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Thin Lizzy A True Story
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Thin Lizzy A True Story A True Story....(Thin Lizzy) It would have been around 1971 or 72 when listening to my favourite pirate radio station, “North Sea International” Over thirty years ago and i remember it like it was yesterday! The DJ who’s name I forget played this song by a then unknown band. Yes it was “Whiskey in the Jar” by “Thin Lizzy” an up coming Irish band whom I had already purchased there first Album. An original Irish tune, now so brilliantly re-done which would get this band the recognition they fully deserved. Now not only did this record get precious airplay but was made the stations Power Play of the week, which meant it would be played on the hour every hour for seven days. What I always liked about this station was any new song they played they always gave out all the details, like name of band/singer title of record, the label it was on and the all important number on the record. This for me was just ideal, as some friends and I had just built our own Mobile Disco, so I could just pop along to my local record store and give them the number of a new record which saved so much time trying to find it or them looking it up. So there I was at the earliest opportunity at my record store all smug with this number of “Whiskey in the Jar” to get a few copies for the disco and myself, only to find to my disappointment that it had not yet been released in the UK! I think it was almost six months before I finally collected three copies of said single, but well worth the wait. So here I am the proud owner of what I consider one of the best songs in the world and by one of the best rock bands ever and I am the first person in the UK to have this record!and it still has not been released yet! Oh how smug was I back then when playing this at the disco on every opportunity and people continually asking where did I get this, and what a great song. Well needless to say it went down a storm and our Disco was getting more and more recognition for always having and playing the newest and top sounds of that time. We were now being hired as the backing Disco for the top Radio 1 DJ’s when they came to the west country, so now my friends and I were meeting all the stars from the radio stations as well. As it happens guys and gals ( I wonder how many can remember who’s famous catch phrase that was ? ) Around this time there were a couple other mobile disco’s operating in the area, the “Stuart Hughes Road Show” ( ex Radio “North Sea International” ) and Derek James ( ex Radio 1 ) to whom both got a copy of “Whiskey in the Jar” and Derek had spoken with some of his ex Radio 1 friends to get it played on there station. Also at this time the local race coarse were hosting live groups ( all the top bands from the charts ) on Friday nights. Well who should be appearing than none other than “Thin Lizzy” as you can guess yours truly was not going to miss them! So there was I right at the front of the stage, which in those days wasn’t very big when on came the band and towering above me was the one and only Phil Lynott. I can’t remember now what songs they started off with, but do know after three or four numbers Eric Bell started playing the lead into “Whiskey in the Jar” when it seemed like everyone ( about 400 people ) stopped what they were doing and surged towards the stage chanting “lizzy lizzy” this would later become a trade mark at every gig they played in the future. Apart from me being nearly squashed the band were looking at each other in awe as to what was happening! Playing there first gig at west country venue and there new just released single and everyone new it!! It wasn’t long after when it became a hit. I often wonder if it hadn’t been for me getting those first copies and playing them and giving one to Stuart and getting Derek to persuade Radio 1 to play it, if it would ever have been a hit? I’m sure it would of! Anyway as they went down so well, it wasn’t long before they were back, I think it was the following year. By now they had a couple hit singles and a hit Album “ Vagabonds of the Western World “ and yet again there was I as close to the great man as I am to this keyboard. It was not until August 16th 1975 before I got a chance to see the band again play live. By now Eric Bell had left and there was a new line up with Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson playing duel lead guitars! It was in the town I am living now here in Yeovil at a venue then called the Johnson Hall. With a newly found girlfriend of about two weeks we went to the bar for a drink before the gig and who should be sitting at one of the tables were none other than “Thin Lizzy” Well you can imagine how I was feeling! Here were my heroes in the same bar drinking and no one as yet apart from me had recognised them. At this point Phil Lynott turned round and saw me, stood up and towering over me said in his Irish accent, “I know you from somewhere” I was quite taken back and asked if I could buy the band a drink? Saying it was probably that he had recognised me from the gigs at the race coarse a couple years ago. “Ah put your away” Phil said “ This your woman? What you both having” So after a brief hello with the band as they had to go and get ready, Phil gave me a slip of paper and told me don’t lose it and give us a half hour after we finish and that will get you both into our dressing room where we can have a longer chat and meet the rest of the band. I remember telling Brian Downey the story of when I first got “Whiskey in the Jar” and that I had it in the UK six months before it’s release date! He told me how they were so confused that night at the race coarse when for the first time performing it live how come ever one new it! I got my photo taken with them in there dressing room and there autographs which I treasure to this day. And I was offered a job with them on there first European tour in 1976 but declined as the woman I was with at that time had a three year old and did not want to take her along. Two or three weeks later we split up and I have kicked myself on many occasions since, how you feel about someone can affect your entire career! So I will end this with one of Phil’s Quote’s at the end of a show… “Until the next time! Thank you”   A Smile A Day.. Helps You Work Rest & Play  [Never Too Old.. To Learn Something New   Life is like a bottle without a label?You never know what's in it! Life is full of many Beautiful People.. None more so than YOU.. MY FRIENDS!  Unlike a Porcupine... My Prick won't hurt!  |
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