Customer Reviews

Phil Lynott: The Rocker

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I love this book! It's that simple. Being in the business myself (and was on tour with Lizzy), I can honestly say that what is written here is, by and large, how it went down. I found the candor of the people interviewed refreshing. I don't think it puts Phil down in any way, but, just like Elvis, some people have their ideas of how things were and don't want that picture messed with.

"The Rocker" tells it right from the early days, takes you through all the ups and downs, and leaves you with the feeling that you were there by the time you get to the end. I think Mark Putterford did a wonderful job of putting this book together. He obviously got access to just about anyone who was involved in the Lizzy set-up over the years, and left no stone unturned to bring you every insight he could get his hands on.

Philo/ Lizzy........we're all still in love with you!

Quite simply, this is the best rock biography I have ever read. Ever. It's as simple as that.

Thin Lizzy have been my favorite rock band since 1985 and it's with great objective criticism that I make the afformentioned statement.

I've an earlier printing of this and some of the photographs are different which is a shame. The one of Brian Downey and Phil around ten or eleven years of age in their little suites has got to be one of the most priceless things I've ever seen.

Anyone that says rock music serves only as backround clatter or is merely entertainment is an inspid, evil, fool. Rock and roll music can save your soul and the story of Thin Lizzy is one of the greatest testaments in that majestic canon.

Absolutely awesome book--done in true detailed journalistic style with tons of quotes and anecdotes by literally every Thin Lizzy member, as well as managers, roadies, friends and bands that toured and hung with Lizzy. Great read for any Lizzy fan.

My brothers and I have been Thin Lizzy fans for decades now. I was curious about Phil and especially what went wrong at the end. Newspapers at the time gave conflicting reports of where he was hospitalized and what was wrong (according to this book, Salisbury in Wiltshire ... not far from where I grew up -- and not London as newspapers reported). I was surprised by the amount of detail and candidness of this book (although it remains tasteful and respectful) -- especially given how quickly it was written. I have only one minor gripe, I think not enough emphasis was given to just how incredible the band were in their prime ... the Fighting/Jailbreak/Bad Reputation/Live and Dangerous period. I saw them much later than this on there farewell tour and even then they were by far the best band I have ever seen live. They had such great songs. Also, Phil's unique writing style (which Mark nailed: tough, streetwise rocker/cowboy one minute and romantic hero the next -- which was probably as big a draw for me as the their incredible live energy. I had not realized that hard drugs had been such a part of Thin Lizzy (although the songs certainly hint at it: Opium Trail, Got to Give it up (that stuff). I always felt Lizzy never got their full recognition (party due to bad luck, bad timing and illnesses and injuries) -- they are as great as any other band of their era: Led Zepplin, Genesis, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, etc. The story inevitably ends very sadly.

By the way, in the US some thought Phil sounded like Bruce Springsteen (who was not at all well known in the UK at that time). Personally I still do see any resemblance but the book explains a possible reason -- a common influence: Van Morrison (or "Van the Man" as Lizzy called him on Black Rose).

I was too young to be a real Lizzy fan when they were in their prime, but have come to appreciate them, and Philo through all the reissues and compilations. This is a great read and serves as a tragic example of the highs & lows of success. It is basically a straight forward transcription of one-on-one interviews with all of the many band members and other key figures. We get an amazing insight in to the effort involved in trying to achieve, then maintain success and how the trappings of this success eroded the life of a hard working rocker from Dublin. Sad, but again an excellent read.

I met Phil Lynott a few years before his death and was as impressed with his personality as I was with his work. This book tells the whole story, the good the bad and the ugly. A must for any Thin Lizzy fan or as Phil refered to us, supporters. The man was truly a star and so is this book.

Im glad Philo is not around to read this bilge. A discography of biased lies

This is a great book. The author, Mark Putterford, knows how to write good/great books. It reveals many nice details on the Lizzy/Lynott history. It is a pleasure to read and some parts really grip you and it gets hard to put the book down. A very good rock biography!

As you probably know, Thin Lizzy was an amazing (and underrated) band. If you are reading this then you probably are one of US, Lizzy fans. So do yourself a favour: grab yourself this book and get ready for a nice ride/read.

Having said that, I'd like to say that...

- I wish there were more photos on this book

- I wish there were more quotes from Phil (as someone pointed, the author could have used quotes from Phil interviews)

- I wish there were more quotes from his mother and family (they talk a lot about him when he was young, but not much about him on his Lizzy days)

- I wish there was a more comprehensive story about how Lynott fell to his drug/drinking addictions. The book pretty much ignores this sad side of Phil until the last two chapters, but Phil (and his Lizzy bandmates) were using (abusing) stuff since the very beginning.

- I wish there were Magazines and Newspapers articles reprinted on this book;

- I wish there was more insight on how Phil/Lizzy wrote his great songs.

- I wish there was a complete up-to-date Phil Lynott's dicography including al his official Lizzy/Solo releases.

- I wish there was a list of all Phil's "appearances" on his friends/bandmates records;

- I wish there was a list of all known unreleased tracks from his early days, Lizzy days and his solo days.

- I wish there were quotes from artists who claim to have been influenced by Lizzy, like Axl Rose (he has the "Black Rose" album cover tatooed on one of his arms), Iron Maiden (who have taken so much from Lizzy melodic rock and taken it to another -metal- level), Metallica and so many other rock acts. I wish I could know how much Lizzy records/live shows influenced these guys.

- I wish there was a live chronology of all Lizzy/Lynot gigs ever (including setlists)!

- I wish there was some interviews with the people that produced Lizzy albums so they could talk about how they saw Phil.

All in all, this is a great book!

If you don't know nothig about the life of Phil, this is the book for you!

Well researched, and importantly it does not rely on "A friend of a friend" or "Insiders said" quotes. All quotes are attributed, but I wish the author would have infused the book with more quotes and statements by Phil from media interviews of the period. Perhaps, he did not want the subject clouded by his view of himself? A great introduction to Lynott, that would be rounded out by a reading of Philomena Lynott's 'My Boy' book. I thought the most insight on the great and moody side of Lynott was given by Jim Fitzpatrick (who did many of Lizzy's album covers), and on the whole every member of the Lizzy cast was contacted and quoted in the book. Huey Lewis in particular came of in a great light. Also a great resource for those interested in early Irish rock music, and the bands which formed and quickly faded but had a lasting impact as proving grounds for future success. A good read on a great artist.