Thin Lizzy breaks up

CrazyW · #1 Jul-02-2009, 6:34 AM

After cancelling all the shows because Tommy Aldridge broke his collar bone, John Sykes has now left the band and they have disbanded for now. Scott Gorham is currently still thinking about the future of the band but it will be hard to replace Sykes.

FCinnella · #2 Jul-02-2009, 7:09 AM

Maybe they could be Thinner Lizzy

I mean we must face the fact that sans Lynott this was not Lizzy and now it would be a joke to be using the name. The "one member" reforming and using the name is always bothersome to me..like Asia (featuring John Payne) and alike. Went to see Grand Funk Railroad one evening and it was Mel Schaecter and some people he found along the way.
Soooo, Thin Lizzy has been gone long before they 'broke up' this time in my eyes

CrazyW · #3 Jul-02-2009, 7:28 AM

I never had a problem with them calling it Thin Lizzy. They never intended to make a new album under the name and always made it very clear that it was their way of paying tribute to Phil.

chutsler · #4 Jul-02-2009, 8:13 AM

How do you guys feel about Ten Years After without Alvin Lee?

purplemusic · #5 Jul-02-2009, 8:36 AM

Thin Lizzy were always one of my favorite bands and still are. I did not have a problem with what they had been doing w/ Sykes. I don't see how it could maintain any credibility w/out him though.
May he RIP and his music live on, but it would be taking advantage of what Phil did to carry it on any further. I'm saddened that I never got to see Lizzy, but life (and death) is that way sometimes.
peace,

FCinnella · #6 Jul-02-2009, 9:28 AM

Originally Posted by chutsler

How do you guys feel about Ten Years After without Alvin Lee?

It just isn't TYA without Lee. Joe Gooch is a more than adequate replacement, but without Alvin Lee there is no TYA. We have the same discussions here with Purple sans Blackmore. Certain groups have that 'rock' they are built upon, and when the rock shifts the whole building starts to collapse. Think of some others that may or may not ever happen: Metallica without Hetfield; is it MOtorhead without Lemmy ?; Aerosmith without Tyler, etc.. I remember the Zep reunion talk and how it would not be Zeppelin w.o Plant, or Queen without Freddie is not the same, so I just see Lizzy today as Lizzy Lite, great taste but much less filling.

chrisloeb · #7 Jul-02-2009, 12:11 PM

Most of the regulars here know that Thin Lizzy is most probably my favourite band ever.

Thin Lizzy broke up in 1983.

The Gorham/Sykes Thin Lizzy was credible when they went out and toured Japan as a Tribute to Phil Lynott back in 1994 with a line-up of Gorham, Sykes, Brian Downey and Darren Wharton (4 of 5 1983-members!) and Marco Mendoza listed as a support player on bass!

From 1998 they decided to tour quite extensively, but Brian Downey had lost interest, so Sykes recruited his old pal Tommy Aldridge. Both Aldridge and Mendoza weren't listed as support members anymore though.
The Official Supporters Club broke up under heavy internal fights between two camps of fans (imagine!?) - those who supported the Gorham/Sykes act, and those who claimed that Lizzy was over when Phil Lynott died. Still everybody went to the concerts!?

I was only born in 1976, so I was seven years old when Thin Lizzy broke up in 1983, too young to ever have seen the band play live.
I have seen the Gorham/Sykes line-up live three times. I have never gotten into discussions about the real Thin Lizzy vs. The Gorham/Sykes Thin Lizzy, because to me the music matters most and the legacy of the great Philip Lynott.
It's good to see the Lizzy T-Shirts out there, big-name bands wearing them, spreading the word like good old Phil asked everybody to do in The Boys Are Back In Town.

So in the end Thin Lizzy is very much alive today.

Sykes should now revive the original Blue Murder, with Tony Franklin and Carmine Appice, and Gorham is thinking about reviving 21 Guns anyway.

Besides, everybody is still waiting for proper reissues of the TL catalogue, including those countless BBC Sessions and rare tracks that haven't surfaced yet officially.

Cheers,
Christian

Keith Thompson · #8 Jul-02-2009, 12:23 PM

Thanks for the update, Crazy.

Frank, I am there with you in this bud.

Christian, you seem best qualified to answer this question. Out of the remaining members of Thin Lizzy, what is the only viable line up you would accept as Thin Lizzy?

I mean is it worth Scott giving Gary Moore a call? I am not jesting. At least Moore and Lynott patched up their differences. What about Robbo? Eric Bell's past it I guess. Occasionally he plays Whisky and stuff in my local wine bar. Sorry I am answering own question here but more interested in your view.

Is there no life in the brand after Sykesy?

CrazyW · #9 Jul-02-2009, 12:24 PM

Somehow I doubt Sykes will resurrect Blue Murder. Thin Lizzy was his main income and he'd have to join something pretty big to leave Thin Lizzy for. There's rumours going around he's joined a new supergroup. I hope it's true, it's been a while since he made an album. Same for Gorham. It always bothered me that Gorham, Robbo and Downey didn't put out much stuff after Lizzy.

chrisloeb · #10 Jul-03-2009, 2:12 PM

Originally Posted by Keith Thompson

Christian, you seem best qualified to answer this question. Out of the remaining members of Thin Lizzy, what is the only viable line up you would accept as Thin Lizzy?

I mean is it worth Scott giving Gary Moore a call? I am not jesting. At least Moore and Lynott patched up their differences. What about Robbo? Eric Bell's past it I guess. Occasionally he plays Whisky and stuff in my local wine bar. Sorry I am answering own question here but more interested in your view.

Is there no life in the brand after Sykesy?

Keith, IMO the 1994 Japan Tour line-up was the most viable. At least one show was even recorded for release but only surfaced as a bootleg.

And then of course in August 2005 there was the big tribute show accompagning the unveiling of the Philip Lynott statue in Dublin where Gary Moore and Brian Downey (then in Moore's band!) plus Jonathan Noyce on bass were joined by Gorham, Brian Robertson and Eric Bell for a memorable concert which is available on DVD and Blu-Ray.

You bring up an interesting idea with Gorham giving Moore a call, but honestly I don't see this coming. I'd love to be proven wrong though.
Moore has used previously unreleased Lizzy material (Cold Black Night from a 1978 Ramport session surfaced on his Back To The Blues album) in the past and he has hinted numerous times over the years to an upcoming album featuring influences of his (Northern) Irish roots and the Lizzy legacy.

Cheers,
Christian

iced721 · #11 Jul-03-2009, 4:19 PM

RIP Lizzy

I was fortunate enough to see Lizzy w/ Phil 3X

; 2 headline club shows and once opening for Queen @ the old Boston Garden. Great times indeed.

Saw the "new" Lizzy open for Deep Purple a few years back; definitely a tribute, and they made that clear throughout the show. Still a good night.

I will now dream of a Moore/Robertson/Gorham tour sometime in the future

brucel · #12 Jul-06-2009, 12:06 AM

I think as long as the line up is clear, then the fans can choose to follow or not. Purple without Blackmore? To some people no go, to others it's fine. I saw Think Lizzy a couple times back in the late 70s with Robbo/Gorham/Downey/Lynnot, great stuff.I saw the recent version with Tommy A on drums, I thought they were a quality tribute act and a great warmup for Purple. Nice to hear those great Lizzy songs played live by excellent players. I guess a pro musician has got to make some cash by playing so....why not (in my view)
I know some die hard fans can get upset, but I guess I'm not in that group.

Ken · #13 Jul-11-2009, 5:04 AM

I had the good fortune to witness Thin Lizzy on every single us tour from 75-83. Many of those shows included Gary Moore on guitar. If Gary were to reform with Lizzy I would be totally shocked. Its been over 25 years and Gary has moved on.
RIP Thin Lizzy

CrazyW · #14 Jul-11-2009, 6:13 AM

John Sykes has made the following statement on his website:

First, I would like to thank the fans for all the support over the years and say it has been truly a privilege and an honor to sing and play Philip's great songs in THIN LIZZY.

"After dedicating many years to the band, I feel it's time to get back to playing my own music, and I very much look forward to touring in the near future. As always, love and respect to Phil. See you all soon."

I hope he's working on a new album.

purplemusic · #15 Jul-11-2009, 6:21 AM

Originally Posted by CrazyW

I hope he's working on a new album.

Me too. Thanks for the info.
peace,

JohnH · #16 Jul-14-2009, 4:14 PM

Well good for John. I too think he needs to go back to doing what he does best. Saw him hanging out at the great Schenker show last month at the Canyon Club.

lukesky · #17 Nov-07-2009, 8:02 PM

Thin Lizzy cannot be replaced. Without Phil, Its a differnet band. JMO

JohnH · #18 Nov-19-2009, 1:28 PM

I just gigged last weekend at Morongo with Francesco Di Cosmo, Lizzy's latest bass player. The band had some good gigs lined up, including Wembley with AC- DC. Di Cosmo has also been gigging with Jason Bonham so it was great to hear some cool Bonham and Sykes stories. Di Cosmo is a great singer and player and a totally cool guy. Glad to add him to my collection of musical brothers.

CrazyW · #19 Nov-19-2009, 1:52 PM

Did he say if Bonham are planning a new album? This line-up kicks ass.

marieodonnelly · #20 Nov-19-2009, 2:33 PM

Yeah I noticed that statement from back in July - but could this hoped for 'new album' be anything of coincidence with a certain bass player and vocalist recording with a mystery rocker? Thin Lizzy - well I wish I'd had the chance to see them in the day - Phil Lynott died on my 5th birthday so I missed that boat sadly!

chrisloeb · #21 Jun-19-2010, 12:28 PM

This thread is now officially obsolete and should be re-titled "Thin Lizzy breaks up... and reforms - again!" (David - possible?), since Scott Gorham together with Brian Downey (founding member of Thin Lizzy), Darren Wharton, Vivian Campbell, Marco Mendoza and Ricky Warwick has formed a new band called....

THIN LIZZY

Read all about it in the latest issue of Classic Rock, or HERE.

I recently had the pleasure to meet and chat with Marco Mendoza after a very intimate solo show here in Vienna and he mentioned that loads of Promotion (Press, TV etc.) has already been prepared for the launch of the new line-up. This is a tribute to Phil Lynott, and all about bringing his music to a big audience in a big way, not the kind of show that John Sykes had put on which lacked support from a major record company etc.

Universal Music are preparing (deluxe) reissues of the Thin Lizzy catalogue starting in the autumn.

As usual, the fan base is VERY divided, especially because the new management has booked a show on January 4th in Dublin against the traditional (in its 25th year!) 'Vibe for Philo'. A very unpopular decision.
Besides Lizzy without Lynott will never be Lizzy. In my opinion this could still be a very cool act, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the fuss is all about. Should be great.
And mind you - I don't mind the backlist being reissued - the Mercury remasters were a shame!

Cheers,
Christian

marieodonnelly · #22 Jun-20-2010, 6:12 AM

Wow - a show in Dublin on 4th Jan to mark Phils passing 25 years ago! That means I'm the big 30 then on that day! I may have now found what I will do to celebrate as I think it would be very interesting to see this collaboration of musicians together performing a Thin Lizzy set - as you say Christian -without Lynott it's just not Thin Lizzy! I too will be looking forward to this though all the same!