on Nineteen* make me think he might well have moved with the times rather than fought against them. Happy birthday Philo, may the angels be watching over you.** * No, two different songs of the same name. ** Spirit Slips Away from the album Fighting, 1975.

Labels: Phil Lynott, rock, Thin Lizzy