Of course the Lizzy that Gorham joined had three albums under their belt and a chart hit in the form of the Celtic rocker, ‘Whiskey In The Jar’. So, from the start I felt really welcome.” We shook hands and he said, ‘I’ll introduce you to the other guys’. “But Phil was great from the very beginning, really warm, and he had that big flashy smile of his. ![]() “I knew absolutely nothing about them,” grins Gorham. A gig as guitarist with an Irish rock band called Thin Lizzy was the prize. One, by the name of Ruan O Lochlainn (who was in the Irish pub-rock band Bees Make Honey with Gorham’s future brother-in-law Bob Siebenberg) knew Phil Lynott and informed the young American guitar-slinger about auditions that were taking place. He has been busy playing clubs with his band Fast Buck and making musical contacts. Scott Gorham’s planned six-month stay in London is coming to an end. And that sort of threw me – because he was black with an Irish accent!” Can you show me what room they’re in?’ And he said, ‘Yeah I’m Phil’. “I said, ‘Yeah, I’m supposed to meet a guy called Phil who’s with a band called Thin Lizzy. It was Phil, but I thought he was one of the guys that worked there.” “So, I’m in this African Dinner Club,” a familiar Californian voice announces, “and out of nowhere I hear this voice, ‘Are you Scott?’. So who better to navigate the documentary subject matter – the life and times of our beloved Crumlin Cowboy, Soldier of Fortune, Renegade, Rocker (and Roller too, honey) – and much more. He was Phil’s close friend, ally, comrade and best man. ![]() The documentary weaves these testimonies in with Phil’s voice and his extraordinary music, the story being told also through the judicious use of an array of childhood photos, old footage, memorabilia, potent images of Dublin and its landmarks, concert recordings and more.Ĭentral to proceedings is Scott Gorham, guitarist with Thin Lizzy from 1974 onwards. Our own Niall Stokes, who acted as an advisor on the film, is a key part of the narrative also. Those helping to chronicle Philip’s journey include his uncle (and childhood friend) Peter Lynott, Brush Shiels, Eric Bell, Midge Ure, Jerome Rimson, Huey Lewis, Suzi Quatro, former girlfriend Gale Claydon, PA Diane Wagg, first manager Terry O’Neill, close friend Gus Curtis, his daughters, former wife Caroline and rock star fans like Adam Clayton and James Hetfield. Here we are presented with contributors from every era and aspect of the musician’s life. In the film, Caroline admits that – even after six years of marriage – she was only getting to know her husband, so the film-maker’s task was an onerous one, to say the least. The relationship between Philip and Caroline had split in the early-to mid-1980s, but they had never divorced. Where previous attempts to examine the Thin Lizzy frontman’s existence have faltered, relying on the two-dimensional Celtic poet/hard-living rocker motif, Reynold’s portrait bravely attempts to capture the complexity of the multi-faceted icon.įor the first time, Philip’s wife, Caroline Taraskevics, is interviewed for a major documentary on the life of the Irish rock icon. To coincide with the release of Emer Reynolds’ documentary about the life and music of Philip Lynott, Songs For While I’m Away, we look back at that tumultuous and hugely successful decade, as Scott Gorham offers his portrait of the Irish rock icon.Įmer Reynolds’ Philip Lynott documentary Songs For While I’m Away is a rare artefact. When Scott Gorham hooked up with Philip Lynott at a dinner club in London, it was the beginning of a close musical relationship that lasted for a full ten years, before the Thin Lizzy franchise was finally put on ice.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |