TWENTY-NINE YEARS ago this week Ireland lost its most iconic rock musician and still greatest rock star, Phil Lynott. The Dublin singer-songwriter died on January 4 1986, but his extraordinary legacy continues and will be celebrated in Galway this week.
The Galway Phil Lynott Remembrance takes place in Monroe’s Live on Friday January 9 when Thin Lizzy tribute band Remembering Lizzy will be in concert, performing such Lizzy classics as ‘Emerald’, ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’, ‘Whiskey in the Jar’, ‘Sarah’, ‘Jailbreak’ and of course, ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’.
The band are Mike Duggan (vocals ), Bernard Naughton (guitar ), Feargal McDonagh (guitar ), Feargal McCann (bass ), and Anthony ‘Maxi’ McNamee (drums ). The band, which played its first show in 1991 to mark Phil’s fifth anniversary, was founded by Frank Mulveen, who supported Lizzy in the Hangar Ballroom, Salthill, in 1973 with his band Skulls.
Thin Lizzy’s influence on rock music has been enormous, with heavy rock and metal bands such as Guns’n’Roses, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, and Metallica all citing the Irish band as an inspiration. In 1988 Maiden covered Lizzy’s song ‘Massacre’, while Metallica famously covered ‘Whiskey In The Jar’.
More recently Lizzy’s influence has become increasingly felt in indie music, most especially with Belle and Sebastian, vie their Lizzy homage ‘I’m A Cuckoo’ and in the twin lead and harmony guitar work of American trio Fang Island.
Admission is €10. Tickets are available on the door or through www.monroes.ie
