The opener is “Jailbreak”, and why not: this is just a flat barn-burning classic from the word go. And, because Downey (simply one of the greatest rock drummers of the 1970s) had severed an artery in his hand in a bar fight and had to stay home in Dublin, blues veteran Mark Nauseef fills in on drums, and acquits himself nobly enough on the short notice. This is the Lynott/Moore/Gorham group band fanatics probably prefer Robbo on lead, but Moore tosses off a couple of jaw-dropping solos that you really just can’t argue with at all. What it is is just eight songs, done well and tough and cool by a great band. Lizzy wasn’t the only band on the ticket that night, but there’s no mention of that anywhere, and no introduction, and no super-engaging stage patter, and no Classic Moments either. This is the document of an outdoor concert from October 1978. But what this DVD lacks for the audio- and video-phile it more than makes up for in authenticity - looked at the right way, it seems to embody the best of Big Rock Music more than anything else I’ve ever seen. It’s only 41 minutes long, the editing and filming are execrable, and the sound quality is the very definition of piss-poor. well, then you’re really not going to want this DVD. And if you don’t think that all the bullshit mythologizing and cheesiness of “The Cowboy Song” (“The coyote calls / And the howlin’ winds will wail / So I ride out to the old sundown”) are redeemed by Lynott’s impassioned vocal and the stunning guitar work. If you think that maybe “The Rocker” and “Wild One” are just retreads of songs that other bands did better, but you’re not quite sure, then maybe there’s hope for you yet. tears the first time I saw it.īut what it comes down to with Thin Lizzy is: Do you like the songs? If you’ve ever caught yourself rocking out to “Jailbreak” or “Dancing in the Moonlight” or “Whiskey in the Jar,” then you’re in the club. VH-1’s Behind the Music episode on the band made me weep bitter 2 a.m. And then you have the facts that Lynott was biracial, which is interesting if probably a moot point when it comes to their music, and that he died young, victim of his addictions to heroin and alcohol and insular self-pity. People have come to understand that Thin Lizzy had at least three great guitar players rotating in and out of the two spots reserved for them: Gary Moore was the blues expert, Brian Robertson was the mercurial fiery yobbo, and Scott Gorham the American rhythm guy who could also solo some (and great hair! and really white teeth!). (Ever heard Grandmaster Flash scratch the break from “Johnny the Fox?”)Ĭritics hated them back then, mostly, but Lynott gets a lot of posthumous props for his poetic writing, which veered wildly between his romantic and Yeatsian side and his working-class aggressive side. They also had a bit of the ol’ funk to their metal crunch: Brian Downey’s nimble drumbeats have been sampled and celebrated by hip-hoppers for 20 years. They were one of the only hard rock groups to embrace new wave music and punk - they pulled Midge Ure out of a Visage recording session to become part of the touring band - although they didn’t get any punk respect at the time. They were Ireland’s first huge rock band (Bono has said that U2 never would have happened without Thin Lizzy), which counts for something. Sure, there are many “critical” reasons to appreciate Thin Lizzy now. And that’s high praise, you cynical bastards. Don’t front on the Lizz: they were as great in their prime as Cheap Trick. No discussion of “The Best Band Ever” ever happened on my watch (in my hard-rock-lovin’ adolescence) without me bringing up Thin Lizzy - although usually The Who ended up winning the day. I’ve loved them ever since I first heard “The Boys Are Back in Town” on my pink plastic clock radio back in 1976 Phil Lynott sounded like he was authentically both tough and sensitive, and those haunting minor chords on the verses burned themselves into my heart forever. What can I say about Thin Lizzy? I love this band, love them in spite of their many flaws, love them because of their many flaws.
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