Has Ireland disowned Thin Lizzy?

TheBegotten

I just heard Cowboy Song for the first time on Youtube today and I was quite literally blown away. I got me thinking about how the irish music scene has deteriorated to the point that eejits like Jedward what's-his-name from the Script are national music icons, whereas some of the best musicians in the world like Gary Moore and Rory Gallagher have been all but forgotten about. Should we embrace our musical past more, or just accept the process of X-Factorisation that has infected the country in the past few years?

Here's the video, I'd recommend it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QJl67JwktA

And I'll add a poll, for the craic.

Nah Thin Lizzy are great.

demanufactured

Modern pop music / X factor has completely ruined music.

Manufactured bile.

Celly Smunt

A mediocre Irish band with more member changes than I've had hot dinners.

SpaceTime

We definitely haven't disowned them!

Do you seriously think Jedward will get a statue? (Phil Lynott)
Or a city square called after them? (Rory Gallagher)

There's a big difference between pop culture entertainment and actual music.

GoldenTickets

TheBegotten wrote: »

I just heard Cowboy Song for the first time on Youtube today and I was quite literally blown away.

The fact that you hadn't heard of Thin Lizzy until today doesn't mean the rest of us hadn't.

Welcome to the party pal.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Sorty to have to be the bearer of bad new but Gary Moore, Phil lynott and Rory Gallagher are all dead.

Celly Smunt

SpaceTime wrote: »

We definitely haven't disowned them!

Do you seriously think Jedward will get a statue? (Phil Lynott)
Or a city square called after them? (Rory Gallagher)

There's a big difference between pop culture entertainment and actual music.

There's a big difference between the calibre of Rory Gallagher and Phil Lynott too

the back of beyond

Infected is a brilliant choice of word

endacl

SpaceTime wrote: »

Do you seriously think Jedward will get a statue? (Phil Lynott)
Or a city square called after them? (Rory Gallagher)

Or a small oversexed chimpanzee?

overshoot

SpaceTime wrote: »

We definitely haven't disowned them!

Do you seriously think Jedward will get a statue? (Phil Lynott)
Or a city square called after them? (Rory Gallagher)

There's a big difference between pop culture entertainment and actual music.

or a street in france

anyway OP i see your jedward and raise you the strypes, not all hope is lost

i like oddsocks too

TheBegotten

GoldenTickets wrote: »

The fact that you hadn't heard of Thin Lizzy until today doesn't mean the rest of us hadn't.

Welcome to the party pal.

Well that's kind of the point, I grew up knowing Thin Lizzy existed, but until recently just thought they were just another mediocore 70's band with a couple of hits to keep the golden oldies happy. The caliber of the songs they produced - and not just the occasional hits - is pretty impressive, along with their originality.

the back of beyond

TheBegotten wrote: »

Well that's kind of the point, I grew up knowing Thin Lizzy existed, but until recently just thought they were just another mediocore 70's band with a couple of hits to keep the golden oldies happy. The caliber of the songs they produced - and not just the occasional hits - is pretty impressive, along with their originality.

I can remember watching an interview with Metallica and how they said Thin lizzy were an inspiration to them. Had Thin Lizzy been American, they would have been a phenomenon

Triangular

I don't understand the media's obsession with Thin Lizzy. Not a bad band but they get more promotion on the airwaves then many of the living active bands in Ireland.

SilverScreen

Personally I've never felt Thin Lizzy was really my thing but there's still quite a few young Thin Lizzy fans out there still. The fact is music moves on and evolves and so do people. Using Jedward as an example of modern Irish music is a piss poor example to be honest when you have artists like Villagers, God is an Astronaut, And So I Watch You From Afar, Halves, Lisa Hannigan etc. I'd rather Irish people pay attention to artists like these rather than focus too much on the past.

bnt

CJC999 wrote: »

Sorty to have to be the bearer of bad new but Gary Moore, Phil lynott and Rory Gallagher are all dead.

So ... recall Midge Ure?

Clandestine

TheBegotten wrote: »

I got me thinking about how the irish music scene has deteriorated to the point that eejits like Jedward what's-his-name from the Script are national music icons, whereas some of the best musicians in the world like Gary Moore and Rory Gallagher have been all but forgotten about.

Isn't that the same deal everywhere though? Crappy mainstream artists get pushed to the forefront, and half-decent "classic" artists are constantly praised and said to belong to the "good old days"? I'm not saying Garry Moore and Rory are bad artists at all, but calling them "some of the best musicians in the world" is hardly true considering the scope of music.

Cienciano

TheBegotten wrote: »

I just heard Cowboy Song for the first time on Youtube today and I was quite literally blown away. I got me thinking about how the irish music scene has deteriorated to the point that eejits like Jedward what's-his-name from the Script are national music icons, whereas some of the best musicians in the world like Gary Moore and Rory Gallagher have been all but forgotten about. Should we embrace our musical past more, or just accept the process of X-Factorisation that has infected the country in the past few years?

I hate you :pac:

GoldenTickets

overshoot wrote: »

anyway OP i see your jedward and raise you the strypes, not all hope is lost

I think (and hope) we're actually experiencing our lowest ebb musically in Ireland right now. The Strypes have nothing new to offer, it's all regurgitated rubbish and if a group of 25 year olds emerged playing the same stuff they'd be laughed out of the room. Being in that band is only going to hurt the musical careers of the members in the long run and their sudden climb to the top of the hype heap suggests someone must be spending money behind the scenes to buy media coverage. That Glastonbury performance is lifeless. The people championing these guys now will be denying they ever did next year.

Plenty of people have heard of Thin Lizzy (beyond The Boys are Back in Town and Jailbreak), and they get their due I think. Rory Gallagher doesn't though.

mikom

overshoot wrote: »

anyway OP i see your jedward and raise you the strypes, not all hope is lost

I love tribute bands.

TheBegotten

Cienciano wrote: »

I hate you :pac:

In a metaphysical sense.

Clandestine

GoldenTickets wrote: »

Plenty of people have heard of Thin Lizzy (beyond The Boys are Back in Town and Jailbreak), and they get their due I think. Rory Gallagher doesn't though.

Apparently he's sold 30 million albums, hardly unknown.

TheBegotten

Clandestine wrote: »

Apparently he's sold 30 million albums, hardly unknown.

That's only because you couldn't download back then :pac:

GoldenTickets

Clandestine wrote: »

Apparently he's sold 30 million albums, hardly unknown.

I didn't say he was unknown, I said he doesn't get his due.

And he doesn't.

mike65

the back of beyond wrote: »

I can remember watching an interview with Metallica and how they said Thin lizzy were an inspiration to them. Had Thin Lizzy been American, they would have been a phenomenon

What a pity they had to cover Whiskey in the Jar then!

Lizzy were "this" close to breaking the US market in a big way in 1977 touring with Queen and Aerosmith but as was typical of the time they managed to blow it with a mix of bad luck and stupidity and Gary Moore walking out in 78.

SouthTippBass

TheBegotten wrote: »

in the world like Gary Moore and Rory Gallagher have been all but forgotten about. .

Well, theres that big tribute night they are having in Dublin on Friday...

http://entertainment.ie/show-Gigs/The-Academy/A-Night-For-Phil-Lynott-Gary-Moore/Gigs-2687999.htm

Hardly forgotten about. I think you just havent dug deep enough into these artists, you need to listen to more than the radio singles.

Dr. Bre

thin lizzy? who she?

TheBegotten

SouthTippBass wrote: »

Well, theres that big tribute night they are having in Dublin on Friday...

http://entertainment.ie/show-Gigs/The-Academy/A-Night-For-Phil-Lynott-Gary-Moore/Gigs-2687999.htm

Hardly forgotten about. I think you just havent dug deep enough into these artists, you need to listen to more than the radio singles.

Wait, what? Are the tickets still on sale?

Elbaston

Listened to song - ....passable. no socks were shed.

Heres one to convert the non-believers to the lawd. preach it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIFfZfoUEaM

anncoates

The Rocker.

That is all.

SouthTippBass

TheBegotten wrote: »

Wait, what? Are the tickets still on sale?

Couldnt tell you, I'd love to be going though.

DainBramage

Triangular wrote: »

I don't understand the media's obsession with Thin Lizzy. Not a bad band but they get more promotion on the airwaves then many of the living active bands in Ireland.

Have to agree. Stations like nova and phantom give them a lot of airtime and even today phantom were promoting an upcoming lizzy tribute show. Phil has a statue in town ffs. So I would say no they are not forgotten in Ireland.

martinedwards

CJC999 wrote: »

Sorty to have to be the bearer of bad new but Gary Moore, Phil lynott and Rory Gallagher are all dead.

and sadly Jedward are not......

stefan idiot jones

Always loved Lizzy...however, I think Old Town is an appalling record. I had never heard it before moving to Ireland.
It is constantly played on Irish radio but it obviously doesn't cut it 'outside the pale'.
Cold Sweat is my favourite song off my favourite Lizzy album.

BraziliaNZ

They're a very mediocre, forgettable band. They get/got a lot of press in the media in Ireland because we really didn't have much else going on in terms of recognisable rock bands, and for some reason his Ma was never off the TV and radio banging on about her son and how amazing he was. I'd put them in the same category as a band like 10cc, but even that's being generous, as they made Dreadlock Holiday which never gets old for me.

Gmol

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

They're a very mediocre, forgettable band. They get/got a lot of press in the media in Ireland because we really didn't have much else going on in terms of recognisable rock bands, and for some reason his Ma was never off the TV and radio banging on about her son and how amazing he was. I'd put them in the same category as a band like 10cc, but even that's being generous, as they made Dreadlock Holiday which never gets old for me.

That's bull, I reckon you haven't listened to much/any of their stuff,
They are cited as having a huge influence of bands such as Def Leppard, U2, G'N'R, Metaillica to name just a few and their Live 'N' Dangerous album consistently makes top 5 of all live albums. I like 10CC but they don't hold a torch to Thin Lizzy

bumper234

Lol

You ALL sound like your parents:eek:

Bahhhh music these days is ****e, Why in my day the musicians could play and sing, Turn down thet feckin noise Jayzus i can't hear meself think.

Welcome to middle age boys and girls.....embrace it hard;)

nelly17

Ah yes but crap dancing and Sandals with socks are now acceptable

BadCompany

If Ireland has "disowned" Thin Lizzy, this suggests that they're MASSIVE outside of Ireland but we don't appreciate them here. On the contrary, I'd expect that they're more famous in Ireland than anywhere else; I can't go a few months without hearing "Boys Are Back In Town", "Dancing In The Moonlight" or "Sarah" on mainstream national radio stations all these years later (for the record I think "Sarah" has one of the worst guitar solos I've ever come across, it's a disjointed mess! Just my opinion, but that's neither here nor there).

Anyway in response to people saying they were "mediocre", I wholeheartedly disagree. They were excellent musicians and songwriters, and treaded a fine line between hard rock and pop sensibility that I've rarely heard done better since. From the "Jailbreak" album alone, songs like "Boys Are Back In Town", "Jailbreak", "Cowboy Song" and "Emerald" are all shining examples of this - catchy hard rocking anthems (without mentioning "Running Back" from the same album, an emotional ballad that still manages to rock). They fully deserve their place in Irish history and have not at all been forgotten by rock fans here in Ireland.

sadie06

I don't feel they are forgotten at all and love that the younger generation are embracing them too. Lizzy are like Rock School 101 for young wannabe musicians. It's all there: tight musicianship, great song-writing, clever arrangements, charisma, stage presence.*

I love them, and while they may not be my favourite band of all time, they'd probably be the one I'd most like to travel back in time to see live!


* Yes, I realise a lot of the bad stuff is there too, such as ego-mania and drug addiction, but it's RocknRoll!

ikarie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8iKEwogaqA

The Rev. Nathaniel (Phil Lynott) from War of the Worlds, 1978. outstanding!

gobnaitolunacy

Dr. Bre wrote: »

thin lizzy? who she?

Someting to do with a Ford Model T.

RikkFlair

stefan idiot jones wrote: »

Always loved Lizzy...however, I think Old Town is an appalling record. I had never heard it before moving to Ireland.
It is constantly played on Irish radio but it obviously doesn't cut it 'outside the pale'.

Old Town is from one of Phil Lynotts solo albums. Great song IMO.

dobman88

I'm 25 and saw Thin Lizzy in Killarney when I was 15. Obv Phil Lynott wasn't there but it was an unbelievable gig with the rest of the members there and opened my eyes to what music really is. Fan for life, just wish I could have seen Lynott in his prime.

Leogirl

TheBegotten wrote: »

Wait, what? Are the tickets still on sale?

Still available, just booking them now :-)

sadie06

dobman88 wrote: »

I'm 25 and saw Thin Lizzy in Killarney when I was 15. Obv Phil Lynott wasn't there but it was an unbelievable gig with the rest of the members there and opened my eyes to what music really is. Fan for life, just wish I could have seen Lynott in his prime.

Ah I've seen them minus Phil too, but I really don't think it counts at all. It's not Thin Lizzy without him.

Ghost Buster

demanufactured wrote: »

Modern pop music / X factor has completely ruined music.

Manufactured bile.

Unless you ignore it and listen to the good stuff. The exact same was being said at any other time and always will be.
There is alway the readily available crap music and then the stuff that those who have a little taste have to look a teeny weeny bit harder for.

dobman88

sadie06 wrote: »

Ah I've seen them minus Phil too, but I really don't think it counts at all. It's not Thin Lizzy without him.

My apologies for being born too late!! lol.

RikkFlair

And in the news today...Philo's back!

Amerika

Watched a special on Thin Lizzy the other night with an uncle visiting in from Ireland who knew Phil Lynott and Rory Gallagher from the old days.

Thin Lizzy still has a loyal cult following over here in the states.

We have a local concert hall that brings in a number of top rock bands from the 70’s to perform. I’ve had good experiences and bad ones. The bad ones usually involve the various incarnations of bands which include only a few original members. Thin Lizzy played there two years ago. But even though the incarnation included old members Downey and Gorham, without Lynott I just didn’t feel the urge to go. I now look up the current band member list before deciding to go to a concert, as I find myself wishing I never went if it doesn’t feel like I’m listening to the groups I grew up with. (Upcoming concerts there include Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, .38 Special, Gordon Lightfoot, and America)

Ray Palmer

demanufactured wrote: »

Modern pop music / X factor has completely ruined music.

Manufactured bile.

Yeah The Monkees never existed!